Question

The electron and hole concentration in a semiconductor in thermal equilibrium is given by ______.

Options

• `"n"_"e""n"_"h" = "n"_"i"^3`

• `"n"_"e""n"_"h" = "n"_"i"^2`

• `2"n"_"e""n"_"h" = "n"_"i"^2`

• `"n"_"e""n"_"h" = 2"n"_"i"^2`

Answer 1

The electron and hole concentration in a semiconductor in thermal equilibrium is given by `underline("n"_"e""n"_"h" = "n"_"i"^2)`.

Explanation:

The product of the majority and minority carrier concentrations is a constant at equilibrium, as described quantitatively by the Law of Mass Action,

`"n"_"e""n"_"h" = "n"_"i"^2`

where n_i is the intrinsic carrier concentration and n_e and n_h are the electron and hole equilibrium carrier concentrations.