Chapter 3
Did Sir J.C. Bose Anticipate the Existence of p- and n-Type Semiconductors in His Coherer/Detector Experiments?
Prasanta Kumar Basu,
Prasanta Kumar Basu
Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India
Search for more papers by this authorPrasanta Kumar Basu,
Prasanta Kumar Basu
Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India
Search for more papers by this authorBook Editor(s):Arokia Nathan,
Samar K. Saha, Ravi M. Todi,
Arokia Nathan
Darwin College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Search for more papers by this authorSummary
Sir J.C. Bose developed a Galena detector, the first semiconductor device, for which his US patent application from Calcutta, India, was sanctioned in 1904. Sir Neville Mott later commented that Bose was the first to anticipate the existence of n- and p-type semiconductors. The present paper aims to examine critically the oft-quoted statement by Mott.
To give a proper perspective, a brief bio-sketch of Bose and his work on coherer or detector are presented. Mention is then made of when, where, and to whom Mott made the comment. A brief outline of semiconductor research before and after Bose presented thereafter prepares the basis for critically examining Mott's remark. A negative answer to the question posed by the title emerges.
References
- Bardeen , J. and Brattain , W.H. ( 1948 ). The transistor, a semiconductor triode . Phys. Rev. 74 : 230 – 231 . (1949). Physical principles involved in transistor action. Phys. Rev . 75: 203–231.
- Shockley , W. ( 1976 ). The path to the conception of junction transistors . IEEE Trans. Electron. Dev. ED-23(7) : 597 – 620 .
- Pearson , G.L. and Brattain , W.H. ( 1955 ). History of semiconductor research . Proc. IRE 43 ( 12 ): 1794 – 1806 .
- Busch , G. ( 1989 ). Early history of the physics and chemistry of semiconductors- from doubts to fact in a hundred year . Euro. J. Phys. 10 : 254 – 264 .
- Lukasiak , L. and Zakubowski , A. ( 2010 ). History of semiconductors . J. Telecomm. Info. Technol. 1 : 3 – 9 .
- Bose , J.C. ( 2004 ). US Patent 755,840 , granted on 29 March 2004. See Bose , J.C. ( 1998 ). Detector for electrical disturbances patent . Proc. IEEE 86 ( 1 ): 229 – 234 .
- ( 1901 ). Semiconductor rectifiers patented as cat's whisker detectors . https://www.computerhistory.org/siliconengine/semiconductor-rectifiers-patented-as-cats-whisker-detectors .
- Sengupta , D.P. , Engineer , M.H. , and Shepherd , V.A. ( 2009 ). Remembering Sir J. C. Bose . Singapore : IISc Press-World Scientific Publications . ISBN: 13-978-981-4271-61-5 .
- Bondyopadhyay , P.K. ( 1998 ). Under the glare of a thousand suns-the pioneering works of sir J.C. Bose . Proc. IEEE 86 ( 1 ): 218 – 224 . https://doi.org/10.1109/5.658772 .
- Bondyopadhyay , P.K. ( 1998 ). Sir J. C. Bose's diode detector received Marconi's first transatlantic wireless signal of December 1901 . Proc. IEEE 86 ( 1 ): 259 – 285 .
- Sengupta , D.L. , Sarkar , T.L. , and Sen , D. ( 1998 ). Centennial of the semiconductor diode detector . Proc. IEEE 86 ( 1 ): 235 – 243 . 10.1109/5.658772.
- Mitra , B. ( 1984 ). Early microwave engineering: J C Bose's physical researches during 1895–1900 . Sci. Cult. 50 ( 5 ): 147 – 154 .
- https://www.boseinstitute .
- Johnson , M. J C Bose (1863–1937) . https://www.christs.cam.ac.uk/jagadis-chandra-bose-1858-1937 (accessed 5 May 2023).
-
Emerson , D.T.
(
1997
).
The work of Jagadish Chandra Bose: 100 years of millimetre-wave research
.
IEEE Trans. MTT
45
(
12
):
2267
–
2273
.
10.1109/22.643830 Google Scholar
- Branly , E. ( 1900 ). Accroiissments de Resistance des Radioconducteurs (Increase of resistance of radioconductors) . Comptes Rendus Hebomadaries des Seances de l'Academie des Science [The weekly Review Session of the Academy of Science (Paris)] 130 : 1068 – 1071 .
