Research Leading to Point-Contact Transistor, Handout

Question 1

Where did the discovery of the transistor effect occur?

Answer 1

In the course of a fundamental research program on semiconductors initiated at Bell Telephone Laboratories in early 1946.

Question 2

What was the general aim of the program?

Answer 2

To obtain a complete an understanding as possible of semiconductor phenomena, not in empirical terms but on the basis of atomic theory.

Question 3

Why did we use germanium and silicon for most of our work?

Answer 3

Because they are well suited to fundamental investigations with the desired close coordination of theory and experiment.