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What does the term "acceptor concentration" refer to in the context of semiconductor physics?

a) Concentration of electrons
b) Concentration of holes
c) Concentration of protons
d) Concentration of neutrons

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The term 'acceptor concentration' refers to the number of holes in a semiconductor, which occur due to the addition of acceptor impurities, thereby making it a p-type semiconductor with holes as the majority carriers of electrical charge.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term acceptor concentration in the context of semiconductor physics refers to the concentration of holes which are effectively positive charges that can move through the crystal lattice. This occurs when dopant atoms, typically with one fewer valence electron than the semiconductor atoms, such as aluminum (Al) for silicon (Si), are introduced into the semiconductor. These impurities are known as acceptor impurities, and they create a p-type semiconductor where the primary charge carriers are holes rather than electrons.

In p-type semiconductors, the number of holes introduced by acceptor impurities drastically influences the electrical properties of the material. These holes can be thought of as electron vacancies which, when filled by an electron, leave behind a new hole, effectively allowing for the movement of positive charge. The concept of majority and minority carriers also plays a key role, with holes being the majority carriers in p-type semiconductors.

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