Trends in research and development in dielectrics - 1949

The relative maturity of the field of dielectrics is well illustrated by the fact that in 1949, as in 1948, the most interesting developments were in borderline subjects rather than in the extensive volume of research on dielectrics as such. One such borderline topic is a very active field of contemporary physics, solid state electronics. Investigations in this field are included in several sections of the Digest. For example, in the semiconductor section, an important series of papers on the mechanism of hole and electron conduction in germanium is reviewed. This work is of great assistance in understanding the electronic conduction process in other semiconductors and in insulating crystals in general.