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Charge carrier
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{{Short description|Free-moving particle which carries an electric charge}} In [[solid state physics]], a '''charge carrier''' is a [[particle]] or [[quasiparticle]] that is free to move, carrying an [[electric charge]], especially the particles that carry electric charges in [[electrical conductor]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Charge_carrier |title=Energy Education - Charge carrier |date=May 11, 2018 |access-date=April 30, 2021|first=Gokul|last=Dharan |first2=Kailyn |last2=Stenhouse |first3=Jason |last3=Donev}}</ref> Examples are [[electron]]s, [[ion]]s and [[electron hole|holes]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Charge carrier |url=https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Charge+carriers |website=The Great Soviet Encyclopedia 3rd Edition. (1970-1979)}}</ref> In a conducting medium, an [[electric field]] can exert force on these free particles, causing a net motion of the particles through the medium; this is what constitutes an [[electric current]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/miccur.html#c1 |title=Microscopic View of Electric Current |access-date=April 30, 2021 |first=R. |last=Nave}}</ref> The [[electron]] and the [[proton]] are the '''elementary charge carriers''', each carrying one [[elementary charge]] (''e''), of the same magnitude and opposite [[sign (mathematics)|sign]].
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