Question

Microwaves are detected by

• A. barometer
• B. point contact diodes
• C. thermopiles
• D. the eye

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

point contact diodes

Point contact diodes, commonly called crystals, are the oldest microwave semiconductor devices. Unlike the pn-junction diode, the point-contact diode depends on the pressure of contact between a point and a semiconductor crystal for its operation.One section of the diode consists of a small rectangular crystal of n-type silicon. A fine beryllium-copper, bronze-phosphor, or tungsten wire presses against the crystal and forms the other part of the diode During the manufacture of the point contact diode, a relatively large current is passed from the the wire to the silicon crystal. The result of this large current is the formation of a small region of p-type material around the crystal in the vicinity of the point contact. Thus, a pn-junction is formed which behaves in the same way as a normal pn-junction. The pointed wire is used instead of a flat metal plate to produce a high-intensity electric field at the point contact without using a large external source voltage.