Solve NPN Transistor Puzzle: -0.4V?

[donpacino]

I was just sent an email with the following text.
""
Here is a puzzle I just encountered.

Take any NPN transistor and ground the base. Now apply +12 volts to the emitter through a series resistor of 1k. Yes, it is a Zener diode of about 6 volts so about 6 ma of current flows.What is the voltage between the collector and ground? I couldn't guess. Well I could guess it was zero volts, but then, that would not have been a puzzle. So I gave up.Answer: about -0.4 volts ! (Yes negative.) Why?
""I am at a loss for understanding where they are getting this supposed -0.4V. Any takers?

edit: it is important to note my interpretation of the problem is the the collector is left open

 

[Jony130]

http://www.planetanalog.com/author....1&elqTrackId=471bca9a4d8c41e68c5e1692e1b5ed52

 

[meBigGuy]

Cool problem. Amazing effect.

 

[phyzguy]

Note that most NPN transistors will be damaged by reverse biasing the E-B junction, especially with such large voltages. I'm not discouraging you from doing the experiment (these things are cheap, after all), but don't expect the transistor to function properly afterward.

 

[meBigGuy]

Found this

http://www.cappels.org/dproj/Avalan...toelectric_Effect_in_Bipolar_Transistors.html

And they referenced this:
http://journals.aps.org/pr/abstract/10.1103/PhysRev.102.369

 

[donpacino]

Cool problem. Amazing effect.

My thoughts exactly. Thanks for the links everyone. Great reads!