The role of bound states in electronic transport

Abstract

A new polarisation denominator contribution is found to resolve the remaining formal difficulties of the inverse transport theory of Rousseau, Stoddart and March. The separation of the two contributions to the transport coefficient in numerator and denominator is then demonstrated to effect a partition of the role of bound and continuum states as non-ergodic and ergodic regions of the energy spectrum. In particular the theory provides a result independent of the assumed number of scattering (or conduction band) electrons, and provides a physical description of the renormalisation of the resistivity by polarisation behaviour as the metal-insulator transition is approached. Finally it is observed that the separation of the forces implicit in the derivation of the theory is equivalent to the separation of ldlectron wind” from the “direct field” force in electromigration theory.