Physical Transformation AtlasPTA
Phenomenon · phenomenon:alphavoltaic-effect

Alphavoltaic effect

Alpha particles stopped in a semiconductor junction create dense tracks of electron–hole pairs that the junction separates; short range and heavy lattice damage distinguish it from the betavoltaic effect.

Nuclear physicsfirst reported 1954

Atlas record: 3 claims reference this phenomenon — 3 established.

Explorerelations · matrix context · routes · sources · cite

conditions: solid · semiconductor required · radioisotope required
3claims1enumerated routes0routes with complete-composition evidence1candidate routes not searched2cited sources

Relations

drives · 1
Alpha particles—drives→Alphavoltaic effectestablished
  • alpha particles stopped within tens of micrometres of a semiconductor junction; displacement damage degrades output far faster than for beta sources
produces · 1
Alphavoltaic effect—produces→Electron–hole pairsestablished
member of · 1
Alphavoltaic effect—member of→Radiovoltaicestablished

Matrix context

D = disequilibrium row · C = coupling family column. A cell reads the state of the atlas for that pair.

family: Radiovoltaic (C.26)

Enumerated routes through this · 1

Cited sources · 2

  1. [1]
    M. G. Spencer, T. Alam. High power direct energy conversion by nuclear batteries (2019)
    Applied Physics Reviews 6, 031305 · doi:10.1063/1.5123163 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-20 · record
  2. [2]
    M. A. Prelas, et al.. A review of nuclear batteries (2014)
    Progress in Nuclear Energy 75, 117–148 · doi:10.1016/j.pnucene.2014.04.007 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record

Cite this entity

Physical Transformation Atlas (2026). entity phenomenon:alphavoltaic-effect: Alphavoltaic effect. Dataset revision rbfbfcbb70e57 (hash of the canonical data). https://physical-transformation-atlas.wldud5192.workers.dev/phenomenon/alphavoltaic-effect

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