Where does the labelling of extrinsic semiconductors as “n” and “p” come from?












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The naming of doped semiconductors as "n-type" (for donor-doped) and "p-type" (for acceptor-doped) is ubiquitous. But I am having a hard time digging up where this naming tradition comes from and how it has come to be so widely accepted. From my perspective, there is nothing intuitive about this choice of notation. Henceforth the question:



Where does the tradition of labelling donor-doped extrinsic semiconductors as "n" and acceptor-doped as "p" come from?






semiconductor-physics history







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Ignat Insarov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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  • $begingroup$
    Simple - n for negative, p for positive
    $endgroup$
    – Nilay Ghosh
    7 hours ago
















1












$begingroup$


The naming of doped semiconductors as "n-type" (for donor-doped) and "p-type" (for acceptor-doped) is ubiquitous. But I am having a hard time digging up where this naming tradition comes from and how it has come to be so widely accepted. From my perspective, there is nothing intuitive about this choice of notation. Henceforth the question:



Where does the tradition of labelling donor-doped extrinsic semiconductors as "n" and acceptor-doped as "p" come from?






semiconductor-physics history







share|cite|improve this question







New contributor




Ignat Insarov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Simple - n for negative, p for positive
    $endgroup$
    – Nilay Ghosh
    7 hours ago














1












1








1





$begingroup$


The naming of doped semiconductors as "n-type" (for donor-doped) and "p-type" (for acceptor-doped) is ubiquitous. But I am having a hard time digging up where this naming tradition comes from and how it has come to be so widely accepted. From my perspective, there is nothing intuitive about this choice of notation. Henceforth the question:



Where does the tradition of labelling donor-doped extrinsic semiconductors as "n" and acceptor-doped as "p" come from?






semiconductor-physics history







share|cite|improve this question







New contributor




Ignat Insarov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$




The naming of doped semiconductors as "n-type" (for donor-doped) and "p-type" (for acceptor-doped) is ubiquitous. But I am having a hard time digging up where this naming tradition comes from and how it has come to be so widely accepted. From my perspective, there is nothing intuitive about this choice of notation. Henceforth the question:



Where does the tradition of labelling donor-doped extrinsic semiconductors as "n" and acceptor-doped as "p" come from?






semiconductor-physics history




semiconductor-physics history






share|cite|improve this question







New contributor




Ignat Insarov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|cite|improve this question







New contributor




Ignat Insarov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question






New contributor




Ignat Insarov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 8 hours ago









Ignat InsarovIgnat Insarov

1092




1092




New contributor




Ignat Insarov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





Ignat Insarov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Ignat Insarov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












  • $begingroup$
    Simple - n for negative, p for positive
    $endgroup$
    – Nilay Ghosh
    7 hours ago


















  • $begingroup$
    Simple - n for negative, p for positive
    $endgroup$
    – Nilay Ghosh
    7 hours ago
















$begingroup$
Simple - n for negative, p for positive
$endgroup$
– Nilay Ghosh
7 hours ago




$begingroup$
Simple - n for negative, p for positive
$endgroup$
– Nilay Ghosh
7 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















5












$begingroup$

For semiconductors, n-type mainly refers to Negative electrons which are the major charge carriers, whereas p-type refers to Positive, indicating holes which are the majority charge carriers (in this case), and can be thought of as positive.



In short, it tells us about the majority charge carriers in a particular type of semiconductor.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$





















    2












    $begingroup$

    I want to supplement Eagle's answer.
    Long before people deliberately doped semiconductors, physicists were studying samples of crystalline germanium.
    While playing with these crystals, some seem to act as if they had a few n or negative carriers in them, and others seemed to have p or positive carriers in them.
    At first it was not understood why they behaved this way, and the the naming convention long predates their use in electronics.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$









    • 1




      $begingroup$
      So I should understand those germanium crystals were rather impure?
      $endgroup$
      – Ignat Insarov
      7 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      Actually, can you refer me to the records of those early experiments?
      $endgroup$
      – Ignat Insarov
      7 hours ago












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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    5












    $begingroup$

    For semiconductors, n-type mainly refers to Negative electrons which are the major charge carriers, whereas p-type refers to Positive, indicating holes which are the majority charge carriers (in this case), and can be thought of as positive.



