Hall effect in P-type semiconductors: electron-centric heuristic?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the Hall effect in P-type semiconductors, emphasizing the confusion surrounding the behavior of holes as positive charge carriers. It clarifies that while holes represent the absence of electrons, the observed Hall voltage polarity differs from that in n-type semiconductors due to the underlying quantum mechanical principles of quasiparticles. The author seeks to develop a heuristic understanding of the P-type Hall effect, particularly how wavefunctions of electrons influence charge movement under electric and magnetic fields.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Hall effect in semiconductors
  • Familiarity with P-type and n-type semiconductor behavior
  • Basic principles of quantum mechanics and wavefunctions
  • Knowledge of electric and magnetic field interactions with charge carriers
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the quantum mechanical theory of quasiparticles in solid-state physics
  • Explore the mathematical modeling of wavefunctions in semiconductor physics
  • Research the effects of magnetic fields on charge carrier dynamics in P-type materials
  • Learn about the statistical mechanics of electron and hole distributions in semiconductors
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Physics students, semiconductor researchers, and electrical engineers interested in the behavior of charge carriers in P-type semiconductors and the Hall effect.

Swamp Thing
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The Wikipedia page on the Hall effect says:
A common source of confusion with the Hall effect in such (P-type) materials is that holes moving one way are really electrons moving the opposite way, so one expects the Hall voltage polarity to be the same as if electrons were the charge carriers as in most metals and n-type semiconductors. Yet we observe the opposite polarity of Hall voltage, indicating positive charge carriers. Of course there are no actual positrons or other positive elementary particles carrying the charge in p-type semiconductors, hence the name "holes". This apparent contradiction can only be resolved by the modern quantum mechanical theory of quasiparticles wherein the collective quantized motion of multiple particles can, in a real physical sense, be considered to be a particle in its own right (albeit not an elementary one).

I probably don't have the math ability or the time to master solid state physics in all its glory, but I am hoping to get to a heuristic picture of the P-type Hall effect that, at the very least, won't be "not even wrong". My attempt is as follows.

The sketch shows 9 atoms in a crystal. The amoeba-like wiggly shapes represent wavefunctions of bound(?) electrons that can potentially decay(?) or tunnel(?) into the central position, which is currently short of one electron. In the absence of an electric field, such events will be very rare at room temperature.

But now let's apply an electric field such that the system needs a net movement of electrons towards the left. The wavefunctions around A, B and C are the ones now likely to jump to the central position, with B perhaps being slightly more favored than A or C; but A and C will be equal to each other in their probability of ending up around H.


1714095525710.jpeg


Also, since there is a charge deficit around H, the initial wavefunctions A, B and C should have a slight bias with higher amplitude concentrated in the region towards H than on the opposite side. This would also affect the spatial momentum profile.

Now let us add a magnetic field such that holes are now induced to drift upwards. To make this true, it has to be the case that the magnetic field distorts the wavefunctions such that P(A) > P(B) > P(C) are now the new probabilities for jumping to the central position.

So... is the above picture reasonably OK, or is it wrong, or "not even wrong"? If it is generally on the right track, how can one flesh it out to explain how P(A) > P(B) > P(C)? Maybe we have to consider various possible initial orientations of spin and orbital momenta with respect to the magnetic field axis and sum / average over them? Or what?
 
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