The Child-Langmuir limit for semiconductors:: A numerical validation

The Boltzmann Poisson system modeling the electron flow in semiconductors is used to discuss the validity of the Child-Langmuir asymptotics. The scattering kernel is approximated by a simple relaxation time operator. The Child-Langmuir limit gives an approximation of the current-voltage characteristic curves by means of a scaling procedure in which the ballistic velocity is much larger that the thermal one. We discuss the validity of the Child-Langmuir regime by performing detailed numerical comparisons between the simulation of the Boltzmann Poisson system and the Child-Langmuir equations in test problems.