Negative differential mobility in PbTe and PbSnTe at high electric fields

Monte Carlo calculations of hot-electron drift velocity in PbTe and Pb_0.8Sn_0.2Te at 77 K are reported. The relevant scattering mechanisms together with band-structure nonparabolicity and anisotropy are included in the calculations. A negative differential mobility (NDM) does not appear when the electrons are assumed to remain confined within the L valleys of the conduction band. On the contrary, allowing for electron transfer into the W valleys and taking suitable values of the parameters related to these valleys, an NDM appears and the threshold field for the same agrees well with the experimental data. Alloy scattering in PbSnTe is found to reduce the NDM.