Interaction of Self-Sustained Pulses in Tunnel-Diode Oscillator Lattices

Abstract

A one-dimensional lattice in tunnel-diode (TD) oscillators supports self-sustained solitary pulses resulting from the balance between gain and attenuation. By applying the reduction theory to the device’s model equation, it is found that two relatively distant pulses moving in the lattice are mutually affected by a repulsive interaction. This property can be efficiently utilized in equalizing pulse positions to achieve jitter elimination. In particular, when two pulses rotate in a small, closed lattice, they separate evenly at the asymptotic limit. As a result, the lattice loop can provide an efficient platform to obtain low-phase-noise multiphase oscillatory signals. In this work, the interaction between two self-sustained pulses in a TD-oscillator lattice is examined, and the properties of interpulse interaction are validated by conducting several measurements using a test breadboarded lattice.

A frequency divider using interacting self‐sustained pulses in a tunnel‐diode‐oscillator lattice

“…The doubly multiplied pulse train is then obtained at the coupled-line output. 21 Once the last TD lattice succeeds in 5:1 frequency division, the 2.5:1 frequency divided signal is obtained at the port OUT. The characteristic frequency f 0 of the last (orange) TD lattice is set smaller than that of the other (yellow) lattices.…”

“…The outputs are then applied to coupled TD lattices, which consist of two identical TD lattices with capacitive couplings. The doubly multiplied pulse train is then obtained at the coupled‐line output 21 . Once the last TD lattice succeeds in 5:1 frequency division, the 2.5:1 frequency divided signal is obtained at the port OUT.…”