So I ask, what is the basic process in the PAGD effect? For example, how can moving ions extract energy from their surroundings? Why must the ions and/or electrons only move in a certain way, as caused by the unique applied voltage?
I think the point is that the Correas themselves do not know yet, so the only way to investigate this phenomenon is to build a slavishly exact copies of the original gadget, and then begin experimenting with it. If the Correas or someone else working with the PAGD had a general theory then other people could reproduce the effect with a variety of different machines and configurations. This is exactly what happened with transistors. Between 1948 and 1952 a comprehensive theory was developed, and this made it much easier to reproduce the effect even if you did not know every detail of the Bell Labs protocols. Other companies and soon developed alternative methods. However it was still a big advantage to learn the details from Bell Labs, because they had solved many of the mechanical problems that were not directly related to theory, such as how to make extremely pure germanium. This was done with the zone-refining technique invented by Pfann and Scaff. Shockley, who was in charge of transistor research, try to prevent Pfann and Scaff from developing their technique because he thought it was a waste of time.
- Jed
