Johnsen-Rahbek effect
Encyclopedia
The Johnsen–Rahbek effect occurs when an electric potential
is applied across the boundary between a metal
lic surface and the surface of a semiconducting material
. Under these conditions an attractive force appears, whose magnitude depends on the voltage and the specific materials involved.
The effect is named after Danish engineers F. A. Johnsen and K. Rahbek, the first to investigate the effect at length.
Electric potential
In classical electromagnetism, the electric potential at a point within a defined space is equal to the electric potential energy at that location divided by the charge there...
is applied across the boundary between a metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...
lic surface and the surface of a semiconducting material
Semiconductor
A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity due to electron flow intermediate in magnitude between that of a conductor and an insulator. This means a conductivity roughly in the range of 103 to 10−8 siemens per centimeter...
. Under these conditions an attractive force appears, whose magnitude depends on the voltage and the specific materials involved.
The effect is named after Danish engineers F. A. Johnsen and K. Rahbek, the first to investigate the effect at length.
External links
- "Development of the Electrostatic Clutch", IBM Journal, January, 1957.
- "Edison's Loud-Speaking Telephone"
- A simple theory of the Johnsen-Rahbek effect R Atkinson 1969 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 2 325-332