Electron and Phonon Thermal Waves in Semiconductors: an Application to Photothermal Effects

Abstract

The electron and phonon temperature distribution function are calculated in semiconductors. We solved the coupled one-dimensional heat-diffussion equations in the linear approximation in which the physical parameters on the sample are independent of the temperature. We also consider the heat flux at the surface of the semiconductor as a boundary condition for each electron and phonon systems instead of using a fixed temperature. From this, we obtain an expression for electron and phonon temperature respectively. The characterization of the thermal waves properties is duscussed and some practical procedures for this purpose provide us information about the electron and phonon thermal parameters.