A NEW DEFINITION OF THE LOCAL CHEMICAL-POTENTIAL IN A SEMICONDUCTOR NANOSTRUCTURE

A new definition is given for the local chemical potential mu(L) in a semiconductor nanostructure which is transmitting currents. It is determined by the equation n(r, mu(1),mu(2),...) = n(r,mu(L),mu(L),...) where n denotes the electron density, r is the point at which mu(L) is required and mu(t) denotes the chemical potential in the reservoir feeding terminal t. This equation for mu(L) avoids any reference to non-invasive voltage probes which have been used in previous definitions. It is used to discriminate between previous formulae which use the ideas.