Determination of germanium ionization coefficients from small signal IMPATT diode characteristics

Small signal measurements of germanium IMPATT diode admittance in the frequency range from 2 to 8 GHz were taken as a function of current density. These measurements were compared with the small signal admittance calculated using the model developed by Gummel, Scharfetter and Blue. The ionization coefficients and saturated velocities for electrons and holes have been chosen to provide reasonable agreement between theory and experiment for the diode avalanche voltage, zeros of the small signal admittance, and the slope and general shape of the admittance versus frequency curves.