What type of circuit uses a single diode to rectify alternating current?

In the context of rectifying alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), a half-wave rectifier employs a single diode to allow current to pass only during one half of the AC cycle, effectively blocking one direction of the current flow. This results in a pulsating DC output that consists of only the positive portion of the AC waveform (assuming the diode is oriented to allow current during the positive half-cycle).

Using a single diode in this manner is fundamental to the operation of a half-wave rectifier since it can only conduct current during one polarity of the input signal. Consequently, while it does serve a basic rectifying function, it is less efficient compared to other types of rectifiers that utilize multiple diodes, but is often used in simple applications where minimal circuitry and components are needed.

In contrast, the full-wave rectifier requires at least two diodes (or a diode bridge configuration) to utilize both halves of the AC waveform, and a bridge rectifier specifically involves four diodes arranged in a bridge to convert AC to DC effectively. A pulse-width modulator, on the other hand, is a method used for controlling the width of pulses in order to regulate power, not primarily for rectification. Thus, the half-wave