X-Band Tunnel Diodes for Phased Array Radar

摘要

A push-pull amplifier has been built using a pair of 1.8 ma Germanium diodes. The amplifier has successfully demonstrated the improvement of the dynamic range by a factor 10 db over a single diode amplifier. The amplifier has been operated at a gain of 11 to 13 db with absolute stability and without degrading the noise figure. Work continued on the fabrication of 1.8 ma peak current tunnel diodes in the miniaturized pill package using a new lead design. Use of the new lead design improves the ease of fabrication and testing of the tunnel diodes and reduces slightly the minimum inductance of the miniaturized pill package. Fabrication of 9 ma peak current tunnel diodes in the same package was begun. Pairs of both 1.8 ma and 9 ma peak current were fabricated into 3.6 ma and 18 ma peak current push-pull tunnel diode devices. Various modifications have been made in the inverse sandwich tunnel diode design in an attempt to solve some of the problems which exist. These changes were both in processing and in basic pellet structure. (Author)