Increase in the electric conductivity of a semiconductor or insulator by exposing it to an electric field.
Note:
Valence electrons in an insulator or poor semiconductor that is exposed to an external electric field obtain a part of the excitation energy from an external electric field.
Source:
PAC, 2022, 94, 15. 'Glossary of terms relating to electronic, photonic and magnetic properties of polymers (IUPAC Recommendations 2021)' on page 43 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2020-0501)