Editing Semiconductor (section)

=== Excited electrons ===
A difference in electric potential on a semiconducting material would cause it to leave thermal equilibrium and create a non-equilibrium situation. This introduces electrons and holes to the system, which interact via a process called [[ambipolar diffusion]]. Whenever thermal equilibrium is disturbed in a semiconducting material, the number of holes and electrons changes. Such disruptions can occur as a result of a temperature difference or [[photon]]s, which can enter the system and create electrons and holes. The processes that create or annihilate electrons and holes are called [[carrier generation and recombination|generation]] and recombination, respectively.<ref name="Neamen" />