Photon-Radiative Recombination of Electrons and Holes in Germanium

The spectral distribution of the rate of photon generation for the photon-radiative recombination of electrons and holes in germanium is determined from known optical properties by application of the principle of detailed balance. Quantities characterizing the process are evaluated: The thermal equilibrium recombination rate at 300°K is 1.57×${10}^{13}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{-3\mathrm{}}$ ${\sec }^{-1\mathrm{}}$, which corresponds to a recombination cross section of 2.9×${10}^{-21\mathrm{}}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^2$ and a decay time for a small disturbance in carrier concentration in intrinsic material of 0.75 sec. The extension to the steady-state case of added current carriers is given, and estimates are included of the dependence of the quantities on temperature.