The book describes the development of semiconductor manufacture on a worldwide basis, from its early beginnings to date. Its approach is wide-ranging, encompassing early experimental work rooted in nineteenth century science, and it includes a brief historical review of the thermionic valve, which played an important part in the genesis of the semiconductor industry. The contents include a description of the establishment and subsequent development of semiconductor manufacture within the various nation states. Although not a technical treatise, major device types and manufacturing processes used in semiconductor fabrication are outlined. Factors affecting the performance of the industry within the major national participants are discussed, and the relationship of the industry to science and technology is also considered.

• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Development of the thermionic valve
• Chapter 3: Historical survey of early research in semiconductors
• Chapter 4: Development of the transistor
• Chapter 5: Major technical processes used in semiconductor device fabrication
• Chapter 6: Review of major factors affecting the growth of the United States semiconductor industry
• Chapter 7: Review of the major factors affecting the growth of the Japanese and South Korean semiconductor industries
• Chapter 8: Review of the European semiconductor industry
• Chapter 9: Conclusions
• Appendix A: Glossary of commonly used terms in semiconductor technology
• Appendix B: Basic semiconductor junction theory
• Appendix C: Pattern of a typical semiconductor product cycle
• Appendix D: Characteristics and applications of gallium arsenide