Minoritetbärarna

Minoritetbärarna is a Swedish term that translates to "minority carriers." In the context of semiconductor physics, it refers to the charge carriers in a semiconductor material that are present in a lower concentration compared to the majority carriers. For example, in an n-type semiconductor, electrons are the majority carriers, and holes are the minority carriers. Conversely, in a p-type semiconductor, holes are the majority carriers, and electrons are the minority carriers. The behavior and concentration of minority carriers are crucial for understanding various semiconductor device operations, such as the functioning of diodes and transistors. Their generation and recombination rates significantly influence device performance. For instance, in a p-n junction, the flow of minority carriers across the junction is fundamental to rectification. In solar cells, minority carriers generated by absorbed photons are essential for producing electric current. The study of minority carrier dynamics is a key aspect of solid-state physics and semiconductor device engineering.