A half wave rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC) by allowing either the positive or negative half of the AC waveform to pass through, which results in a unidirectional but pulsating output. This process requires a single diode for single-phase systems, and produces significant ripple, necessitating further filtering to eliminate harmonics. The basic circuit includes a diode, transformer, load resistor, and additional components such as capacitors for smooth output.