Field Effect Transistor

field effect transistor

   <electronics> (FET) A {transistor} with a region of {donor}
   material with two terminals called the "source" and the
   "drain", and an adjoining region of {acceptor} material
   between, called the "gate".  The voltage between the gate and
   the {substrate} controls the current flow between source and
   drain by depleting the donor region of its charge carriers to
   greater or lesser extent.

   There are two kinds of FET's, {Junction FETs} and {MOSFETs}.

   Because no current (except a minute leakage current) flows
   through the gate, FETs can be used to make circuits with very
   low power consumption.

   Contrast {bipolar transistor}.

   (1995-10-05)