Large-signal performance of microwave transit-time devices in mixed tunneling and avalanche breakdown

The large-signal performance of microwave transit-time devices in mixed breakdown was explored by two methods. The first method showed how the large-signal injected current pulse was affected by tunneling. The second method showed how the device efficiency was affected by tunneling and other parameters. A noise performance-output power tradeoff was shown to exist for devices in mixed breakdown. Many useful applications were indicated for tunnel transit-time and mixed tunneling and avalanche transit-time mode devices, including low-noise amplifiers, oscillators, mixers, and detectors both at X-band and millimeter-wave frequencies.