Andrei Silard

Andrei P. Silard (born April 30, 1944, Timişoara - June 30, 1993, Bucharest) was a Romanian engineer and author, correspondent member of the Romanian Academy. His short life was enriched by great achievements in different ranges of intellectual activity.

He earned his diploma of engineering degree from Faculty of Electronics, Energetical Institute of Moscow in 1967 and obtained his Ph. D. degree in 1976 at Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest. After an engineering researcher stage (1967 - 1974) at the Institute of Electronic Researches from Bucharest, he passed all didactical hierarchy from supply assistant professor (from February, 1, 1974) to full professor (from March 1, 1992) at Department of Electronic Devices, Circuits and Apparatus from Faculty of Electronics, Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest.

It is firstly impressive Professor Silard's scientific activity principally oriented to the following fields: Electronic Devices, Semiconductor Physics, Electronic Circuits and Apparatus, Optoelectronics.

In the field of Electronic Devices, Professor Silard has contributed by designing and achieving in Romanian profile enterprises (IPRS - Baneasa, Microelectronica) of over 20 new Electron Devices, especially Power Devices. There may be mentioned here: Gate Turn-off Thyristors (GTO) of Medium and High Power, with two interdigitation levels (TIL) worlds-wide priorities, Bipolar Power Transistors with two interdigitation levels, Fast Bipolar Power Transistors, Optothyristors, Optic Sensors on Monocrystalline Silicon with Controlled Spectral Response, Solar Cells of great efficiency, realized by different technological processes: diffusion, ion implantation.

The main original scientific contributions, confirmed in scientific international world are shortly: the unitary formulation of the power semiconductor devices breakdown theory and its experimental verification, the introduction of double interdigitation concept, theoretical classification of the particularities of electrical internal fields in semiconductor junctions VLSI type, the introduction of original solutions in silicon solar cells with great efficiency designing and realization, the elaboration of new methods for optic sensors spectral response control, the electrothermal investigation of power devices and analog integrated circuits.

The results of his research activity are validated by:

- 67 scientific papers published as author or co-author in prestigious international journals such as: IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, IEEE Electron Device Letters, Solid State Electronics, Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, International Journal of Electronics, Electronics Letters, Sensors and Actuators, Solar Cells, Solar Energy Materials, Electron Device News; at many of these Journals he was (from 1984) permanent reviewer.

- 38 Scientific Communications at International Conferences (USA, Japan, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom).

- over 50 scientific works published in Romanian Journals; in majority at Revue Roumaine des Sciences Techniques, Serie Electro-technique et Energetique, where Professor Silard was a member of the Scientific Staff from 1992.

- over 50 scientific communications presented at Romanian Conferences.

- 6 patents.

- 11 Invited Scientific Works at International Conferences (India, Brazil etc.).

- 4 Scientific Invited Exposures at Universities from the USA, Canada, Poland etc.

- 4 Books which synthesize his scientific work.

For his scientific activity, Silard was awarded the Romanian Academy Prize "Traian Vuia" (1981) for contributions at electrothermal investigation of power semiconductor devices and in 1993 he was elected Corresponding Member of the Romanian Academy. In 1990 he was elected IEEE Fellow (M-1975, SM-1982), "for contributions at the development of power and photonic silicon devices".

Silard's didactical activity was strongly connected by the scientific one. Besides the tradition courses which he taught (Electronic Measuring and Control Apparatus, Electronic Devices and Circuits), Professor Silard has introduced 3 new disciplines: "Power Semiconductor Devices", "Optoelectronic Power Devices" (for Faculty of Electronics) and "Optoelectronic and Power Devices" (for Faculty of Electrotechnics); these courses were largely based on his original results.

During 1974-1992 Silard led a great number of engineering Diploma Works; from 1990 he led Ph. D. Thesis in the specialties: Electronic Devices and Circuits and Optoelectronics. Through his activity Professor Silard may be considered as a Romanian School Founder in the fields of Power Devices and Optoelectronics, a school with well-known results in International Scientific World.

Silard had a very solid humanist education, a huge culture; during his very little spare time he used to read belletristic literature, but especially social-historical literature; he graduated, in 1976, from the Faculty of History, University of Bucharest and published over 20 papers in the fields of history, historical philosophy, of the complex positive sciences-society relations and taught at the English Department of Engineering Sciences, Electrical Section from the Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest a course of "The Philosophy of History" and a course of "Contemporary History".

Silard died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer on June 30, 1993.

References

• Rev. Roum. Sci. Techn. — Electrotechn. et Energ., vol.38, nr.4, p.439 — 441, Bucharest, 1993.

ro:Andrei P. Silard