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Definition
1. Carrier generation is a process where electron-hole pairs are created by exciting an electron from the valence band of the semiconductor to the conduction band, thereby creating a hole in the valence band. Recombination is the reverse process where electrons and holes from the conduction respectively valence band recombine and are annihilated.
2. In the solid-state physics of semiconductors, carrier generation and recombination are processes by which mobile charge carriers (electrons and electron holes) are created and eliminated. Carrier generation and recombination processes are fundamental to the operation of many optoelectronic semiconductor devices, such as photodiodes, LEDs and laser diodes. They are also critical to a full analysis of p-n junction devices such as bipolar junction transistors and p-n junction diodes.
The electron–hole pair is the fundamental unit of generation and recombination, corresponding to an electron transitioning between the valence band and the conduction band where generation of electron is a transition from the valence band to the conduction band and recombination leads to a reverse transition.
Abbreviation
Synonyms
Superterms
Semiconductor electronics
Subterms
Sources
http://www.iue.tuwien.ac.at/phd/entner/node11.html (1.); https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_generation_and_recombination (2.)
Author: Simon Waterstradt
