High-power operation mode of pulsed IMPATT diodes

Pulsed silicon double-drift IMPATT diodes that yield 42 W at 96 GHz are discussed. This is about twice the value reported previously. Owing to the considerable input powers (≈500 W), these diodes are mounted on diamond heat sinks. Because of the strong carrier injection, the field distribution in the diode is similar to that in a p-i-n diode. An attempt is made to explain the results using T. Misawa's (1966) p-i-n type theory. The large-signal; avalanche resonant frequency is close to the operation frequency. Conventional Read-type theory fails to explain these results because of the current densities employed in the experiments