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Nusc
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Can someone please explain to me the concept of the hole as it pertains to solid state physics?
I don't understand how it works.
I don't understand how it works.
mgb_phys said:It's just the absence of an electron - because current flow was defined as positive to negative before electrons were discovered - it's convenient to have a positive electron.
mgb_phys said:It's just the absence of an electron - because current flow was defined as positive to negative before electrons were discovered - it's convenient to have a positive electron.
Phrak said:How would you explain the Hall effect in P type material?
LydiaAC said:An electron with negative effective mass will accelerate in a direction opposite to that of the force applied to it. From rest, this will require to go in the opposite direction in which it is pushed. It is easier to imagine that the current is made of holes which respond to the force in a conventional way.
You are right. The Hall effect is the better proof that the hole cannot be simply the absence of an electron.
Lydia Alvarez
I really don't see any problem with this statement. Isn't this like saying you can either see the half-full glass of water either half-full or half-empty?LydiaAC said:About the "misleading explanation", I have found tutorials in internet which say that "metals have the same number or electrons and holes because they have a half filled band". You will agree that you cannot count electrons AND holes in the same band. This is only an example of a misconception caused by the simple definition of "absence of an electron".
Defennnder said:I really don't see any problem with this statement. Isn't this like saying you can either see the half-full glass of water either half-full or half-empty?
Cthugha said:On the other hand you can of course consider holes and electrons at the same time, if you do it correctly. For example in low dimensional nanostructures excitons (in layman terms a bound complex of an electron and a hole) are very important.
LydiaAC said:Hello Cthugha:
Do you think you can give a "for dummies" explanation of excitons? I do not know anything about them but their definition.
It would be nice to know a little more.
Lydia Alvarez
A "hole" in the context of solid state refers to an empty space in the valence band of a material that can be occupied by an electron. It is a type of charge carrier that behaves like a positively charged particle.
Holes can form in solid state materials through the process of doping, which involves introducing impurities into the material. These impurities create vacancies in the crystal lattice, resulting in the formation of holes.
Holes play a crucial role in the functioning of many solid state devices, such as transistors and diodes. They can be manipulated and controlled to carry current, making them important in the design and operation of these devices.
Holes and electrons have opposite charges and behave differently in solid state materials. While electrons have negative charge and move from areas of higher concentration to lower, holes have positive charge and move in the opposite direction.
Holes are essential in understanding the properties and behavior of semiconductors. The behavior of holes in semiconductors, along with that of electrons, allows for the creation of electronic devices that are the foundation of modern technology.