[R-390] The "Current Direction" discussion...

[2002tii]

Clay wrote:

>The reason that "holes" were invented was to allow students to 
>imagine "something" that actually flows from positive to 
>negative.  There aren't really any such things, of course, as far as 
>actually existing in the real world.  We just all agree to pretend 
>the same thing.  There are no physical objects that move in the 
>opposite direction of electron movement, like checkers jumping each 
>other on a checker board.  A hole is simply "A spot where an 
>electron is not."  If there's a "spot where an electron is not", 
>then we have a spot where an electron can move to.
>
>an atom that's missing one outer energy band electron does have a 
>net positive charge, but it's not correct to call that atom a "hole" 
>because in conventional current methodology holes "move", and an 
>atom NEVER moves.  As one electron leaves, that leaves a "hole" 
>where a different electron can reside, for a fraction of a second, 
>until it moves on to another atom, leaving a fresh "hole" behind 
>where another electron can jump in.  So, if you can visualize the 
>electrons jumping from spot to spot, then you can also visualize 
>what appears to be a single spot jumping in the reverse direction...sorta.

The prevailing view in solid state physics is that holes are, in 
fact, real.  But a hole is not an atom -- it is a lattice location 
that can accept electrons.  Yes, that location happens to be occupied 
by an atom, but the atom is not the hole.  The ability to accept an 
electron is the hole, and its location moves as electrons from 
adjacent locations move to fill the place it just was.

Not sure it really matters -- reality or existence is an ontological 
concept, not electronic.

Somewhat counterintuitive, perhaps, but not quantum mechanics.

Best regards,

Don