Analytical Nonlinear Study on Read Diode Avalanche Region
Theodore I Kamins · 1972
An exact solution of the equa- tion describing the dynamics of the current generation in the avalanche region of the Read diode is presented. The avalanche cur- rent is composed of a transient component and a steady-state component. For ac diode exci- tation the latter one contains a large number of harmonics. A brief study, in which the spacecharge effect is neglected, illustrates the usefulness of the presented solution. A threshold frequency is defined which char- acterizes the avalanche current transients and specifies the range of validity of the re sults obtained by commonly used simplified approaches. For general nonlinear studies on IMPATT diodes requiring analytically formulated re- sults, e.g., studies on frequency conversion, AM modulation, and noise conversion prop- erties, the Read's model 1 ) proved to be an invaluable one. Misawa I 21 has shown that the Read's model describes qualitatively most of the properties of IYPATT diodes. In Read's diode, all nonlinearities are confined to a narrow avalanche region. As- suming equal ionization rates (a), equal scattering limited velocities for electrons and