PT Journal
AU Shklovskij V.A.
TI Hot Electrons in Metals at Low Temperatures
SO J. Low Temp. Phys.
PY 1980
BP 375
EP 396
VL 41
AB Hot electrons  in  metals at helium  temperatures under  steady conditions can  be produced  by  passing  an  electric  current of  moderate density through thin, narrow (-1 μm wide) metallic films in good thermal  contact with bulk single-crystal dielectric substrates. This paper is concerned  with the theory of hot electrons in normal metals at low temperatures (when θ<<  θ(D), where θ is the average electron energy and θ(D) is the Debye temperature).  The theory is formulated in terms of realistic electron and phonon  dispersion  laws, taking into account the experimental possibility of heat removal from the sample. In the case in which the temperature approximation of Kagnov, Lifshitz, and Tanatarov is not satisfied when elastic scattering of electrons is dominant in a steady state electric field, the kinetic equation is derived for the energy-dependent, hot electron distribution  function, which determines the associated nonlinear responses. The solution of this equation is discussed for a simple model. It is shown that the experimental information on the electron-phonon interaction in a metal can be obtained in terms of the well-known spectral functions. This is illustrated by experiments determining the nonlinear field dependence of the resistance, by tunnel experiments, and by critical current hysteresis measurements (for superconducting metals).  Theoretical estimates which support the observability of the effects underdiscussion are presented.
ER