Varactor diode

Varactor diode definition

Varactor diode is a p-n junction diode whose capacitance is varied by

varying the reverse voltage. Before going to varactor diode, let’s first take a
look at the capacitor.

What is a capacitor?

A capacitor is an electronic component that stores electrical energy or

electric charge in the form of an electric field.

The basic capacitor is made up of two parallel conductive plates separated

by a dielectric. The two conductive plates acts like electrodes and the
dielectric acts like an insulator.
The conductive plates are good conductors of electricity so they easily
allow electric current through them. On the other hand, a dielectric is poor
conductor of electricity so it does not allow electric current through it but it
allows electric field or electric force.

When voltage is applied to the capacitor in such a way that the negative
terminal of the battery is connected to the right side electrode or plate and
the positive terminal of the battery is connected to the left side electrode,
the capacitor starts storing electric charge.

Because of this supply voltage, a large number of electrons start flowing

from the negative terminal of the battery through a conductive wire. When
these electrons enter into the right side plate, a large number of atoms in
the right side plate gains extra electrons. We know that any object that has
a larger number of electrons (negative charge carriers) than protons
(positive charge carriers) is said to be negatively charged. The right side
plate has a larger number of electrons than protons. So the right side plate
becomes negatively charged because of the gaining of extra electrons.

The free electrons in the right side plate or electrode will try move into the
dielectric. However, dielectric blocks these electrons.

As a result, a large number of electrons are built up on the right side plate.
Thus, the right side plate becomes a negatively charged electrode.

The dielectric blocks flow of charge carriers (free electrons) but allows
electric force exerted by the negatively charged electrode.

On the other hand, the electrons on the left side plate experience a strong
attractive force from the positive terminal of the battery. As a result, a large
number of electrons leave the left side plate and flow towards the positive
terminal of the battery. As a result, a positive charge is accumulated on the
left side plate.

The positive and negative charges accumulated on both plates exert

attractive force on each other. This attractive force between the plates is
nothing but the electric field between the plates.

We know that the capacitance is the ability to store electric charge. So at

both plates, the charge is stored. Thus, there exists a capacitance at both
the plates.
What is varactor diode?

The term varactor is originated from a variable capacitor. Varactor diode

operates only in reverse bias. The varactor diode acts like a variable
capacitor under reverse bias.

Varactor diode is also sometimes referred to as varicap diode, tuning

diode, variable reactance diode, or variable capacitance diode.

The varactor diode is manufactured in such as way that it shows better

transition capacitance property than the ordinary diodes.

Varactor diode construction

The varactor diode is made up of the p-type and n-type semiconductor. In

the n-type semiconductor, free electrons are the majority carriers
and holes are the minority carriers. So the free electrons carry most of the
electric current in n-type semiconductor. In the p-type semiconductor, holes
are the majority carriers and free electrons are the minority carriers. So the
holes carry most of the electric current in p-type semiconductor.
When a p-type semiconductor is in contact with the n-type semiconductor,
a p-n junction is formed between them. This p-n junction separates the p-
type and n-type semiconductor.

At the p-n junction, a depletion region is created. A depletion region is a

region where mobile charge carriers (free electrons and holes) are absent. 

The depletion region is made up of positive and negative ions (charged

atoms). These positive and negative ions does not move from one place to
another place.
The depletion region blocks free electrons from n-side and holes from p-
side. Thus, depletion region blocks electric current across the p-n junction.

Varactor diode symbol

The symbol of a varactor diode is shown in the below figure. The circuit
symbol of the varactor diode is almost similar to the normal p-n junction
diode.

Two parallel lines at the cathode side represents two conductive plates and
the space between these two parallel lines represents dielectric.

Unbiased varactor diode

We know that in the n-type semiconductor, a large number of free electrons

are present and in the p-type semiconductor, a large number of holes are
present. The free electrons and holes always try to move from a higher
concentration region to a lower concentration region.

For free electrons, n-region is the higher concentration region and p-region
is the lower concentration region. For holes, p-region is the higher
concentration region and n-region is the lower concentration region.  
Therefore, the free electrons always try to move from n-region to p-region
similarly holes always try to move from p-region to n-region.

When no voltage is applied, a large number of free electrons in the n-region

get repelled from each other and move towards the p-region.

When the free electrons reach p-n junction, they experience an attractive
force from the holes in the p-region. As a result, the free electrons cross the
p-n junction. In the similar way, holes also cross the p-n junction. Because
of the flow of these charge carriers, a tiny current flows across diode for
some period.

During this process, some neutral atoms near the junction at n-side loses
electrons and become positively charged atoms (positive ions) similarly
some neutral atoms near the junction at p-side gains extra electrons and
become negatively charged atoms (negative ions). These positive and
negative ions created at the p-n junction is nothing but depletion region.
This depletion region prevents further current flow across the p-n junction.
The width of depletion region depends on the number of impurities added
(amount of doping).

A heavily doped varactor diode has a thin depletion layer whereas a lightly
doped varactor diode has a wide depletion layer.

We know that an insulator or a dielectric does not allow electric current

through it. The depletion region also does not allow electric current through
it. So the depletion region acts like a dielectric of a capacitor.
We know that electrodes or conductive plates easily allow electric current
through them. The p-type and n-type semiconductor also easily allow
electric current through them. So the p-type and n-type semiconductor acts
like the electrodes or conductive plates of the capacitor. Thus, varactor
diode behaves like a normal capacitor.

In an unbiased varactor diode, the depletion width is very small. So the

capacitance (charge storage) is very large.

How varactor diode works?

