Question

During the manufacture of point contact diode, why is a relatively large current passed from cat whisker to silicon crystal?

(a) to control the amount  of current flow

(b) to form small region of p type material

(c) to allow mechanical support for the sections

(d) to form anode and cathode regions

I got this question during an interview.

I'm obligated to ask this question of The Point Contact Diode in chapter Semiconductor-Diode Characteristics of Electronic Devices & Circuits

Answer 1

Right option is (b) to form small region of p type material

Easiest explanation: The behaviour of a contact diode is similar to that of a PN diode. It has a tungsten wire which is called as a cat whisker wire. This helps in pressing one section to other.