Where does the labelling of extrinsic semiconductors as “n” and “p” come from?Where did the concept of energy come from?Where does the reverse current come from in a organic semiconducting diode?Where do Newton's laws come from?Where do Maxwell's equations come from?semiconductors extrinsic and intrinsic carriers concentrations equationsWhere does the lowered effective mass of electrons come from?Where does the factor of half come from, boltzmann distribution for bandgap energyMass-Action LawWhere does the proportionality symbol originate from?Where did the concept of field come from?
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Where does the labelling of extrinsic semiconductors as “n” and “p” come from?
Where did the concept of energy come from?Where does the reverse current come from in a organic semiconducting diode?Where do Newton's laws come from?Where do Maxwell's equations come from?semiconductors extrinsic and intrinsic carriers concentrations equationsWhere does the lowered effective mass of electrons come from?Where does the factor of half come from, boltzmann distribution for bandgap energyMass-Action LawWhere does the proportionality symbol originate from?Where did the concept of field come from?
$begingroup$
The naming of doped semiconductors as "n-type" (for donor-doped) and "p-type" (for acceptor-doped) is ubiquitous. But I am having a hard time digging up where this naming tradition comes from and how it has come to be so widely accepted. From my perspective, there is nothing intuitive about this choice of notation. Henceforth the question:
Where does the tradition of labelling donor-doped extrinsic semiconductors as "n" and acceptor-doped as "p" come from?
semiconductor-physics history
asked Apr 28 at 18:03
Ignat InsarovIgnat Insarov
1163
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The naming of doped semiconductors as "n-type" (for donor-doped) and "p-type" (for acceptor-doped) is ubiquitous. But I am having a hard time digging up where this naming tradition comes from and how it has come to be so widely accepted. From my perspective, there is nothing intuitive about this choice of notation. Henceforth the question:
Where does the tradition of labelling donor-doped extrinsic semiconductors as "n" and acceptor-doped as "p" come from?
semiconductor-physics history
asked Apr 28 at 18:03
Ignat InsarovIgnat Insarov
1163
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Simple - n for negative, p for positive
$endgroup$
– Nilay Ghosh
Apr 28 at 19:13
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The naming of doped semiconductors as "n-type" (for donor-doped) and "p-type" (for acceptor-doped) is ubiquitous. But I am having a hard time digging up where this naming tradition comes from and how it has come to be so widely accepted. From my perspective, there is nothing intuitive about this choice of notation. Henceforth the question:
Where does the tradition of labelling donor-doped extrinsic semiconductors as "n" and acceptor-doped as "p" come from?
semiconductor-physics history
asked Apr 28 at 18:03
Ignat InsarovIgnat Insarov
1163
$endgroup$
The naming of doped semiconductors as "n-type" (for donor-doped) and "p-type" (for acceptor-doped) is ubiquitous. But I am having a hard time digging up where this naming tradition comes from and how it has come to be so widely accepted. From my perspective, there is nothing intuitive about this choice of notation. Henceforth the question:
Where does the tradition of labelling donor-doped extrinsic semiconductors as "n" and acceptor-doped as "p" come from?
semiconductor-physics history
semiconductor-physics history
asked Apr 28 at 18:03
Ignat InsarovIgnat Insarov
1163
asked Apr 28 at 18:03
Ignat InsarovIgnat Insarov
1163
asked Apr 28 at 18:03
Ignat InsarovIgnat Insarov
1163
asked Apr 28 at 18:03
Ignat InsarovIgnat Insarov
1163
asked Apr 28 at 18:03
Ignat InsarovIgnat Insarov
1163
1163
$begingroup$
Simple - n for negative, p for positive
$endgroup$
– Nilay Ghosh
Apr 28 at 19:13
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Simple - n for negative, p for positive
$endgroup$
– Nilay Ghosh
Apr 28 at 19:13
$begingroup$
Simple - n for negative, p for positive
$endgroup$
– Nilay Ghosh
Apr 28 at 19:13
$begingroup$
Simple - n for negative, p for positive
$endgroup$
– Nilay Ghosh
Apr 28 at 19:13
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
I want to supplement Eagle's answer.
Long before people deliberately doped semiconductors, physicists were studying samples of crystalline germanium.
While playing with these crystals, some seemed to act as if they had a few n or negative carriers in them, and others seemed to have p or positive carriers in them.
