MICROWAVE DIODE RESEARCH

Measurement of the loss and reactance for characterizing microwave diodes is described in Chapter 1. Corrections are given for the tuning-stub transmission loss method, in which the basic scheme is to measure the loss introduced when the diode is series-tuned in shunt with a transmission line. The tuning stub has to be calibrated for both loss and reactance since the former is not a constant as has sometimes been assumed. The method has been used primarily at 1 Gc. In Chapter 2 are described preliminary measurements on an exploratory oscillator. Although not part of the contract, this work is reported because it is related to the contract objectives. Continuous-wave oscillations have been obtained from a reverse-biased silicon diode. An output of approximately 3 mw at 8.9 Gc was obtained at 0.1 per cent efficiency. The oscillator also sometimes gave self-pumped parametric oscillations, which at first were inexplicable but now have been identified. (Author) Continuation of contract DA36 039sc85325. See also AD-602 780.