Abstract
A discrete conductance effect in the transient response of an n‐channel metal‐oxide‐ semiconductor field‐effect transistor (MOSFET) switched from accumulation to weak surface inversion between 10 and 25 K is described. The discrete conductance appears as a set of equally spaced current levels superimposed on the steady state and transient currents. Transitions to lower discrete current levels are randomly distributed in time over the interval 0⩽t⩽τp(n), with τp(n) the maximum persistence time of the nth level and t = 0 the time when the MOSFET is switched into weak inversion. Up to six discrete levels have been observed. The general dependence of the current on biases and temperature is described.