Picosecond optoelectronic semiconductor switches

A description is given of the construction and performance of ultrafast semiconductor electric switches controlled by optical pulses. A careful design of the transmission line connected to a switch made it possible to generate electrical pulses of picosecond duration and amplitudes of the order of several volts. It was found that at high voltages the switching efficiency was limited by intervalley scattering in semiconductors in a strong electric field, giving rise to a negative differential resistance.