9:39 AM
I am still confused of the operation of a curve tracer (for a tunnel diode) I know the classical tracer is to show the I-V characteristic of a BJT transistor, using a scope. I think the curve tracer for a diode, including the tunnel diode, also needs a scope. The scope's X-axis is voltage V, and Y-axis is current I.
Now my very first I-V curve plotting experiment does NOT use any scope. I just vary the voltage source to the tunnel diode with a protecting, series current limiting resistor. I use a manual, two push button presses to adjust the voltage value. I use a DMM to measure the voltage across the diode, and another DMM to measure the current through the diode, and also through the resistor. After all the measurements, I use the Excel worksheet to plot the I vs V curve.
The problem of using the above manual, adj PSU, and voltage and current DMM is that it is tedious to make the not too accurate DMM measurements. And it would be even more tedious to find the series/external resistance and inductance to avoid the switching/jumping over the NDR region, as described by the GE's 1962 TD User Manual, in my BlogSpot post below.
Ah, jogging and supper time! See you later. Cheers.