Abstract
In semiconductors, when a region of local disorder is produced (e.g., by neutron irradiation), the defects contained in the region affect the local equilibrium carrier densities and act as effective recombination centers. In this paper, expressions are given for the transient carrier lifetime at low excess carrier densities, and for the steady‐state lifetime at low defect concentrations. Results agree well with experimental observations of neutron‐irradiated silicon.