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Boltzmann Transport Equation

LECTURE 7
Boltzmann Transport Equation Continuity (Balance) Equations

Method of Moments

Sec. 5.2

Boltzmann Transport Equation

This famous equation describes how an electron moves in 6-D phase space. Consider 2-D (x and kx) and some force Fx Electron moves a distance vxt in time t Electron changes momentum according to i.e., transport between position states is taken to be classical Transport between momentum states can be classical and quantum mechanical (scattering)

Probability of occupancy of the 2 states must be equal Do Taylor expansion

Sec. 5.2

BTE: a balance equation

What is being balanced here? Make the BTE into a general balance equation

What does each term mean physically?

Sec. 5.2.1

Method of moments

The BTE solves for f, the non-equilibrium distribution function

This is very difficult to do. We use the Method of Moments to solve for properties related to f Specifically, charge, current density, and KE density

Note the ORDER of progression of the exponent of v.

Sec. 5.2

Method of moments

Multiply each term by Cvn and integrate over k. For example, zeroth order moment:

This gives

Why zero for R and G? What is this well-known equation? How do we find Je in order to evaluate n ?

Sec. 5.2.2

1st order moment

What is the meaning of div J ? What are W and <<M>> ?

We now have an expression for Je What is the difficulty in evaluating Je ?

Sec. 5.2.2

Continuity of current density

Write down the steady-state version of the current continuity equation Neglect the gradient in KE/electron This gives us the DDE

and gives definitions for mobility and diffusivity.