The Current-Voltage Relationships Due to Transit-Time Effects in an Intrinsic Semiconductor

The analysis is based on the small-signal theory whereby all variables are linearized to a d.c. component and an a.c. component at the fundamental frequency. A general equation is then obtained for the a.c. terminal voltage in terms of the a.c. current and transit time. A special case of practical importance is also considered in which the electric field throughout the semiconductor is sufficiently high so that carriers move at their saturation velocity.