Average velocity that a
charge carrier attains due to an applied electric field.
Notes: - If an electric field is absent, charge carriers move randomly. An applied electric field induces drift (net movement) of charge carriers in a preferred direction. Average net velocity of this movement is called the drift velocity \(v_{\rm{d}}\).
- The drift velocity of a charge carrier is directly proportional to the applied electric field strength \(E\): \[v_{\rm{d}} = \mu E\] where constant \(\mu\) is the charge carrier mobility in the given material.
Source:
PAC, 2022, 94, 15. 'Glossary of terms relating to electronic, photonic and magnetic properties of polymers (IUPAC Recommendations 2021)' on page 25 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2020-0501)