Transient velocity-field characteristics have been computed for GaAs channels having lengths of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, and 20 μm for electric fields between 1 and 50 kV/cm at 300 K. The results are compared with earlier calculations and the significant features of the computed results are discussed. It is found that the electron motion for all channel lengths and for all fields is significantly affected by collisions. The threshold field for negative differential mobility increases, and the magnitude of the differential mobility decreases with decrease in the length of the sample. The maximum steady-state velocity increases with decrease in the length and may be as high as 5.4×107 cm/s for 0.1 μm samples. © 1983 Springer-Verlag.