At first it was not understood why they behaved this way, and the naming convention long predates their use in electronics.
answered Apr 28 at 18:28
Paul YoungPaul Young
1,683421
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
So I should understand those germanium crystals were rather impure?
$endgroup$
– Ignat Insarov
Apr 28 at 18:40
$begingroup$
Actually, can you refer me to the records of those early experiments?
$endgroup$
– Ignat Insarov
Apr 28 at 18:58
$begingroup$
I actually read this in an old article in the physical review (before it branched apart) I will try to find a reference ...
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 3:41
$begingroup$
djena.engineering.cornell.edu/hws/history_of_semiconductors.pdf Start with the first reference
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 3:51
1
$begingroup$
And, yes, these early crystals were impure. Figuring out that the impurities were responsible for the conductivity was a huge step forward.
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 14:57
|
show 1 more comment
$begingroup$
For semiconductors, n-type mainly refers to Negative electrons which are the major charge carriers, whereas p-type refers to Positive, indicating holes which are the majority charge carriers (in this case), and can be thought of as positive.
In short, it tells us about the majority charge carriers in a particular type of semiconductor.
answered Apr 28 at 18:07
EagleEagle
4091418
$endgroup$
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
I want to supplement Eagle's answer.
Long before people deliberately doped semiconductors, physicists were studying samples of crystalline germanium.
While playing with these crystals, some seemed to act as if they had a few n or negative carriers in them, and others seemed to have p or positive carriers in them.
At first it was not understood why they behaved this way, and the naming convention long predates their use in electronics.
answered Apr 28 at 18:28
Paul YoungPaul Young
1,683421
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
So I should understand those germanium crystals were rather impure?
$endgroup$
– Ignat Insarov
Apr 28 at 18:40
$begingroup$
Actually, can you refer me to the records of those early experiments?
$endgroup$
– Ignat Insarov
Apr 28 at 18:58
$begingroup$
I actually read this in an old article in the physical review (before it branched apart) I will try to find a reference ...
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 3:41
$begingroup$
djena.engineering.cornell.edu/hws/history_of_semiconductors.pdf Start with the first reference
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 3:51
1
$begingroup$
And, yes, these early crystals were impure. Figuring out that the impurities were responsible for the conductivity was a huge step forward.
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 14:57
|
show 1 more comment
$begingroup$
I want to supplement Eagle's answer.
Long before people deliberately doped semiconductors, physicists were studying samples of crystalline germanium.
While playing with these crystals, some seemed to act as if they had a few n or negative carriers in them, and others seemed to have p or positive carriers in them.
At first it was not understood why they behaved this way, and the naming convention long predates their use in electronics.
answered Apr 28 at 18:28
Paul YoungPaul Young
1,683421
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
So I should understand those germanium crystals were rather impure?
$endgroup$
– Ignat Insarov
Apr 28 at 18:40
$begingroup$
Actually, can you refer me to the records of those early experiments?
$endgroup$
– Ignat Insarov
Apr 28 at 18:58
$begingroup$
I actually read this in an old article in the physical review (before it branched apart) I will try to find a reference ...
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 3:41
$begingroup$
djena.engineering.cornell.edu/hws/history_of_semiconductors.pdf Start with the first reference
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 3:51
1
$begingroup$
And, yes, these early crystals were impure. Figuring out that the impurities were responsible for the conductivity was a huge step forward.
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 14:57
|
show 1 more comment
$begingroup$
I want to supplement Eagle's answer.
Long before people deliberately doped semiconductors, physicists were studying samples of crystalline germanium.
While playing with these crystals, some seemed to act as if they had a few n or negative carriers in them, and others seemed to have p or positive carriers in them.
At first it was not understood why they behaved this way, and the naming convention long predates their use in electronics.
answered Apr 28 at 18:28
Paul YoungPaul Young
1,683421
$endgroup$
I want to supplement Eagle's answer.
Long before people deliberately doped semiconductors, physicists were studying samples of crystalline germanium.
While playing with these crystals, some seemed to act as if they had a few n or negative carriers in them, and others seemed to have p or positive carriers in them.
At first it was not understood why they behaved this way, and the naming convention long predates their use in electronics.
answered Apr 28 at 18:28
Paul YoungPaul Young
1,683421
edited Apr 29 at 19:15
answered Apr 28 at 18:28
Paul YoungPaul Young
1,683421
answered Apr 28 at 18:28
Paul YoungPaul Young
1,683421
answered Apr 28 at 18:28
Paul YoungPaul Young
1,683421
1,683421
1
$begingroup$
So I should understand those germanium crystals were rather impure?
