As a child of about ten I had the idea of "holding back" the electrons in a solid conductor with an electric field.  To this end I used the graphite inside a lead pencil as the solid, made a circuit of the pencil, a battery and bulb, then used a second battery and a little copper sheath around the graphite stick.

I do not remember if I got a result.  I think my grandfather was very angry and thought I was "possessed".

Years later (1963) I told my employer (Mullards) about this and they produced the FET and another of other devices.

The picture I produced for Mullards is shown below:

The device was originally proposed to be a copper cylinder shaped as shown with a ring a copper round the restricted area and insulated from it.

A current flowing in the copper can be held back by a reverse field from the ring.  The scientist I showed it to at Mullards said it might work if the copper cylinder was replaced by a semi-conductor.

My reasoning was based around a little knowledge of valve technology.

Chris.

11/03/2004