Abstract. Experimental studies on 1/f noise are reviewed with emphasis on experiments that may be decisive in finding the correct theoretical model for this type of noise. The experimental results are confronted with two theories: McWhorter's (1959) surface state theory and Clarke and Voss's (1974) theory of local temperature fluctuations. The applicability of either theory turns out to be very limited. The validity of an empirical relation is investigated. Its application to electronic devices proves successful. Experiments show that 1/f noise obeying the empirical relation ( alpha noise) is a fluctuation in the part of the mobility that is due to lattice scattering.

Print publication: Issue 5 (May 1981)