Non parabolic band transport in semiconductors: closure of the moment equations

The problem of the closure of the moment equations of the semiconductor Boltzmann equation is studied in the framework of the Kane dispersion relation (therefore avoiding the limitations of the parabolic band approximation). By using the maximum entropy ansatz for the closure one obtains, in the limit of small anisotropy, explicit constitutive relations for the stress tensor and the flux of energy flux tensor. The results obtained are in remarkable agreement with those arising from Monte Carlo simulations. Received October 27, 98