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Avalanche voltage is the voltage value that causes a reverse-biased semiconductor junction to break down and conduct. Sometimes this is undesirable. A rectifier diode in a power supply that avalanches has failed. It can also be desirable. A Zener diode used as a regulator works by avalaching at a specific voltage, thus limiting the circuit voltage at that level.
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Avalanche photo diode?
Avalanche photodiodes (APDs) are photo detectors that can be regarded as the semiconductor analog to photomultiplier's. By applying a high reverse bias voltage (typically 100-200 V in silicon), APDs show an internal current gain effect (around 100) due to impact ionization (avalanche effect). However, some silicon APDs employ alternative doping and beveling techniques compared to traditional APDs that allow greater voltage to be applied (> 1500 V) before breakdown is reached and hence a greater operating gain (> 1000). In general, the higher the reverse voltage the higher the gain. Among the various expressions for the APD multiplication factor (M), an instructive expression is given by the formula :
Difference between avalanche and zener breakdown?
A: There is no difference except for a zener its breakdown is known and predictable. Avalanche breakdown is not predictable and usually happens at hi voltage and because of it if the current is not limited it self destroy the device
Distinguish between zener avalanche effects?
1. Differentiate Zener breakdown from avalanche breakdown? Zener Breakdown Avalanche breakdown 1.This occurs at junctions which being heavily doped have narrow depletion layers 2. This breakdown voltage sets a very strong electric field across this narrow layer. 3. Here electric field is very strong to rupture the covalent bonds thereby generating electronhole pairs. So even a small increase in reverse voltage is capable of producing large number of current carriers. ie why the junction has a very low resistance. This leads to Zener breakdown. 1. This occurs at junctions which being lightly doped have wide depletion layers. 2. Here electric field is not strong enough to produce Zener breakdown. 3. Her minority carriers collide with semi conductor atoms in the depletion region, which breaks the covalent bonds and electron-hole pairs are generated. Newly generated charge carriers are accelerated by the electric field which results in more collision and generates avalanche of charge carriers. This results in avalanche breakdown.
What is the difference between voltage forward voltage and voltage drop?
Voltage is the potential difference between the source & any point in the circuit. The forward voltage is the voltage drop across the diode if the voltage at the anode is more positive than the voltage at the cathode (if you connect + to the anode). Voltage drop means, amount of voltage by which voltage across load resistor is less then the source voltage.
What is the difference between a Shockley diode and a Shottky diode?
A Shockley diode is a primitive diode identical to a thyristor with it's gate left disconnected. A Schottky diode is similar to a normal avalanche diode except that it's forward voltage is quite low, and it's switching speed is very high.
Difference between avalanche zener and thermal breakdown?
Avalanche is when you surpass the negative bias voltage threshold and the zener breaks, thermal breakdown would be putting too much current or voltage across the zener and burning it out.
When operating as a voltage regulator the breakdown in a Zener diode occurs due to which effect?
avalanche
What is avalanche break down in scr?
A: As the reverse voltage is applied to the SCR increases at a certain point the device will start to conduct that is defined as the breakdown voltage for that device
For a normal p-n junction diod like 1n4007 at around what forward voltage does avalanche breakdown occurs?
1KV
What does avalanche sound like?
An avalanche sound like a roaring trucktor i think. It sould be like a hurricane.
How will you differentiate the diodes whether it is zener or an avalanche when you are given two diodes of rating 6.2V and 24V?
Silicon "zener diodes" with a zener voltage rating of 5.6V or higher operate mainly by avalanche breakdown, so both the 6.2V and 24V "zener diodes" are avalanche breakdown type (not zener breakdown type).
What is avalanche transist time devices?
it is possible to make a microwave diode exhibit negative resistance by having delay between voltage and current in an avalanche together with transist time through the material . such devices are called avalanche transist time device. these are of 3 types 1. IMPATT 2. TRAPATT 3. BARITT
What is avalanche break down?
When applied voltage is higher in reverse bias condition thermally generated electrons will rupture the bonds and increase the minority carriers
What is it called when a large amount of ice comes down a mountains?
Avalanche.
Advantage and disadvantages of avalanche diode?
Avalanche photodiode advantages and disadvantagesThe avalanche photodiode has a number of different characteristics to the normal p-n or p-i-n photodiodes, making them more suitable for use in some applications. In view of this it is worth summarising their advantages and disadvantages.. The main advantages of the avalanche photodiode include:Greater level of sensitivityThe disadvantages of the avalanche photodiode include:Much higher operating voltage may be required.Avalanche photodiode produces a much higher level of noise than a p-n photodiodeAvalanche process means that the output is not linear
Is an avalanche a decomposer?
is an avalanche a decomposer
What do you mean by operating voltage of a gm counter?
When you calibrate a GM counter, you run various plots of countrate versus voltage for various energies of isotopes. Since the GM detector runs best in avalanche mode, you pick an operating point in the middle of the avalanche plateau as a compromise for the range of energies you want to be able to detect. That is the operating voltage. Keep in mind that, since you are operating in avalanche mode, you cannot differentiate amongst various energies, i.e. nuclides. If you want to be able to quantify energy, you need to be running in linear mode, and the ion chamber is a better choice. Yes, the GM detector is a form of ion chamber, but it all comes down to sensitivity versus selectivity.
