At 11:58 PM 12/4/99 PST, you wrote:
>    In present day terms, does a "source" provide conventional current
>    or does it provide electrons?  Same for a "drain" ... does it drain
>    conventional current or drain electrons?
>
>Um, I don't actually recall.  Most of our FETs were theoretical and fairly
>symetric, too, I think.  I don't recall ANYONE ever justifying the names of
>semiconductor terminals.  Hmm.  I can dig "Solid State Electronic Devices"
>(Streetman) off my shelf, and lookup the chapter where FETs are
>introduced:
>

Hey Bill, we still use Streetman's book (a newer edition). I just thought
it was interesting to see you mention his name :-)

Also, in my courses, we always use conventional current, even in the
Physics courses. I think that the names of semiconductor terminals refer to
carrier movement. SO, in a FET, the source is the electrode which supplies
the charge which will be carried by the majority carriers, and the drain is
what accepts the carriers. In BJTs, the emitter supplies the charge which
will be transported by the carriers. These do seem to be rough names, though.

Sean


|
| Sean Breheny
| Amateur Radio Callsign: KA3YXM
| Electrical Engineering Student
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