TEMPERATURE DESCRIPTION OF TRANSPORT IN SINGLE-BARRIER AND MULTIPLE-BARRIER STRUCTURES

Barrier calculations based upon solutions of the Liouville equation in the coordinate representation reveal a complicated spatial dependence of the quantum distribution function near and within the barriers. Wi thin the framework of classical transport this spatial dependence sugg ests equilibrium electron temperature values that differ from the ambi ent. The prospect of quantum heating and cooling under equilibrium con ditions is examined and dispelled in favour of an interpretation that includes density-gradient contributions.