trap, in physics, any location within a solid (generally a semiconductor or an insulator) that restricts the movement of electrons and holes—i.e., equivalent positive electrical charges that result from the absence of an electron within a crystal structure. A trap consists of either a chemical impurity or an imperfection in the regular spacing of the atoms that make up the solid. Traps play a significant role in photoconduction, luminescence, and the operation of various electronic devices because the ability of a solid to carry an electrical current depends on the flow of electrons and holes through the solid.
A trap can capture and immobilize an electron or hole and prevent its recombination with the carrier of opposite charge as an electron-hole pair. Electrons and holes may break free from traps quickly, or they may remain there for an extended period of time (e.g., several months or longer). Charge carriers can be released from traps by the addition of energy, such as irradiating the solid with light or by heating it.