transferred-electron diode

A semiconductor microwave diode that exhibits negative resistance arising from the transferred-electron effect.

NOTE 1 The transferred-electron effect is the generation of bulk negative differential conductivity in compound semiconductor devices that have multiple energy valleys when the applied electrical field is greater than the critical value at which electrons transfer from (1) a lower energy valley in which they have greater mobility and smaller effective mass to (2) a higher energy valley in which they have smaller mobility and greater effective mass.

NOTE 2 The term "energy valley" refers to a valley in an energy-versus-momentum profile.

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