- Cuff , T.M. ( 1993 ). Coherers, a review . MS Engg thesis, at Temple University , pp. 1 – 378 . http://doi.org/10.13140.RG.2.1.1757.8079) Cuff (p. 11) writes: Note, at the time Branly wrote this article, the term‘coherers’ was not yet in wide use and hence Branly referred to them as ‘radioconductors’.
- Bose , J.C. ( 1895 ). On Polarization of Electric Rays by Double Refracting Crystals , 1 – 10 . Asiatic Society of Bengal ; Collected Physical Papers. Longmans Green, and Co. London, 1927.
- Bose , J.C. ( 1899 ). On a Self-Recovering Coherer and the Study of the Cohering Action of Different Metals , vol. A65 , 166 – 172 . Proc. Royal Soc.; Collected Physical Papers. Longmans Green, and Co. London , 1927.
- Bose , J.C. ( 1900 ). On Electric Touch and Molecular Changes Produced in Matter by Electric Waves , vol. A66, 452 – 474 . Proc. Roy Soc; pp. 127–162 in Collected Physical Papers.
- Bose , J.C. ( 1901 ). On the Continuity of Effect of Light and Electric Radiation on Matter . Proc. Roy Soc; pp. 163 – 191 in Collected Physical Papers.
- Bose , J.C. ( 1901 ). On the Change in Conductivity of Metallic Particles Under Cyclic Electromotive Variation, Sec. A . Bose Inst. Trans., 223 – 252 . British Association of Glasgow ; Collected Physical Papers.
- Bose , J.C. ( 1987 ). On the Selective Conductivity Exhibited by Certain Polarizing Substances , 71 – 76 . Proc. Roy. Soc.; Collected Physical Papers.
- Bose , D. ( 2010 ). Physics and India (correspondence) . Current Science 99 ( 1 ): 12 .
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_ (semiconductor).
-
Volta , A.
(
1782
).
Del modo di render sensibilissimala piu debole electtricita sia naturale, sia artiliciale
.
Phil. Trans. R. Soc.
72
:
237
–
281
.
10.1098/rstl.1782.0018 Google Scholar
- Davy , H. ( 1821 ). Further researches on the magnetic phenomena produced by electricity with some new experiments on the properties of electrified bodies in their relation to conductivity powers and temperature . Phil. Trans. R. Soc. 111 : 236 – 244 .
- Faraday , M. ( 1839 ). Experimental Researches in Electricity , vol. I , 122 – 124 . London : Bernard Quaritch .
- Becquerel , A.E. ( 1839 ). On electric effects under the influence of solar radiation . Comptes Rendus de l'Academie des Sciences 9 : 711 – 714 .
-
Hittorf , J.W.
(
1851
).
Ueber das elektrische Leitungsvermogen des Schwefelsilbers und des Halbschwefelkupfers
.
Ann. Phys. Lpz.
84
:
1
–
28
.
10.1002/andp.18511600902 Google Scholar
- Smith , W. ( 1873 ). The action of light on selenium . J. Soc. Telegr. Eng. 2 ( 1 ): 31 – 33 .
- Braun , F. ( 1874 ). Ueber die Stromleitung durch Schwefelmetalle . Annalen der Physikt und Chemie 153 ( 4 ): 556 – 563 .
- Hall , E.H. ( 1879 ). On a new action of the magnet on electric currents . Am. J. Math. 2 : 287 – 291 .
- Drude , P. ( 1900 ). Zur Elektronentheorie der Metalle . Ann. Phys. Lpz. 1 : 566 – 613 .
- Riecke , V.E. ( 1901 ). Ist die metallische Leitung verbunden mit einem Transport von Metallionen? Phys. Z. 2 : 639 .
- Pierce , G.W. ( 1907 ). Crystal rectifiers for electric currents and electrical oscillators . Physical Review 25 : 31 – 60 . (1909) 28: 153–187; (1909) 29: 478–484.
- Koenigsberger , J. and Reichenheim , O. ( 1906 ). Ueber ein Temperaturgesetz der elektrischen Leigfahigkeit fester einheitlicher Substanzen und einige Folgerungen daraus . Phys. Z. 7 : 570 – 578 .
- Baedeker , K. ( 1907 ). Ueber die elektrische Leitfahigkeit und die thermoelektrische Kraft einiger Schwermetall-Verbindungen . Ann. Phys. Lpz. 22 : 749 – 766 .
- Weiss , J. ( 1910 ). Experimentelle Beitrage zur Elektronentheorie aus dem Gebiet der Thermoelektrizitat . Inaugural Dissertation, Albert-Ludwigs Universitat . Freiburg im Breisgau (Emmendingen: Dolter), pp. 110 – 114 .
