Role of the changing sign of effective electron–electron correlation energy for information recording in PCM

Abstract

We consider the centers with negative electron-electron correlation energy. It is shown that in strong electric field the effective electron-electron correlation energy can become positive. As a result the Fermi level shifts and the conductivity increases sharply which we call the conductivity transition. This transition may cause the nonlinearity and a sufficient increase of the current density while data recording in chalcogenide-based phase-change memory (PCM).