Thermal conductivity of nonequilibrium carriers

We present a theoretical analysis of the thermal conductivity of charge car riers in semiconductors under nonequilibrium conditions due to an applied e lectric field. The theory is based on a correlation-function formalism whic h directly relates this kinetic coefficient to four spectral densities invo lving carrier velocity and energy flux fluctuations. Monte Carlo calculatio ns performed for the cases of p-Si and n-GaAs give an evidence of a strong dependence of the thermal conductivity on increasing electric fields. (C) 1 999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.