Introduction

The subject of this book is the physics and technology of solid-state electron devices whose principle of operation is based on the Hall effect [1, 2]. These are devices such as Hall plates, semiconductor magnetoresistors, magnetodiodes and magnetotransistors. We also include semiconductor magnetoresistors in this group, because, as we shall see below, the Hall effect and the magnetoresistance effect [3] in non-magneticmaterials are just two appearances of the same physical phenomena. For simplicity, we name all these devices with the representative term ‘Hall effect devices’. TheHall effect devices are used for exploring the basic electronic properties of solids [4, 5], characterizing semiconductor materials [6, 7], and as magnetic sensors [8-11].