Explain, with the help of a circuit diagram, the working of a p-n junction diode as a half-wave rectifier.
Solution
Connect the ac source through a diode to a load resistance RL. During the half-cycle that forward biases the diode it conducts, and a current flows through RL giving an output voltage. During the next half-cycle the diode is reverse biased and does not conduct, so no output appears. Thus output is obtained during alternate half-cycles only — a unidirectional (pulsating) dc. Conducts one half-cycle only⇒half-wave rectified output.