Rectification of space-charge waves upon optical and electrical excitation

A comparative analysis is performed for three optical and electrical methods of exciting space-charge waves in photosemiconductors: (i) excitation by an external ac electric field combined with a static interference pattern, (ii) excitation by a moving interference grating, and (iii) excitation by an oscillating interference grating. It is shown that, in the case when space-charge waves are excited using a combination of all three methods, the dependence of the direct current passing through a sample on the excitation frequency exhibits two peaks that correspond to the resonant excitation of two modes of space-charge oscillations, namely, drift waves and trap recharging waves. It is noted that experimental observation of the peak attributed to the excitation of trap recharging waves should not pose any problems, whereas observation of the second peak associated with the excitation of drift waves is significantly complicated because of the small magnitude of the effect, especially for materials with a low electrical conductivity (or a long Maxwell relaxation time).