Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Point-contact diodes

  • Invited Paper
  • Published:
Applied Physics A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Point-contact diodes based either on the mechanism of electronic tunnelling through an insulating barrier or on the thermoelectric effect of hot carriers in heavily doped semiconductors are described. The requirements necessary for these devices to be used as harmonic generators and mixers in the 2–200 THz region are emphasized, and some new developments are reported. Outstanding characteristics of the devices which use either the semimetal antimony or the semiconductors SnTe or Bi2Te3 as a diode base are high detection sensitivity and high mechanical stability over long periods of use either as harmonic generators or as mixers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. K.M. Evenson, D.A. Jennings, F.R. Petersen, J.S. Wells: InLaser Spectroscopy III, ed. by J. L. Hall, J. L. Carlsten. Springer Ser. Opt Sci.7 (Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York 1977) p. 56

    Google Scholar 

  2. B.G. Whitford: Trans. Instrum. Meas. Im-23, 168 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  3. A.E. Siegman: Proc. IEEE54, 1350 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  4. K.J. Siemsen, H.D. Riccius: Appl. Phys. A35, (Nov. 1984)

  5. R. Gomer:Field Emission and Field Ionization (Harvard University Press, Cambridge 1961)

    Google Scholar 

  6. S.I. Green: J. Appl. Phys.42, 1166 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  7. E.P. Wigner, F. Seitz:Solid State Physics 1, 97 (Academic Press, New York 1955)

    Google Scholar 

  8. J.L. White: Naval Res. Lab. Rept. 5159 (1958)

  9. K.C. Liu, C.F., Davis, Jr., A. Javan: Phys. Rev. Lett.43, 785 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  10. C.C. Bradley, G.J. Edwards, D.J.E. Knight: Radio and Electron. Eng.42, 321 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  11. J.W. Dees: Microwave J.9, 48 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  12. R.W. van der Heijden, A.G.M. Jansen, J.H.M. Stoelinga, H.M. Swartjes, P. Wyder: Appl. Phys. Lett.37, 245 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  13. L.O. Hocker, D.R. Sokoloff, V. Daneu, A. Szoke, A. Javan: Appl. Phys. Lett.12, 401 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Bor-long Twu, S.E. Schwarz: Appl. Phys. Lett.25, 595 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  15. S.M. Faris, T.K. Gustafson, J.C. Wiesner: IEEE J. QE-9, 737 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  16. G. Kramer: Proc 2nd Frequency Standards and Metrology Symposium, Copper Mountain, CO (1976) p. 469 (unpublished)

  17. T. Kurosawa, T. Sakurai, K. Tanaka: Appl. Phys. Lett.36, 751 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  18. D.R. Sokoloff, A. Sanchez, R.M. Osgood, A. Javan: Appl. Phys. Lett.17, 257 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  19. K.M. Evenson, G.W. Day, J.S. Wells, L.O. Mullen: Appl. Phys. Lett.20, 133 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  20. D.A. Jennings, F.R. Petersen, K.M. Evenson: Appl. Phys. Lett.26, 510 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  21. R. Young, J. Ward, F. Scire: Phys. Rev. Lett.27, 922 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  22. G. Binnig, H. Rohrer, Ch. Gerber, E. Weibel: Appl. Phys. Lett.40, 178 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  23. O. Kubaschewski, B.E. Hopkins:Oxidation of Metals and Alloys (Butterworths, London 1962)

    Google Scholar 

  24. T.K. Gustafson, T.J. Bridges: Appl. Phys. Lett.25, 56 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  25. L.M. Matarrese, K.M. Evenson: Appl. Phys. Lett.17, 8 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  26. J. Frenkel: Phys. Rev.36, 1604 (1930)

    Google Scholar 

  27. R.W. Strayer, W. Mackie, L.W. Swanson: Surf. Sci.34, 225 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  28. J.E. Demuth: Chem. Phys. Lett.45, 12 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  29. E.W. Müller: Z. Phys.126, 642 (1949)

    Google Scholar 

  30. H.D. Riccius: Appl. Phys.17, 49 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  31. W. Schottky: Z. Phys.14, 63 (1923)

    Google Scholar 

  32. N.F. Mott: Proc. Phys. Soc. (London) A62, 416 (1949)

    Google Scholar 

  33. K.J. Siemsen, H.D. Riccius: Appl. Phys. B29, 155 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  34. R.I. Harrison, J. Zucker: Proc. IEEE54, 588 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  35. H.J. Goldsmid: Proc. Phys. Soc. (London)B72, 17 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  36. E. Beleites, H. Nieke: Ann. Phys.18, 258 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  37. S. Lussana: Nuovo Cimento15, 130 (1918)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Dah-wen Tsang, S.E. Schwarz: Appl. Phys. Lett.30, 263 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Che-Yu Li, A.L. Ruoff, C.W. Spencer: J. Appl. Phys.32, 1733 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  40. L.W. Aukerman, J.W. Erler: Opt. Lett.1, 178 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  41. P.E. Tannenwald, H.R. Fetterman, C. Freed, C.D. Parker, B.J. Clifton, R.G. O'Donnel: Opt. Lett.6, 481 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  42. H.D. Riccius: Appl. Phys. Lett.27, 232 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  43. D.A. Jennings, F.R. Petersen, K.M. Evenson: Opt. Lett.4, 129 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  44. H.D. Riccius: Opt. Commun.18, 42 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  45. H.D. Riccius: Infrared Phys.17, 245 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  46. J.H. Weaver, C.G. Olson, D.W. Lynch: Phys. Rev. B12, 1293 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  47. C.C. Bradley, G.J. Edwards: IEEE J. QE-7, 548 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  48. S. Wang: Appl. Phys. Lett.28, 303 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  49. D.B. Rutledge, S.E. Schwartz, A.T. Adams: Infrared Phys.18, 713 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  50. B. Burghardt, H. Hoeffgen, G. Meisel, W. Reinert, B. Vowinkel: Appl. Phys. Lett.35, 498 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  51. H.-U. Daniel, B. Maurer, M. Steiner: Appl. Phys. B30, 189 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  52. G.J. Edwards: Unpublished

  53. H.-U. Daniel, M. Steiner, H. Walther: Appl.Phys.25, 7 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  54. H.-U. Daniel, M. Steiner, H. Walther: Appl. Phys. B26, 19 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  55. R.E. Drullinger, K.M. Evenson, D.A.Jennings, F.R. Petersen, J.C. Bergquist, Lee Burkind, H.-U. Daniel: Appl. Phys. Lett.42, 137 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  56. H.D. Riccius: 6th Intern. Conf. ir and mm waves, IEEE Cat. No. 81 CH 1645-1 MTT, p. T-5-6 (1981)

  57. K.J. Siemsen, H.D. Riccius: InLaser Spectroscopy VI, ed. by H.P.Weber, W.Lüthy. Springer Ser.Opt. Sci.40(Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York 1983) p. 435

    Google Scholar 

  58. H.D. Riccius, K.J. Siemsen: 8th Intern. Conf. ir and mm waves, IEEE Cat. No. 83 CH 1917-4 MTT, p. T-2-6 (1983)

  59. P.S. Pershan, N. Bloembergen: Appl. Phys. Lett.2, 117 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Physics, National Research Council of Canada, K1A 0R6, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    H. D. Riccius & K. J. Siemsen

Authors
  1. H. D. Riccius
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. J. Siemsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Riccius, H.D., Siemsen, K.J. Point-contact diodes. Appl. Phys. A 35, 67–74 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00620632

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00620632

PACS

Search

Navigation