Iain may find this useful at school. I find the fact that you can make an "active" electronic device from materials readily to hand is astounding. "Performance not marvellous"? - sure. But an eg audio or 12 Mhz oscillator from Al sheet and galvanised iron wire is incredible - but apparently credible :-) Russell _________________________ DIY 'tunnel diode" made from galvanised wire and aluminium sheet. [!!!!] Used to implement a negative resistance oscillator - trialled from audio to 12 MHz. http://www.sparkbangbuzz.com/els/ntype-nr-el.htm Similar devices may be made using iron pyrites - http://www.sparkbangbuzz.com/els/iposc-el.htm & zinc - http://www.sparkbangbuzz.com/els/zincosc-el.htm (heat modified galvanised iron sheet) Also carbon arc - which may rely on relaxation oscillation rather than negative resistance. Or not. http://www.sparkbangbuzz.com/els/arcosc-el.htm Corona oscillator and amplifier http://sparkbangbuzz.com/corona-osc/corona-osc.htm While you're here: DIY CRTs - http://www.sparkbangbuzz.com/crt/crt6.htm DIY Photocell - http://www.sparkbangbuzz.com/els/photocell-el.htm Poulsen Arc oscillator - https://pe2bz.philpem.me.uk/Comm/-%20ELF-VLF/-%20Info/-%20History/PoulsenAr= cOscillator/poulsen1.htm ______________________________ BLACK HOLE http://www.sparkbangbuzz.com/index.html P:\ATW+China_Backup_from_T\0902_China0902\052_090220_SG_India_Mercy_Arab_a2= \PICT1153`10190219`_RP Japanese Students outside mosque Little India 2009_q3.jpg Making a more "traditional" tunnel diode may "not be too hard". "Heavy doping" is a bonus for DIY applications https://www.elprocus.com/tunnel-diode-circuit-with-operations-and-applicati= ons/ ______________________________________________ 1/2 mW tunnel diode transmitter in (target) 1 mm^3 volume 1/16000 th of a cubic inch - say 0.04 inch cubed ~=3D 1.25/32nd on a side cube https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Neuron-action-potential-detection-wit= h-tunnel-diode-Chen-Tabib-Azar/698a52528849b5e4f99232f283189e0a815f7bfa ___________________________________________ 1960 http://www.rfcafe.com/references/popular-electronics/tunnel-diode-september= -1960-popular-electronics.htm --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .