High current germanium tunnel diodes

The advent of thermo-electric, thermionic, and fuel cell power converters has led to the need for means of power inversion capable of high efficiencies at low input voltages. The advantages of tunnel diodes as low voltage power inversion elements and considerations governing their design are discussed. Performance data and electrical characteristics of germanium tunnel diodes having peak currents of 1-50 amperes are presented and results of low temperature operation are described. Methods of measuring the electrical parameters of these diodes are given, including a low-cost adapter for extending the current range of any curve tracer. Circuits for power conversion using these tunnel diodes are described, with theoretical and experimental efficiencies compared, construction problems outlined, and low temperature circuit operation discussed.