Self-consistent theory of shot noise in nondegenerate ballistic conductors

A self-consistent theory of shot noise in ballistic two-terminal conductors under the action of long-range Coulomb correlations is presented. Analytic al formulas for the electron distribution function and its fluctuation alon g the conductor, which account for the Coulomb correlations, have been deri ved. Based upon these formulas, the current-noise reduction factor has been obtained for biases ranging from thermal to shot-noise limits as dependent on two parameters: the ratio between the length of the sample and the Deby e screening length lambda = d/L-D and the applied voltage qU/k(B)T. The dif ference with the formulas for a vacuum diode is discussed.