Tunnel diode d-c power converter

The tunnel diode d-c converter serves to generate direct current of a desired potential, when the d-c supply is only a fraction of 1 volt, as may be encountered in connection with silicon solar cells; thermoelectric, thermionic devices; chemical fuel cells; and others. Not only will this paper describe such a converter but also demonstrate how to analyze circuit problems involving a highly nonlinear device, such as a tunnel diode; furthermore how, by intensifying a nonlinearity, the analysis of a nonlinear problem becomes simpler. The price paid for this simplification is reduced accuracy, but this price often appears attractive because of the radical problem-simplification which can be realized.