-
Gudden , B.
(
1924
).
Elektrizitatsleitung in Kristallisierten Stoffen unter Ausschluss der Metalle
.
Ergeb. Exakten Naturwiss.
3
:
116
–
159
.
10.1007/BFb0111750 Google Scholar
- Bloch , F. ( 1928 ). Ueber die Quantenmechanik der Elektronen in Kristallgittern . Z. Phys. 52 : 555 – 560 .
- Peierls , R. ( 1929 ). Zur Theorie derGalvanomagnetischen Effekte . Z. Phys. 53 : 255 – 266 .
- Heisenberg , W. ( 1931 ). Zum Paulischen Ausschliessungsprinzip . Ann. Phys. Lpz. 10 : 888 – 904 .
-
Wilson , A.H.
(
1931
).
The theory of electronic semiconductors
.
Proc. R. Soc. Lond.
A133
:
458
–
491
. (1931). A134: 277–287.
10.1098/rspa.1931.0162 Google Scholar
- Wagner , C. and Schottky , W. ( 1930 ). Theorie der Geordneten Mischphases . Zeitschrift fur Physikalische Chemie BIt : 163 – 210 .
- Schottky , W. and Waibel , F. ( 1933 ). Die Elektronenleitung des Kupperoxyduls . Physikalische Zeitschrift 34 : 858 – 864 .
- Schottky , W. ( 1939 ). Zur Halbleitertheorie der Sperrschichtrichter und Spitzengleichrichter . Zeitschrift fur Physik 113 : 367 – 414 .
- Mott , N.F. ( 1939 ). The theory of crystal rectifiers . In: Proc. Royal Soc , vol. 171 , 27 – 38 . London .
- Davydov , B. ( 1938 ). The rectifying action of semiconductors . Tech. Phys. USSR 5 ( 2 ): 87 – 95 .
- Davydov , B. ( 1939 ). On the contact resistance of semiconductors . J. Phys. (USSR) 1 ( 2 ): 167 – 174 .
- Ohl , R.S. ( 1941 ). US Patent 2,402,662 , filed 27 May 1941.
- Scaff , J.H. ( 1941 ). US Patent 2,402,582 , filed 4 April 1941.
- Woodyard , J.R. ( 1950 ). Nonlinear circuit device utilizing germanium . US Patent 2,530,110, filed 1944, granted 1950.
- Shockley , W. ( 1949 ). The theory of p–n junctions and p–n junction transistors . Bell. Syst. Tech. J. 28 : 435 – 489 .
- Scaff , J.H. , Theurer , H.C. , and Schumacher , E.E. ( 1949 ). p-type and n-type silicon and the formation of the photovoltaic barrier in silicon ingots . Trans. Am. Inst. Min. Metall. Eng. 185 : 383 – 388 . Comment in [4] Although a major portion of the work reported in this reference was done before the war, publication was held up for security reasons. Scaff, J.H. and Theuerer, H.C. US Patent 2,567,970 (18 September 1951).
- Sparks , M. and Teal , G.K. ( 1953 ). Method of making p–n junctions in semiconductor materials . US Patent 2,631,356, filed 15 June 1950, issued 17 March 1953.
- Shockley , W. , Sparks , M. , and Teal , G.K. ( 1951 ). p–n junction transistors . Phys. Rev. 83 : 151 . 10.1103/PhysRev.83.151.
- Pfann , W.G. ( 1952 ). Principles of zone refining . Trans. Am. Inst. Min. Metall. Eng. 194 : 747 – 753 .
- Groenhaug , K.-L. Experiments with a replica of the Bose detector . www.kgroenha.net . Marcon (accessed 5 May 2023).
- Bose , D.N. ( 1997 ). Transistors: from point contact to single-electron . Resonance 2 : 39 – 54 .
-
Warner , R.M.
(
2001
).
Microelectronics: its unusual origin and personality
.
IEEE Trans. ED
48
(
11
):
2457
–
2467
.
10.1109/16.960368 Google Scholar
- Gandhi , G. , Aggarwal , V. , and Chua , L.O. ( 2013 ). The first radios were made using memristors! IEEE Circ. Syst. Mag. 13 : 8 – 16 , 2nd Qtr.
- Basu , P.K. ( 2022 ). Acharya Jagadish Chandra's Four Pioneering Endeavours and Their Relevance in the Perspectives of Current Electronics and Photonics, Keynote Address at 5th RCRS 2022, Organized by Indian Radio Science Society . IIT Indore (30 November–4 December 2022).
