description Hall effect Overview
The Hall effect is the production of a voltage difference across an electrical conductor when it's exposed to a magnetic field perpendicular to the current flow, revealing information about charge carrier density and polarity.
help Hall effect FAQ
How does the Hall effect show whether charge carriers are electrons or holes?
The sign of the transverse Hall voltage changes with the effective sign of the mobile carriers. This lets researchers distinguish electron-dominated n-type semiconductors from hole-dominated p-type semiconductors.
Who discovered the Hall effect?
American physicist Edwin Hall discovered the effect in 1879 while working on his doctoral research under Henry Augustus Rowland. Hall found a voltage across a current-carrying conductor placed in a perpendicular magnetic field.
What can be calculated from a Hall-effect measurement?
For a simple material, the Hall coefficient can be used to estimate charge-carrier density and identify carrier polarity. Combined with electrical conductivity, it can also be used to determine carrier mobility.
How is the Hall effect used in everyday sensors?
Hall sensors detect magnetic fields without requiring mechanical contact. They are used for wheel-speed sensing, brushless-motor commutation, current measurement, and position detection in devices ranging from cars to laptop lids.
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