All Problems

Molecules and Crystals

Problem 6.210

The resistivity of an impurity-free semiconductor at room temperature is ρ=50Ωcm,\rho=50 \Omega \cdot \mathrm{cm}, It becomes equal to ρ1=40Ωcm\rho_{1}=40 \Omega \cdot \mathrm{cm} when the semiconductor is illuminated with light, and t=8 mst=8 \mathrm{~ms} after switching off the light source the resistivity becomes equal to ρ2=45Ωcm.\rho_{2}=45 \Omega \cdot \mathrm{cm} . Find the mean lifetime of conduction electrons and holes.

Reveal Answer
τ=t/ln(ρρ1)ρ2(ρρ2)ρ1=0.01 s\tau=t / \ln \frac{\left(\rho-\rho_{1}\right) \rho_{2}}{\left(\rho-\rho_{2}\right) \rho_{1}}=0.01 \mathrm{~s}