What Does Tunnel Diode Mean?
A tunnel diode is a semiconductor diode that exhibits negative resistance, meaning the current decreases with an increase in voltage. By making use of quantum mechanical effects, the tunnel diode is capable of fast operation and can function well into the microwave radio frequency band. The unique characteristics of tunnel diodes make them useful in applications such as oscillators and amplifiers.
Techopedia Explains Tunnel Diode
A tunnel diode is a two-terminal device with an n-type semiconductor acting as cathode and a p-type semiconductor acting as anode. It is heavily doped, which in turn creates a narrow depletion zone like a Zener diode. The current-voltage characteristic of a tunnel diode has a strong non-linear nature, as well as a negative differential resistance region.
