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Question
With the help of a circuit diagram, explain briefly how a p-n junction diode works as a half-wave rectifier.
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Solution
Half-Wave rectifier: The rectifier that converts only one-half of ac into dc is called a half-wave rectifier.
Circuit diagram:
Working:
The primary coil of the transformer receives the ac input signal that needs to be rectified. A load resistance RL and a junction diode are connected in series with the secondary coil.
Point A of the secondary coil is positive and point B is at zero potential for positive ac half cycles. The junction diode is forward biassed because A is connected to the junction diode's p-region. The junction diode conducts as a result. RL is crossed to obtain the output voltage, which fluctuates in accordance with the input half cycle.
Point A is negative and point B is at zero potential for negative half cycles of ac. Since it is reverse biassed, the junction diode. As a result, there is no output across load resistance since the junction diode does not conduct.
The output variation corresponding to the input is shown below:
