Calculated and measured silicon p-i-n limiter short-pulse damage thresholds

Limiters used to protect sensitive electronics from high-level RF radiation are themselves subject to damage. A combined theoretical and experimental study has been made of damage thresholds of silicon PIN limiters with intrinsic region widths of 0.5 to 10 mu m, using 1.5-9.4-GHz frequencies, and pulse lengths from 10 to 1000 ns. This work is also useful in designing dual-diode limiters to reduce spike leakage and to increase the damage threshold.<>