Equation of states and melting temperatures of diamond cubic and zincblende semiconductors: Pressure dependence

Abstract

The pressure dependence of the melting temperatures of tetrahedrally coordinated semiconductors are studied using the equation of states derived from the statistical moment method, in comparison with those of the normal metals. Using the general expressions of the limiting temperatures Tm, we calculate the melting temperatures of the semiconductor crystals and normal metals as a function of the hydrostatic pressure. The physical origins for the inverse pressure dependence of Tm observed for tetrahedrally coordinated semiconductors are also discussed. © 2008 IOP Publishing Ltd.