
518 Microwave Engineering
of V and I will be given by points a and c and not by point b. Thus, points a and
c are called the stable state and b the unstable state. Since tunnel diode has two
stable states for this load line the circuit is called bistable and it can be used as
a binary device in switching circuits. The circuit with load line crossing point b
in negative resistance (NR) region is called astable. Another load line crossing
point a in positive resistance region indicates monostable circuit. If R
n
is the
magnitude of negative resistance the negative conductance is given as
− = = −g
I
V R
V
n
p
∂
∂
1
(13.1)
13.4.4.4 Advantages
Tunnel diode ...