Relaxation Time Approximation for the Wigner-Boltzmann Transport Equation

Abstract

A quasi-distribution function in phase space (based on Wigner functions) is used to write down the quantum version of Boltzmann equation (Wigner-Boltzmann transport equation). The relaxation time approximation is show to be a good approach when defects are homogeneously distributed and linear response to the external electric field is assumed. An expression for relaxation times based on this formalism is deduced, which consider the dependence in the quantum numbers when confinement effects are important (nanowires and nanosheets).