[Amps] Electron HOLE flow

Roger (K8RI) k8ri at rogerhalstead.com
Wed Aug 28 03:54:29 EDT 2013


On 8/28/2013 2:59 AM, jim.linda at roadrunner.com wrote:
> When I first went to school to study electronics they taught the theory called Hole Flow.  Lets start with the idea that there may be more than one way to have a free electron looking for a home.  When an electron is released from an atom he looks for another atom to nest.  The receiving atom has to release one when that happens.  It's against the rules to have an extra one that doesn't belong there.  So as current flows there are atoms receiving an electron and in turn releasing an electron.  Not all the atoms in a material are so lucky to receive the gift of a free electron, but if it is, it has to releases one also.  The process of receiving one and releasing one is called "hole flow" and for a short time the atom that lost one has a hole, but when it receives one again it is a happy camper.  Musical chairs is a good way of visualizing it.  My two cents worth.
> _______

They still refer to "hole flow" in introductory semiconductors.  Hole 
flow represents the current flow in "P" type semiconductors and using 
conventional current flow aids in following them.  Again a magnet cap 
show that the current flow really is positive, instead od 
negative/electrons.

It's been a long time since I went through those texts.

73

Roger (K8RI)
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