What is the difference between Bias voltage and Gate voltage?

[HappyJazz]

What is the difference between "Bias" voltage and "Gate" voltage?

Well, as the title may indicate, I am wondering what the difference between a "bias" voltage and a "gate" voltage is. I'm looking at some nanoscale systems, and sometimes researchers say they apply a "bias" voltage to a certain system, while other times it's a "gate" voltage. Gets me a little confused.

Many thanks in advance!

 

[K^2]

When you have an AC signal going into an amplifier, even if the range of the signal is fine, the DC bias in that signal could be too low/high for the signal to remain in the linear range of the amplifier, and you'll get signal distortion. To avoid that, you typically filter out the DC bias of the incoming signal using a capacitor, and then add your own bias voltage by connecting the gate/base to both the high and the ground via some resistors. The bias voltage will typically be such that it is right in the middle of the amplifier's linear regime.

The gate voltage is the actual voltage that will go into the amplifier. It's usually the pure AC part of the signal + the bias voltage.