Plasma, thermal, and elastic waves in semiconductors

The system of partially coupled plasma, thermal, and elastic wave equations and conditions for neglecting the coupling between them is analyzed. The treatment considers a semiconductor elastic medium with isotropic and homogeneous thermal and elastic properties. The solution of the coupled system of plasma, thermal and elastic equations is a very complex problem. In most practical cases partially coupled treatment is sufficient. Conditions where it is possible to neglect the coupling between the plasma, thermal, and elastic waves are considered in this work. Special cases for coupled thermal and elastic waves (the thermoelastic problem) and coupled plasma and elastic waves (the electronic deformation) are taken into consideration. An approximate quantitative analysis of the coupling effects is given. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.