Wave propagation through a semiconductor in a strong magnetostatic field

Abstract

Abstract The propagation of an electromagnetic wave through a semiconducting material in a rectangular waveguide has been investigated. A strong magnetostatic field was applied normal to the waveguide axis. The analysis is constructed from fundamental principles and relations, i.e. starting with Maxwell's equations, the equation of motion, and the Boltzmann distribution. Solutions for the propagation constants were obtained using perturbation techniques. Approximations were made based on the physical semiconductor characteristics of existing materials. Propagation was found to occur with various degrees of attenuation depending on the structure's characteristics and the materials. Reduction of the attenuation was found to be possible by either the reduction of carrier concentration or the excitation of higher order modes. Theoretical zero attenuation for a Ge sample of 0·6 × 1020/m3 concentration was found to occur at about 46 GHz using an LM01 mode.