How Does the Mass of a Hole Exceed That of an Electron in Semiconductors?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The mass of a hole in semiconductors is larger than that of an electron due to the concept of effective mass, which is influenced by band dispersion and lattice interactions. In semiconductors, both electrons and holes behave as quasi-particles, meaning their effective mass differs from that of free electrons. This increased effective mass arises from the inertia caused by lattice deformations and interactions with other electrons. Understanding these concepts is crucial for grasping how current propagates in semiconductor materials.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of effective mass in semiconductors
  • Basic knowledge of band dispersion theory
  • Familiarity with quasi-particles in solid-state physics
  • Concept of lattice interactions in crystal structures
NEXT STEPS
  • Research effective mass calculations in semiconductor physics
  • Study band theory and its implications for electronic properties
  • Explore the role of lattice deformations in semiconductor behavior
  • Learn about the differences between free electron mass and effective mass in various materials
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physics students, semiconductor researchers, and professionals involved in material science and electronic engineering, particularly those interested in the behavior of charge carriers in semiconductors.

tworitdash
Messages
104
Reaction score
25
How can the mass of a hole is larger than an electron?I want to know what a hole signifies and the mass energy required for it to propagate in the semiconductors for constituting current.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
tworitdash said:
How can the mass of a hole is larger than an electron?I want to know what a hole signifies and the mass energy required for it to propagate in the semiconductors for constituting current.

Back up a bit. Do you know how an effective mass in define in terms of the band dispersion? You have not provided enough information on what you DO know.

Zz.
 
no.I haven't got any idea about effective mass.I know that a hole is just the empty space created by an electron.and I have a little idea about band dispersion.
 
sir,please help me out with some simple lines that i can understand without knowing much of quantum physics.
 
The point is that not only a hole has an (effective) mass different from that of an electron but that also the effective mass of an electron in a semiconductor is different from the mass of a free electron. The reason is that an electron or a hole in a semi-conductor is a quasi-particle. I.e. it is a compound object consisting of an electron (or hole) that carries deformations of the lattice with him and also interacts with the "sea" of other electrons. These deformation etc. increase inertia and hence the apparent or "effective" mass of that quasi-particle.
Another contribution to the mass comes from increasing reflection from lattice planes in the crystal near the zone boundaries.
 
Thank you sir,but i didn't get the last line.would you mind explaining me once more?and the increasing inertia increases the effective mass of only hole or only electron or both?
 
tworitdash said:
Thank you sir,but i didn't get the last line.would you mind explaining me once more?and the increasing inertia increases the effective mass of only hole or only electron or both?

Before we go any further, you may want to make your replies to be gender neutral. We have many women physicists and professionals in here. Your replies assume that we are all males, which is faulty!

Zz.
 
sorry ... I will take it into consideration from now.
 

Similar threads

Graduate Anisotropy of the effective masses in semiconductors
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Undergrad What is an electron hole pair?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Undergrad Energy of donor or acceptor levels in semiconductors
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
Undergrad Hall effect in P-type semiconductors: electron-centric heuristic?
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
3K
High School Something strange about doping semiconductors
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
High School How does lattice vibration affect electron mobility in semiconductor?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Undergrad Pure semiconductor Quantum Dots?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Undergrad Measuring the built-in potential of a pn junction
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Undergrad Calculating electron and hole population in a semiconductor
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Undergrad Minority charge carriers - what are these?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K