Modern Electronics (was Re: List charter mods & headcount...

From: Paul Koning <pkoning_at_equallogic.com>
Date: Wed Jun 23 06:52:27 2004

>>>>> "John" == John Allain <allain_at_panix.com> writes:

 John> Strictly speaking, aren't gaseous and solid state devices both
 John> semiconductors? They conduct electricity conditionally in both
 John> cases.

Yes, but that's not what "semiconductor" means. Semiconductor
describes the material of which the device is built, not the device
action.

Semiconductors are things with a small positive bandgap, as opposed to
insulators, which have a large bandgap, and conductors, which have
none.

        paul
Received on Wed Jun 23 2004 - 06:52:27 BST