Self-consistent theory of shot noise in nondegenerate ballistic conductors

Abstract

A self-consistent theory of shot noise in ballistic two-terminal conductors under the action of long-range Coulomb correlations is presented. Analytical formulas for the electron distribution function and its fluctuation along the conductor, which account for the Coulomb correlations, have been derived. Based upon these formulas, the current-noise reduction factor has been obtained for biases ranging from thermal to shot-noise limits as dependent on two parameters: the ratio between the length of the sample and the Debye screening length l5d/LD and the applied voltage qU/kBT. The difference with the formulas for a vacuum diode is discussed.