The varactor diode should always be operated in reverse bias. Because in

reverse bias, the electric current does not flow. When a forward bias
voltage is applied, the electric current flows through the diode. As a result,
the depletion region becomes negligible. We know that depletion region
consists of stored charges. So stored charges becomes negligible which is
undesirable.
A varactor diode is designed to store electric charge not to conduct electric
current. So varactor diode should always be operated in reverse bias.

When a reverse bias voltage is applied, the electrons from n-region and
holes from p-region moves away from the junction. As a result, the width of
depletion region increases and the capacitance decreases.

However, if the applied reverse bias voltage is very low

the capacitance will be very large.

The capacitance is inversely proportional to the width of the depletion region and

directly proportional to the surface area of the p-region and n-region. So the

capacitance decreases as the as the width of depletion region increases.

If the reverse bias voltage is increased, the width of depletion region further
increases and the capacitance further decreases.

On the other hand, if the reverse bias voltage is reduced, the width of
depletion region decreases and the capacitance increases.
Thus, an increase in reverse bias voltage increases the width of the
depletion region and decreases the capacitance of a varactor diode.

The decrease in capacitance means the decrease in storage charge. So

the reverse bias voltage should be kept at a minimum to achieve large
storage charge. Thus, capacitance or transition capacitance can be varied
by varying the voltage.

In a fixed capacitor, the capacitance will not be varied whereas, in variable

capacitor, the capacitance is varied.

In a varactor diode, the capacitance is varied when the voltage is varied.

So the varactor diode is a variable capacitor. The capacitance of a varactor
diode is measured in picofarads (pF).

Applications of varactor diode

 Varactor diode is used in frequency multipliers.

  Varactor diode is used in parametric amplifiers.

 Varactor diode is used in voltage-controlled oscillators.

Varactor diode application notes | Varactor

diode frequency multiplier and tuner
This varactor diode application note covers basic description on varactor diode
as frequency multiplier and tuner. The circuit diagram is mentioned.

Varactor diode is used as voltage dependent variable capacitor semiconductor

device. It operates in reverse biased whose operation depends upon transition
capacitance. Here P and N regions have high concentration of majority carriers
and hence will have low resistance areas. Here space charge region or depletion
region caused due to depletion of majority carriers act as dielectric. The P and N
regions act as plates of capacitor. The depletion region mentioned acts as
insulating dielectric layer. Refer Varactor diode basics and applications.

The reverse biased P-N junction possesses junction capacitance referred

as transition capacitance. It is expressed as follows:
CT = (ε*A) / W .....equation-1
Where in,
ε = Permittivity of semiconductor
A = Area of P-N junction
W = Width of space charge region
Figure-1 depicts varactor diode symbol and varactor diode equivalent circuit.
Transition capacitance in terms of reverse bias voltage (VR) is expressed as
below.
CT = K / (VK + VR )n .....equation-2
Where in ,
K = constant depending on semiconductor material
VK = diode knee voltage or barrier potential
VR = reverse bias
n = 1/2(for alloyed junction) or 1/3(for diffused junction)

Figure-2 depicts varactor diode tuning circuit. In this circuit two diodes D1 and
D2 provide total variable capacitances in a parallel resonant circuit. Here Vc is
the variable DC control voltage which controls the reverse bias and consecutively
capacitance of the diodes. L mentioned in the circuit is inductance in henrys.
Resonant frequency of the zener tuning circuit is expressed as follows:
fo = 1 / [2* π * (L*CT)0.5 ] .....equation-3
Where in,
CT = C1*C2/(C1+C2),
Here C1 and C2 are max. and min. values of diode capacitances
Varactor diode frequency multiplier

Diode frequency multipliers can be typically classified as Schottky barrier diode

or varactor diode type. In the varactor diode type multiplier a nonlinear reactive
element is used. Varactor reactive type multipliers have high potential conversion
efficiency. It needs very low drive power levels but exhibit narrower bandwidth
and high sensitivity to operating conditions. It also exhibit stability problems
sometimes.

Varactor diode frequency multipliers generate very little amplitude and phase
noise. The only noise source is the thermal noise of the series resistance of the
varactor diode and the circuit loss resistances. The power capability of a varactor
multiplier is limited by breakdown of the device. The varactor diode has a
parasitic resistance in series, which dissipates power.

A varactor frequency multiplier is capable of higher efficiency and higher

power than a resistive type frequency multiplier. Figure-3 depicts lumped element
based frequency doubler and tripler. It is possible to dvelop frequency doubler
using microstrip elements and varactor diode.
Varactor Tuning Circuit- Explained

One of the most major applications for varactors are in tuning circuits, where they function to modulate (or
in simple terms, vary) FM waves so that we get our different FM channels, so that you can change to
different stations.

The varying of FM waves to produce different FM channels is called FM modulation.

A varactor is a special type of diode that exhibits variable capacitance when the voltage that powers it
changes. A varactor has capacitance like a capacitor, and this capacitance increases when the voltage
applied across it increases. When the voltage applied to decreases, the capacitance decreases. The
capacitance of the varactor has a direct relationship with the voltage applied to it.

FM modulators usually use this diode to achieve FM modulation. Since a varactor functions as a voltage-
controlled variable capacitor, by varying the voltage we can change the capacitance. By changing the
capacitance, we change the frequency. This is because the varactor forms a network with a resistor. The
RC value determines the frequency of the waveform.

Below is an oscillator circuit with a varactor:

Without getting into all the capacitors, inductor, and other components, we will just go over what the
varactor does in this circuit.
The varactor is used in this oscillator circuit to vary the frequency of the waveforms produced. This
oscillator circuit produces waveforms of different frequencies. When the voltage is increased, the
waveforms vibrate much faster. When the voltage is decreased, the waveforms decrease in vibrations.