Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-quantum-condensed-matter-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2022/section-b/6/e/solution

A current-carrying sample in a transverse magnetic field develops a transverse electric field because the Lorentz force deflects its charge carriers. In steady state this Hall voltage balances the transverse deflection. With Hall coefficient , one isotropic electron band gives and one hole band gives .
When Electrons and electron holes both conduct, the weak-field two-carrier result is
The two-carrier Hall coefficient weights each species by mobility squared. Its sign changes when
Temperature changes dopant ionization, intrinsic electron-hole generation, and the two charge carrier mobilities, so it can move the system across this condition. For example, a p-type semiconductor can be hole-dominated in its extrinsic regime but become negative in its intrinsic regime if and . A sign change is possible, not mandatory: in many n-type semiconductors Electrons dominate at both temperatures. The density majority alone does not determine the Hall sign in a two-carrier material.

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