Step recovery diode
A step recovery diode (SRD) aka snap-off diode is a semiconductor junction diode having the ability to generate extremely short pulses. It is also called a or a charge-storage diode, and has a variety of uses in microwave electronics as pulse generator or parametric amplifier.
When diodes switch from forward conduction to reverse cut-off, a reverse current flows briefly as stored charge is removed.
In SRDs, doping levels are gradually reduced towards the PN junction to maximize the abruptness with which the reverse current ceases.
See also
- Wikipedia: Step recovery diode
- Patent US 3337779A
- HP Application Note 913 – Step Recovery Diode Frequency Multiplier Design (1967)
- HP Application Note 918 – Pulse and Waveform Generation with Step Recovery Diodes (1967)
- HP Application Note 920 – Harmonic Generation Using Step Recovery Diodes and SRD Modules (1968)
- https://w140.com/ge_transistor_manual_1964-ch17_snap.pdf
- https://w140.com/ge_transistor_manual_1964-snap_diode_specs.pdf
- https://w140.com/tek_xref_tunnel_diodes.pdf
Tek products using SRDs
| Product | Diode(s) used |
|---|---|
| 1502 | 152-0335-01 |
| 1S1 | |
| 1S2 | |
| 3S1 | |
| 3S3 | 152-115 |
| 4S1 | |
| 4S2 | |
| 4S3 | |
| R293 | |
| 284 | |
| 3S76 | 152-115 |
| S-1 | |
| S-2 | 152-0335-01 |
| S-3 | 152-0368-00 |
| S-4 | |
| S-6 | 152-0335-01 (for serial > B040000) |
| S-42 | |
| S-52 |