Transferred electron effects in InP under high pressure

Experimental and theoretical studies have been made of the high electric field properties in InP as a function of hydrostatic pressure to 55 kbar. The measured threshold field for transferred electron instabilities shows an initial increase with pressure, and after passing through a maximum at 30-33 kbar it decreases gradually. This can be explained in terms of possible band structure changes. By using known variations of parameters with pressure, detailed Monte Carlo calculations are carried out to place some constraints on the coupling constants involved in the electron transfer process. Calculations based on stronger Gamma -L scattering tend to agree better with experimental data. The results also indicate that a change from two- to three-level operation occurs near 30-33 kbar.