Study of power diodes used for MRI applications.

Rectifier diodes play a vital role in the operational aspects of a superconducting magnet, and their selection and characterization are crucial for optimal performance and reliability. These diodes are placed within the magnet cryostat, which subjects them to liquid helium (4.2 K) or cryogenic temperatures. The behavior of power diodes can change significantly at cryogenic temperatures. Hence, it is essential to verify their performance before they are installed onto a superconducting magnet system. Thus, a test bench was developed to determine the V–I characteristics of power diodes at low temperatures. In this paper, the two power diodes were tested at 300 K, 77 K, and 4.2 K. The forward voltage was found to increase and have a modest reduction in the on-resistance with the decreases in temperature. The diodes withstood low temperatures down to 4.2 K. The observed forward voltage for the power diode was 4.78 V at 4.2 K, which is around 6–7 times higher than that at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]