Posted on 11/13/2008 6:19:49 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign developed the microplasma transistor by integrating a conventional microcavity plasma device with an electron emitter. Kuo-Feng (Kevin) Chen and Professor J. Gary Eden, Director of the Laboratory for Optical Physics and Engineering, published their study in a recent issue of Applied Physics Letters. As Eden explained, a plasma transistor could one day have certain advantages compared with conventional transistors.
"As you might imagine, this first plasma transistor has not yet been engineered to the degree necessary for a commercial product," Eden told PhysOrg.com. "Nevertheless, it should be mentioned that a microplasma transistor is advantageous in those situations requiring the transistor to handle high voltages and power. Unlike conventional transistors that can be damaged by a voltage transient, for example, the microplasma transistor is expected to be quite rugged because a gas (and plasma) cannot be 'burnt.'"
In the plasma transistor, the electron emitter injects electrons in a controlled manner into the sheath of a partially ionized neon gas (the plasma). The scientists discovered that even a voltage as low as 5 volts can change the properties of the microplasma, including quadrupling the current and increasing the visible light emission.
By controllably altering the microplasma's properties, the electron emitter effectively transforms the plasma microcavity device into a three-terminal transistor. Like a regular transistor, the microplasma transistor has the ability to control the current traveling through the terminals, and act as a switch or amplifier.
The scientists began investigating the plasma transistor while trying to solve a problem that arises in plasma devices, such as those in plasma TV displays.
(Excerpt) Read more at physorg.com ...
Can someone who went to this school tell me when Champaign-Urbana became Urbana-Champaign?
Since the school opened a vinyard.
I just think it’s odd, because I remember (as an Illinois native) railing on people during the 1980’s for switching the two.
Cathode (emitter)creates a electron cloud over the cathode
Anode (collector) attracts the electrons
Grid (charge controller)
Resistant to EMP.
Tubes Rock!
The Plasma Transistor would blow up sooner than the vacuum tube then, and cost a lot more too!
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