Transconductance Transconductance Transconductance (for transfer conductance), also infrequently called mutual conductance, is the electrical characteristic relating the current through the output of a device to the voltage across the input of a device. Conductance is the reciprocal of resistance. Transadmittance (or transfer admittance) is the AC equivalent of transconductance. Transconductance is very often denoted as a conductance, "g", with a subscript, m, for "mutual". It is defined as follows: For small signal alternating current, the definition is simpler: The SI unit, the siemens, with the symbol, S; 1 siemens = 1 ampere per volt replaced the old unit of conductance, having
Electrical breakdown Electrical breakdown Electrical breakdown or dielectric breakdown is when current flows through an electrical insulator when the voltage applied across it exceeds the breakdown voltage. This results in the insulator becoming electrically conductive. Electrical breakdown may be a momentary event (as in an electrostatic discharge), or may lead to a continuous arc if protective devices fail to interrupt the current in a power circuit. Under sufficient electrical stress, electrical breakdown can occur within solids, liquids, gases or vacuum. However, the specific breakdown mechanisms are different for each kind of dielectric medium. Electrical breakdown is often associated with the failure of