Abstract: A device for the multiplication of charge carriers of a given type by an avalanche phenomenon includes:a semiconductor material of homogeneous composition, placed in an electrical field.Perpendicular to the working field, plane and parallel layers which are thin as compared with the thickness of the material separating them, are made in this material and are n-doped or p-doped depending on the type of charge carrier, the said layers forming reservoirs where charge carriers of the said type are confined. The injection of at least one charge carrier of the said type in the charge carrier multiplying device sets off the multiplication of charge carriers through a process of impact ionization. This charge carrier is accelerated by the working field and thus acquires energy sufficient to make it capable of ejecting a charge carrier of the said type from the doped layer. The charge carriers obtained are guided by the working field.

Abstract: A heterojunction semiconductor device which has a dual channel with a high mobility layer, a barrier layer and a low mobility layer. The barrier layer is thin enough for the carriers to pass from the low mobility layer to the high mobility layer by tunnel effect, during variations of the polarization electrical field of the dual channel. The device can be used as field effect transistors with a quick response time, without variation in the charge of the channel but with a variation in the mobility of the carriers; or as negative transconductance devices for oscillators or complementary transistors in integrated circuits.