$endgroup$
– Ignat Insarov
Apr 28 at 18:40
$begingroup$
Actually, can you refer me to the records of those early experiments?
$endgroup$
– Ignat Insarov
Apr 28 at 18:58
$begingroup$
I actually read this in an old article in the physical review (before it branched apart) I will try to find a reference ...
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 3:41
$begingroup$
djena.engineering.cornell.edu/hws/history_of_semiconductors.pdf Start with the first reference
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 3:51
1
$begingroup$
And, yes, these early crystals were impure. Figuring out that the impurities were responsible for the conductivity was a huge step forward.
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 14:57
|
show 1 more comment
1
$begingroup$
So I should understand those germanium crystals were rather impure?
$endgroup$
– Ignat Insarov
Apr 28 at 18:40
$begingroup$
Actually, can you refer me to the records of those early experiments?
$endgroup$
– Ignat Insarov
Apr 28 at 18:58
$begingroup$
I actually read this in an old article in the physical review (before it branched apart) I will try to find a reference ...
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 3:41
$begingroup$
djena.engineering.cornell.edu/hws/history_of_semiconductors.pdf Start with the first reference
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 3:51
1
$begingroup$
And, yes, these early crystals were impure. Figuring out that the impurities were responsible for the conductivity was a huge step forward.
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 14:57
1
1
$begingroup$
So I should understand those germanium crystals were rather impure?
$endgroup$
– Ignat Insarov
Apr 28 at 18:40
$begingroup$
So I should understand those germanium crystals were rather impure?
$endgroup$
– Ignat Insarov
Apr 28 at 18:40
$begingroup$
Actually, can you refer me to the records of those early experiments?
$endgroup$
– Ignat Insarov
Apr 28 at 18:58
$begingroup$
Actually, can you refer me to the records of those early experiments?
$endgroup$
– Ignat Insarov
Apr 28 at 18:58
$begingroup$
I actually read this in an old article in the physical review (before it branched apart) I will try to find a reference ...
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 3:41
$begingroup$
I actually read this in an old article in the physical review (before it branched apart) I will try to find a reference ...
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 3:41
$begingroup$
djena.engineering.cornell.edu/hws/history_of_semiconductors.pdf Start with the first reference
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 3:51
$begingroup$
djena.engineering.cornell.edu/hws/history_of_semiconductors.pdf Start with the first reference
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 3:51
1
1
$begingroup$
And, yes, these early crystals were impure. Figuring out that the impurities were responsible for the conductivity was a huge step forward.
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 14:57
$begingroup$
And, yes, these early crystals were impure. Figuring out that the impurities were responsible for the conductivity was a huge step forward.
$endgroup$
– Paul Young
Apr 29 at 14:57
|
show 1 more comment
$begingroup$
For semiconductors, n-type mainly refers to Negative electrons which are the major charge carriers, whereas p-type refers to Positive, indicating holes which are the majority charge carriers (in this case), and can be thought of as positive.
In short, it tells us about the majority charge carriers in a particular type of semiconductor.
answered Apr 28 at 18:07
EagleEagle
4091418
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
For semiconductors, n-type mainly refers to Negative electrons which are the major charge carriers, whereas p-type refers to Positive, indicating holes which are the majority charge carriers (in this case), and can be thought of as positive.
In short, it tells us about the majority charge carriers in a particular type of semiconductor.
answered Apr 28 at 18:07
EagleEagle
4091418
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
For semiconductors, n-type mainly refers to Negative electrons which are the major charge carriers, whereas p-type refers to Positive, indicating holes which are the majority charge carriers (in this case), and can be thought of as positive.
In short, it tells us about the majority charge carriers in a particular type of semiconductor.
answered Apr 28 at 18:07
EagleEagle
4091418
$endgroup$
For semiconductors, n-type mainly refers to Negative electrons which are the major charge carriers, whereas p-type refers to Positive, indicating holes which are the majority charge carriers (in this case), and can be thought of as positive.
In short, it tells us about the majority charge carriers in a particular type of semiconductor.
answered Apr 28 at 18:07
EagleEagle
4091418
answered Apr 28 at 18:07
EagleEagle
4091418
answered Apr 28 at 18:07
EagleEagle
4091418
answered Apr 28 at 18:07
EagleEagle
4091418
4091418
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Simple - n for negative, p for positive
$endgroup$
– Nilay Ghosh
Apr 28 at 19:13