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This book focuses on essential synaptic plasticity emulations and neuromorphic computing applications realized with the aid of three-terminal synaptic devices based on ion-coupled oxide-based electric-double-layer (EDL) transistors. To replicate the robust, plastic and fault-tolerant computational power of the human brain, the emulation of essential synaptic plasticity and computation of neurons/synapse by electronic devices are generally considered to be key steps. The book shows that the formation of an EDL at the dielectric/channel interface that slightly lags behind the stimuli can be attributed to the electrostatic coupling between ions and electrons; this mechanism underlies the emulation of short-term synaptic behaviors. Furthermore, it demonstrates that electrochemical doping/dedoping processes in the semiconducting channel by penetrated ions from electrolyte can be utilized for the emulation of long-term synaptic behaviors. Lastly, it applies these synaptic transistors in an artificial visual system to demonstrate the potential for constructing neuromorphic systems. Accordingly, the book offers a unique resource on understanding the brain-machine interface, brain-like chips, artificial cognitive systems, etc.

This new book by M Levinshtein and G Simin tells the readers about the design and work of the most important and most interesting semiconductor devices — the transistors.The book is written in a friendly and easy to read manner and is meant primarily for young people, high school students, freshmen and sophomores. However, the original approach to semiconductor physics makes this book attractive to physics teachers and professors as well.The book consists of 3 parts:Part I: The section on semiconductors describes the main properties of semiconductors, explains the difference between the semiconductors, metals and dielectrics. We find here the explanation of the appearance of those wonderful properties of semiconductors which underlie their numerous applications. This part also contains a vivid and detailed description of the main types of motion of the charge carriers in semiconductors: thermal motion, motion in the electric field and diffusion.Part II covers Barriers and Junctions. In order to understand the principles of the work of the most important semiconductor devices, it is not sufficient just to get to know the properties of semiconductors. It is also quite essential to study certain specific and interesting phenomena — the so-called junctions. This part of the book contains a detailed and vivid description of those properties and in that view of the properties of the p-n junctions and diodes: photodiodes, varicaps, light emitting diodes, solar cells and rectifier diodes.Part III covers Transitors. It describes the basis of the work of the Bipolar and Field Effect Transistors. Without making use of rather complicated equations or notions of quantum mechanics the authors give a clear and simple explanation of the cause of ability of those devices to amplify and generate electric signals. They tell the readers how transistors are manufactured and describe the work of the transistor's simplest circuits.The last chapter of the book is devoted to the ideas underlying the transistors: integrated circuits. It is these integrated circuits which are the foundation of modern electronics: from telephone apparatus to supercomputers, from medical instruments to cosmic communication systems.In conclusion, the authors make an attempt to foresee and imagine, together with the reader what other devices may come to substitute the transistor in the future.