Gregg,greggvizza wrote:I read the link but am not totally clear on what it is that they are describing. Maybe using the diode as an avalanche device could be considered switching. That is what the link seemed to be implying.
GV
I checked the link. So I highlighted the title and searched again in the DTIC site and found this:
http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/ptti/ptti2005/paper6.pdf
The jitter is what we would call "noise" and relates to tuned circuits and phase locked loops (PLL). There's a bunch of math for Trickfox to enjoy and calculus to wade through. But I do not know how this really applies unless you use like a PLL to synchronize different transceivers.
Linda, don't feel bad because you didn't get a good education. Now you don't have to be "retaught."
Moving around as you did probably gave you more common sense and street smarts than the rest of us combined!
That is interesting about the diode as a switch. I do not believe I have ever heard it referred to this way before.
Linda, picture one of those desktop executive toys with the swinging balls, like this:
You probably played with one as they teach physics. Lift the first ball and let go and it will collide with the balls at rest and eject the last ball out at the other end. Lift two balls and let go, the other two will eject out the other end. Simple action/reaction collision physics of inelastic materials. Well, as I understand it, a tunnel diode works the same way with electrons. One electron enters the diode and an another is ejected instantaneously, and faster than the normal speed of an electron. I was taught metals are a "sea of electrons" and charge could be passed along from electron to electron. The atoms and "stuff" slow down the flow of electrons and this resistance normally produces heat.
But in tunneling, the electron enters one end and instantaneously comes out the other end. Is it the same electron? Who can tell? If it is the same electron then it would appear that the electron is traveling faster than normal speed and the speed of light which is impossible based on current theories. Or it could be a FTM type thing going on here. Maybe the FTM works by "tunneling" and it really is a wormhole? I do not know and it is speculation but the swinging balls concept was the easiest way for me to understand tunneling.
Hope that helps!
(Oh boy, here comes the comments, sigh!)
MagicBill
P.S. I read back and see Mikado had a really good technical discussion. I just had to be less technical for the rest of us!