to cross a pn junction holes have to climb a hill

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An example of an analogy and anthropomorphism in a scientist's writing:

"…the conditon of the junction when these processes have reached equilibriu. A double layer of electrical charge is constructed near the junction because diffusion of mobile charges has left the fixed ionic charges partly uncompensated, and the double layer opposes further diffisuon. The opposition is equivalent to a hill that the mobile charges must climb in order to leave the region from which they diffuse – a hill that faces in opposite directions for holes and for electrons."

"The holes giving [current] I_f are climbing up the hill. The holes that give I_g wander randomly in the n region until by chance they come to the brow of the hill and slide down."

"Any less energetic holes attempting the ascent will slide back."

"A hill of any height will urge ahead all holes that stray to its brow."

Alan Holden

Holden, A. (1965). The Nature of Solids. Columbia University Press.

Read about analogy in science

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