Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Avalanche multiplication is intrinsically stochastic, yet experiments reveal excess noise below the minimum predicted by McIntyre's local-field theory. The microscopic origin of this noise suppression remains incompletely understood. We show that polar-optical-phonon emission, confined to a narrow forward cone, competes with elastic alloy scattering that diffuses field-collimated hot carriers out of the cone. Suppressed phonon cooling narrows the ionization path beyond the dead space and synchronizes successive ionizations into a dynamic staircase. This explains the low noise of Sb-based alloys and HgCdTe and makes alloy disorder a design parameter.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Institution: University of Virginia
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: National Science Foundation
OpenAlex ID: W7220926750