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Questions tagged [semiconductors]

Most generally a class of materials that are neither insulators or conductors in their natural state, but which can be manipulated via doping or electric fields to change their conduction state. Silicon, Germanium, and GaAs are some usual materials. The term is also used to speak about devices that are made from such materials, for example, a processor from Intel can be called a semiconductor.

2 votes
2 answers
1k views

What are the ratings of vintage Selenium Rectifier B20/16-2,4?

Sort-of a follow-up to How to ground a vintage device that was powered without a ground? in that the device is the same. I finally took the leap and opened up the old charger (depicted in the linked ...
Everyone's user avatar
  • 3,011
8 votes
7 answers
6k views

Resistance of a semiconductor diode

When we calculate the dynamic resistance \$r=(\frac{dv}{dI})\$, for any n-p junction, how is it different from the normal resistance \$R=\frac VI\$? Does the equation for the voltage drop (The fermi ...
stochastic13's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
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What does number of lines represent in semiconductor's E-K diagram

After I read the post: E-K diagram in case of semiconductors I have few more question on E-K diagram. For the Si E-K diagram above, we see 8 lines, 4 lines in conduction band and 4 lines in valence ...
user35492's user avatar
-2 votes
1 answer
128 views

In digital electronics, is the essence of "on/off" states driven solely by chemically-doped silicon? [closed]

I believe that in digital electronics, such as those measured in binary, we use semiconductor-doped amplifiers to switch electrical signals around. In the simplest sense we could split one analog ...
Isabel's user avatar
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13 votes
2 answers
2k views

Why are BJTs more reliable than MOSFETs under severe weather conditions?

I read in a textbook (Microelectronic Circuits by Sedra and Smith, pg. 494, (2010) sixth edition) that BJTs are preferred by the automotive industry due to their reliability under severe weather ...
David's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
69 views

Semiconductors-Achieve specific temperature

I want to achieve a specific temperature using a semiconductor or an electrical resistance in general. The temperature I want to achieve is at about \$30^oC = 86^∘F\$. This experiment consider it to ...
Dimitris's user avatar
  • 101
9 votes
2 answers
3k views

Transistor(BJT) as Two Diodes

With reference to Vasiliy's answer on this question Why can't two series-connected diodes act as a BJT? "excess electrons from the P side of the forward biased diode can not be swept to the P ...
Isomorphic's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
477 views

Potential drops in BJT in CE configuration?

In a simple p-n junction diode, there is a \$V_{eq}\$, the potential difference between the p-doped and the n-doped portion of the diode. When an external potential \$V\$ is applied in forward bias, ...
stochastic13's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
294 views

Would shooting laser or UV light at an inverter make it permanently slower?

I'm studying the topic of cloning electronic circuits for my research. And I have a scenario as the following: Chip A has two ring oscillators (RO1a and RO2a). And RO1a is faster than RO2a. Chip B ...
abc's user avatar
  • 53
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

NPN is physically symmetrical yet the model isn't? [duplicate]

It just strikes me as very odd that all representations of the actual physics of NPN transistors in textbooks is perfectly symmetrical, yet neither the diagram used to represent them nor the ...
blondiepassesby's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
85 views

How does a Silicon-Controlled Rectifier (SCRs) work? [duplicate]

I know that when in a SCR the anode is made more positive with respect to cathode the two outermost p-n junction get forward-biased but the middle one is still reverse-biased so no current flows ...
Deiknymi's user avatar
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5 votes
6 answers
430 views

is any other technology than semiconductor transistors or vacuum tubes that can be used as active devices?

I am curious to know if one can amplify a signal or make nonlinear active distortion to an electric signal without semiconductor transistor or vacuum tube technologies?
behrad mahboobi's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
72k views

E-K diagram in case of semiconductors

I am currently studying solid state electronic devices and want to build my concept in this subject. Can anyone explain to me what is E-k Diagram and what is its significance?
Rahul Kumar Singh's user avatar
14 votes
2 answers
3k views

What is silicon germanium (SiGe)?

I've heard that SiGe chips can be faster than ordinary silicon chips. What is SiGe and why is it faster than ordinary silicon?
The Photon's user avatar
  • 131k
0 votes
2 answers
313 views

What is the main Computer Memory Addressing Mechanism for Semi-Conductor Memory? [duplicate]

Most semiconductor memory is organized into memory cells or bistable flip-flops, each storing one bit (0 or 1). How exactly are the needed '1's or '0's taken from Memory? What mechanism or algorithm?
Sad CRUD Developer's user avatar

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