Effect of High Pressure on Some Hot Electron Phenomena inn-Type Germanium

The pressure dependence of the current density vs electric field characteristic for $n$-type germanium at 297°K has been measured to a maximum pressure of 30 000 kg/${\mathrm{cm}}^2$, and to a maximum field of 10 000 v/cm. It is concluded that the electrons are "heated" by the field sufficiently to cause the conduction band valleys along the $〈100〉$ directions in reduced momentum space to be appreciably populated with electrons at atmospheric pressure. The pressure dependence of the angle $\epsilon$ between current and field at 77°K has been measured to a maximum field of 3000 v/cm and a maximum pressure of 5000 kg/${\mathrm{cm}}^2$. $\epsilon$ is independent of pressure except for a small increase for applied fields of ∼3000 v/cm. Suggested interpretations for the data are given.