Analysis of a fast-switching subharmonic parametric oscillator

A subharmonic parametric oscillator, which uses the diffusion capacitance of a charge-storage diode, is described. The output of such a circuit may exist in one of two stable states, which are separated from one another in phase by ¿rad. Because of the nonlinear nature of the circuit, it is possible to change state within one cycle of the output voltage. The amplitude of the applied switching pulse is determined analytically in terms of the circuit parameters, and the analysis is confirmed experimentally. It would appear that this device could be made to operate as a logic element having a higher value for the bit-rate/pump-frequency ratio than existing parametrons.