Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2]PhysicsSemiconductors and Semiconductor Devices
Suppose n_p and n_e represent the numbers of holes and conduction electrons, respectively, in an intrinsic semiconductor.
Options
- An_p = n_e
- Bn_p < n_e
- Cn_p n_e
- Dn_p > n_e
Correct answer
A. n_p = n_e
Step-by-step solution
In an intrinsic semiconductor, charge carriers are generated by the thermal excitation of electrons from the valence band to the conduction band. Each excitation creates exactly one free electron in the conduction band and leaves behind exactly one hole in the valence band. Therefore, the number of conduction electrons is always equal to the number of holes, which gives n_p = n_e .