Basic Radio is a free introductory textbook on electronics based on tubes. See the editorial for more information....



Rectification

Author: J.B. Hoag

To "rectify" an alternating current means to limit its flow through a circuit to one direction only, preventing its flow in the opposite direction. A diode can be used for this purpose because the flow across the vacuum tube can only take place in one direction; the electrons which move across the vacuum and make up the current through the tube have their source in the hot filament.




Last Update: 2009-11-01