Best known for the Schottky
effect, which defines the interaction
between a point charge and a flat
metal surface. An effect resulting in
the popular Schottky diode that has a
number of important improvements
over the typical semiconductor diode.
He is also recognized for the invention
of the superhet, the tetrode thermonic
valve (multigrid vacuum tube)
and co-invention (with Erwin Gerlach)
of the ribbon microphone.