HOT-ELECTRON AND QUASI-BALLISTIC TRANSPORT OF NONEQUILIBRIUM ELECTRONS IN DIAMOND THIN-FILMS

Carlo algorithm using quantum mechanical rates. The high-field regime is dominated by hot optical phonon scattering for n less than or equal to 10(19) cm(-3) and by electron-plasmon emission for higher electron concentrations. Electron-electron and electron-hole binary processes do not significantly influence the transport characteristics but exten d the high-energy tail and asymmetry of the electron distribution, mak ing it more ''Maxwellian.'' The results demonstrate the possibility of achieving quasiballistic transport in thin diamond films with a signi ficant portion of the held energy imparted to the electrons at high fi elds (F approximate to 10(18) V/mu m) and electron concentrations up t o n approximate to 10(18) cm(-3). (C) 1997 American Vacuum Society.