Investigation of the Local Force Approximation in Numerical Device Simulation by Full-band Monte Carlo Simulation

The critical assumptions in the drift-diffusion model are the local force approximation and the use of the Einstein relation under nonequilibrium conditions. The validity of these two approximations is investigated by full-band Monte Carlo simulation for a SiGe-HBT. It is found that neither the local force approximation nor the Einstein relation holds. Even Einstein relations generalized with the local temperature fail under quasiballistic transport conditions, indicating that the energy transport and hydrodynamic approach are also problematic.