I have a very technical question about the history of semiconductors. I’ve read long ago, that in the 20s Germanium conductance was a mystery, because of parasitic PN junctions caused by contamination and various metallurgical uncontrolled differences...
It seems that some researchers had observed PN diode effects, but also, unable to explain it, have kept the measurement in their drawer… Is there any serious report about that dark age of germanium PN junction ?
More generally, I would like to understand the really underground story of early semiconductors research, when it was an anomaly, impossible to repeat reliably because of missing theory and technology, not the final phase when theory and experiments had connected in the 40s.
Not sure about germanium specifically, but recall the dopants in silicon crystals could be identified by smell, machinists familiar with the smell of phosphorus lamps could identify n type based on this. Can’t find the original source but:
I have a very technical question about the history of semiconductors.
I’ve read long ago, that in the 20s Germanium conductance was a mystery, because of parasitic PN junctions caused by contamination and various metallurgical uncontrolled differences...
It seems that some researchers had observed PN diode effects, but also, unable to explain it, have kept the measurement in their drawer… Is there any serious report about that dark age of germanium PN junction ?
More generally, I would like to understand the really underground story of early semiconductors research, when it was an anomaly, impossible to repeat reliably because of missing theory and technology, not the final phase when theory and experiments had connected in the 40s.
Best regards.
I don’t know! But I’m trying to recruit help on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasoncrawford/status/1595168485004279808
Here’s one reply:
https://twitter.com/carmichaeljr/status/1595177270959800322
Many Thanks !
Let’s hope it works.