Thermal Noise at Quasi-equilibrium
  An expression that relates thermal current fluctuations in two terminal networks at quasi-equilibrium to their current voltage characteristics is presented. It is based upon the observation that the available thermal noise power at quasi-equilibrium is very close to the equilibrium value. As an example, current noise in ideal p-n junctions is obtained from their characteristics. Thermal current noise in field effect transistors is predicted by this approach, as well as "shot noise suppression" due to barrier lowering in solid-state diodes. 
D. Ritter