Tunnel Diode Tutorial

The tunnel diode has specific v i characteristics which explain their working. There are many similarities between the tunnel diode structure and that of the standard pn junction but also there are some key differences that anble the tunnel diode to operate as it does.

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Tunnel Diode Esaki Diode It Was Introduced By Leo Esaki In

Understanding the structure and fabrication of tunnel diodes gives additional insight into the operation of different tunnel diode devices.

Tunnel diode tutorial. Tunnel diodes are a bit rare these days but still have uses in special applications including extremely high frequency oscillators etc. Tunnel diodes are made from germanium or gallium arsenide due to their highest peak voltage to valley point swing. That is the negative resistance region of diode.

Tunnel diode acts as logic memory storage device. In this region tunnel diode produces power instead of absorbing it. A tunnel diode or esaki diode is a type of semiconductor that is capable of very fast operation well into the microwave frequencyregion made possible by the use of the quantum mechanical effect called tunneling.

Let us have a look at the graph below. They were commonly used in microwave circuits. Definition tunnel diode is a highly doped semiconductor device and is used mainly for low voltage high frequency switching applications.

Beyond valley point the tunnel diode acts as normal diode. Applications of tunnel diode. At valley point the current through the diode will be minimum.

Since it shows a fast response it is used as high frequency component. The tunnel diode helps in generating a very high frequency signal of nearly 10ghz. This penetration can be understood as tunneling and hence the name tunnel diode.

In reverse biased condition also tunnel diode is an excellent conductor due to its high doping concentrations. The tunnel diodes are low power devices and should be handled with care as they easily get affected by heat and static electricity. An area of negative resistance means that if the voltage is increased the current actually falls the opposite to ohms law.

It works on the principle of tunneling effect. Tunnel diode theory basics the key to understanding tunnel diode theory is the characteristic curve in which there is a negative slope this indicates an area of negative resistance. Tunnel diode can be used as a switch amplifier and oscillator.

A practical tunnel diode circuit may consist of a switch s a resistor r and a supply source v connected to a tank circuit through a tunnel diode d. For more details regarding tunnel diodes please refer our basic electronics tutorial.