Fluctuation-Stimulated Variable-Range Hopping

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel transport mechanism for variable-range hopping, driven by resonant tunneling facilitated by Coulomb potential fluctuations, with a focus on 1/f spectral density of energy fluctuations.

Contribution

It introduces a new fluctuation-stimulated VRH model based on resonant tunneling caused by Coulomb potential fluctuations, advancing understanding of hopping transport.

Findings

Resonant tunneling between transport states is key to VRH.

Energy fluctuations follow a 1/f spectral density.

The model explains experimental VRH behaviors.

Abstract

Qualitatively new transport mechanism is suggested for hopping of carriers according to which the variable-range hopping (VRH) arises from the resonant tunneling between transport states brought into resonance by Coulomb potentials produced by surrounding sites with fluctuating occupations. A semiquantitative description of the hopping transport is given based on the assumption that fluctuations of energies of hopping sites have spectral density 1/f.