AN OSCILLATION MECHANISM OF SEMICONDUCTOR BREAKDOWN DUE TO MAGNETIC-FIELD INDUCED TRANSVERSE MOTION OF CURRENT FILAMENTS

The self-generated formation of spontaneous current oscillations devel oping during low-temperature impact ionization breakdown of slightly d oped p-type germanium is explained, taking advantage of a model experi ment. Upon applying a relatively small transverse magnetic field, the spatially inhomogeneous current distribution, manifest in the form of individual high conducting current filaments, undergoes a distinct tra velling dynamics that is oriented perpendicular to the direction of th e electric and the magnetic field (i.e. not coincident with the direct ion of the current flow). The resulting magnetic field induced oscilla tory behaviour can be described qualitatively by simple model consider ations.