Transistor
"... the most important invention of the 20th century..."
- Various Sources (25)
Transistor
“Besides replacing the vacuum tube, which was bulky and much larger, the transistor allowed for the miniaturizing of components needed for the eventual evolution of computers.” (27).
This began the miniaturization and commodification of technology. Computers became personal and small enough away from the ENIAC computer used only as a calculator, soon strayed and became smaller and usable.
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It was small in size, generated very low heat, and was very dependable, making possible a breakthrough in the miniaturization of complex circuitry. |
The Need
The Inventors
"... from 17 November to 23 December 1947, Walter H. Brattain and John A. Bardeen -- under the direction of William B. Shockley -- discovered the transistor effect, and developed and demonstrated a point-contact germanium transistor..." |
John Bardeen and Walter Brattain were first hired by William Shockley at bell labs to do this work.
"William Shockley was the supervisor of Bardeen and Brattain. Though he did not actively partake in the production of the first transistor, he felt he deserved co-recognition" (30).
“Bardeen’s skills in analysis and theory made him a good fit to work with Brattain, who was especially adept at experimentation.” (31).
Bardeen noticed the electricity didn't flow evenly through the entire substance and this allowed them to build the transistor.
"Bardeen and Brattain, however, considered the achievement their own. The disagreement strained relations at the lab. As it turned out, only Bardeen’s and Brattain’s names appeared on the patent for the point-contact transistor." (32).
"William Shockley was the supervisor of Bardeen and Brattain. Though he did not actively partake in the production of the first transistor, he felt he deserved co-recognition" (30).
“Bardeen’s skills in analysis and theory made him a good fit to work with Brattain, who was especially adept at experimentation.” (31).
Bardeen noticed the electricity didn't flow evenly through the entire substance and this allowed them to build the transistor.
"Bardeen and Brattain, however, considered the achievement their own. The disagreement strained relations at the lab. As it turned out, only Bardeen’s and Brattain’s names appeared on the patent for the point-contact transistor." (32).
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Angry in retaliation, Shockley invents his own type of transistor - junction transistor - following this.
"Bardeen was unhappy continuing work in the research group. Eventually he left and began a professorship at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign” (33). |
Results
In 1956, John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley were given the Nobel Prize for Physics.
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“The Nobel awards should be regarded as giving recognition to this general scientific progress as well as to the individuals involved.” |
25 - Bardeen, John. Interview by Lillian Hoddeson. Institute for Theoretical Physics, Santa Barbara, CA. May 12, 1977.
26 - Hoddeson, Lillian, and Vicki Daitch. True Genius: The Life and Science of John Bardeen: The Only Winner of Two Nobel Prizes in Physics.
27 - ibid
28 - Levine, Alaina G. "John Bardeen, William Shockley, Walter Brattain - Invention of the Transistor - Bell Laboratories." APS Physics. Last modified 2008.
29 - IEEE Global History Network. "Milestones: Invention of the First Transistor at Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc., 1947." IEEE Global History Network. Last modified 2013.
30 - National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. "John Bardeen (1908-1991)." Magnet Lab. Accessed November 29, 2014. http://www.magnet.fsu.edu/education/tutorials/pioneers/bardeen.html.
31 - ibid
32 - ibid
33 - ibid
34 - Lundqvist, Stig, ed. "John Bardeen - Biographical." Nobelprize.org. Last modified 1992.
35 - Bardeen, John. Interview by Lillian Hoddeson. Institute for Theoretical Physics, Santa Barbara, CA. February 13, 1980.
26 - Hoddeson, Lillian, and Vicki Daitch. True Genius: The Life and Science of John Bardeen: The Only Winner of Two Nobel Prizes in Physics.
27 - ibid
28 - Levine, Alaina G. "John Bardeen, William Shockley, Walter Brattain - Invention of the Transistor - Bell Laboratories." APS Physics. Last modified 2008.
29 - IEEE Global History Network. "Milestones: Invention of the First Transistor at Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc., 1947." IEEE Global History Network. Last modified 2013.
30 - National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. "John Bardeen (1908-1991)." Magnet Lab. Accessed November 29, 2014. http://www.magnet.fsu.edu/education/tutorials/pioneers/bardeen.html.
31 - ibid
32 - ibid
33 - ibid
34 - Lundqvist, Stig, ed. "John Bardeen - Biographical." Nobelprize.org. Last modified 1992.
35 - Bardeen, John. Interview by Lillian Hoddeson. Institute for Theoretical Physics, Santa Barbara, CA. February 13, 1980.
WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER DOWNLOAD FOR VIDEOS AND AUDIO
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John Bardeen: Physics Mastermind and Father of the Age of Information
Prasnav Naik - Senior Division
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=20426
John Bardeen: Physics Mastermind and Father of the Age of Information
Prasnav Naik - Senior Division