Clarification of First-Order Semiconduction Effects through Use of Electrochemical Potentials

When deviations from equilibrium conditions are small, the net rate at which electrons are interchanged between two groups of electrons which are separately in states of thermodynamic equilibrium is proportional to the difference of the Fermi levels applying to the two groups. With the help of this principle the first-order treatment of conduction effects in semiconductors (appropriate when carrier concentration deviations are small) is considerably simplified. Poisson's equation is shown to be ignorable in the first-order treatment of steady-state effects. Application is given to the Hall effect and to the characterization of probes.