See-Through Semiconductors
Kirt's Cogitations™ #47

RF Cafe University"Factoids," "Kirt's Cogitations," and "Tech Topics Smorgasbord" are all manifestations of my ranting on various subjects relevant (usually) to the overall RF Cafe theme. All may be accessed on these pages:

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See-Through Semiconductors

If you think you've had trouble in the past trying to find small components that you drop in the lab, you haven't seen anything yet - literally. The new Gallium Nitride (GaN) ICs that feature both high frequency and high power density are as clear as glass. Their high energy band gaps allow visible light photons to pass right through without absorption, which we perceive as color. The only visible feature on the chips will be the metallized bonding pads. It will be interesting to "see" what kind of chip graffiti shows up on these devices!