    In short, it tells us about the majority charge carriers in a particular type of semiconductor.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$


















      5












      $begingroup$

      For semiconductors, n-type mainly refers to Negative electrons which are the major charge carriers, whereas p-type refers to Positive, indicating holes which are the majority charge carriers (in this case), and can be thought of as positive.



      In short, it tells us about the majority charge carriers in a particular type of semiconductor.






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$
















        5












        5








        5





        $begingroup$

        For semiconductors, n-type mainly refers to Negative electrons which are the major charge carriers, whereas p-type refers to Positive, indicating holes which are the majority charge carriers (in this case), and can be thought of as positive.



        In short, it tells us about the majority charge carriers in a particular type of semiconductor.






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$



        For semiconductors, n-type mainly refers to Negative electrons which are the major charge carriers, whereas p-type refers to Positive, indicating holes which are the majority charge carriers (in this case), and can be thought of as positive.



        In short, it tells us about the majority charge carriers in a particular type of semiconductor.







        share|cite|improve this answer












        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer










        answered 8 hours ago









        EagleEagle

        3811217




        3811217























            2












            $begingroup$

            I want to supplement Eagle's answer.
            Long before people deliberately doped semiconductors, physicists were studying samples of crystalline germanium.
            While playing with these crystals, some seem to act as if they had a few n or negative carriers in them, and others seemed to have p or positive carriers in them.
            At first it was not understood why they behaved this way, and the the naming convention long predates their use in electronics.






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$









            • 1




              $begingroup$
              So I should understand those germanium crystals were rather impure?
              $endgroup$
              – Ignat Insarov
              7 hours ago










            • $begingroup$
              Actually, can you refer me to the records of those early experiments?
              $endgroup$
              – Ignat Insarov
              7 hours ago
















            2












            $begingroup$

            I want to supplement Eagle's answer.
            Long before people deliberately doped semiconductors, physicists were studying samples of crystalline germanium.
            While playing with these crystals, some seem to act as if they had a few n or negative carriers in them, and others seemed to have p or positive carriers in them.
            At first it was not understood why they behaved this way, and the the naming convention long predates their use in electronics.






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$









            • 1




              $begingroup$
              So I should understand those germanium crystals were rather impure?
              $endgroup$
              – Ignat Insarov
              7 hours ago










            • $begingroup$
              Actually, can you refer me to the records of those early experiments?
              $endgroup$
              – Ignat Insarov
              7 hours ago














            2












            2








            2





            $begingroup$

            I want to supplement Eagle's answer.
            Long before people deliberately doped semiconductors, physicists were studying samples of crystalline germanium.
            While playing with these crystals, some seem to act as if they had a few n or negative carriers in them, and others seemed to have p or positive carriers in them.
            At first it was not understood why they behaved this way, and the the naming convention long predates their use in electronics.






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$



            I want to supplement Eagle's answer.
            Long before people deliberately doped semiconductors, physicists were studying samples of crystalline germanium.
            While playing with these crystals, some seem to act as if they had a few n or negative carriers in them, and others seemed to have p or positive carriers in them.
            At first it was not understood why they behaved this way, and the the naming convention long predates their use in electronics.







            share|cite|improve this answer












            share|cite|improve this answer



            share|cite|improve this answer










            answered 7 hours ago









            Paul YoungPaul Young

            1,486318




            1,486318








            • 1




              $begingroup$
              So I should understand those germanium crystals were rather impure?
              $endgroup$
              – Ignat Insarov
              7 hours ago










            • $begingroup$
              Actually, can you refer me to the records of those early experiments?
              $endgroup$
              – Ignat Insarov
              7 hours ago














            • 1




              $begingroup$
              So I should understand those germanium crystals were rather impure?
              $endgroup$
              – Ignat Insarov
              7 hours ago










            • $begingroup$
              Actually, can you refer me to the records of those early experiments?
              $endgroup$
              – Ignat Insarov
              7 hours ago








            1




            1




            $begingroup$
            So I should understand those germanium crystals were rather impure?
            $endgroup$
            – Ignat Insarov
            7 hours ago




            $begingroup$
            So I should understand those germanium crystals were rather impure?
            $endgroup$
            – Ignat Insarov
            7 hours ago












            $begingroup$
            Actually, can you refer me to the records of those early experiments?
            $endgroup$
            – Ignat Insarov
            7 hours ago




            $begingroup$
            Actually, can you refer me to the records of those early experiments?
            $endgroup$
            – Ignat Insarov
            7 hours ago










            Ignat Insarov is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










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