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ERC Gunn Effect Experiment Main Content
NASA Center: Electronic Research Center
Image # : GunnEffect
Date : UNKNOWN

Title

ERC "Gunn Effect" Experiment

Full Description

W. Deter Straub, a scientist at the NASA Electronics Research Center's (ERC) Component Technology Laboratory, conducted this experiment with the "Gunn Effect." The Gunn Effect is the production of microwave oscillations when a constant voltage in excess of a critical level is applied to opposite faces of a semiconductor. The Center realized the promising advances in microwave research, indicated by "hot electron" experiments at the ERC with the use of bulk gallium arsenide semiconductor material. The Center's scientists generated higher frequency microwaves which were important for future NASA missions in spacecraft transmitters, because they were expected to improve the efficiency of microwave signal transmission in space. ERC opened in September 1964 and has the particular distinction of being the only NASA Center to close, shutting down in June 1970. Its mission was to develop new electronics and training new graduates as well as NASA employees. The ERC actually grew while NASA eliminated major programs and cut staff in other areas. Between 1967 and 1970, NASA cut permanent civil service workers at all Centers with one exception, the ERC, whose personnel grew annually until its closure. For more information about the ERC, please see http://history.nasa.gov/erc.html

Keywords

Gunn Effect ERC Electron Microwave Electronics Research Center

Subject Category

Reference Numbers

  • Center: ERC
  • Center Number: GunnEffect
  • GRIN DataBase Number: GPN-2003-00050

Source Information

  • Creator/Photographer: NASA
  • Original Source: NASA

Image Information ( Copyright Notification )

ResolutionFormatWidth
(Pixels)		Height
(Pixels)		Size
(KBytes)
Thumbnail JPEG 88 73 10
Small JPEG 707 582 284
Medium JPEG 1472 1212 1,241
Large JPEG 1 2424 7,322

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Updated October 31, 2002
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