zener breakdown and avalanche breakdown.
A breakdown diode is called so because it operates in the breakdown region of its voltage-current characteristic curve. In this region, a small increase in voltage can lead to a large increase in current, allowing the diode to conduct in reverse bias. This behavior is typically utilized in applications like voltage regulation and clamping, where the diode prevents excessive voltage from damaging other components. The name reflects its ability to "break down" and conduct under certain voltage conditions.
In an NPN transistor, the majority carriers in the base region are called holes. The base is made of p-type material, which means it has an abundance of holes (positive charge carriers) compared to electrons. This allows for efficient charge transport when the transistor is in operation, facilitating the flow of current from the collector to the emitter.
This space is for answering "http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_does_voltage_remain_constant_in_the_reverse_breakdown_region_in_a_zener_diode" Why does voltage remain constant in the reverse breakdown region in a zener diode?
a diode has two junctions one is doped with p-type and another is doped with n-type.a diode connected in reverse bias means that the n-channel is connected to the positive end of the battery and p-channel is attached to the negative end of the battery if we start increasing the reverse voltage the width of depletion region increases and the exchange of charge carriers (holes and electrons) is inhibited so we expect zero current in the circuit but on experimental observations we had confirmed that a small current (micro-amp) is observed due to the minority charge carriers(electrons in p-channel and holes in n-channel) present in the diode , for these minority charge carriers the applied voltage appers as as forward bias to them so they conduct . but on further increasing the reverse voltage we note a large change in the reverse current this is due to junction breakdown (the depletion region is broken , so there is no demarcation between p-channel and n-channel in the diode). the voltage at which this phenomena occurs is called 'break-down voltage'
Depletion region is the region where current carriers such as electrons and holes are absent.
breakdown can depend on two phenomenons: band to band tunneling (quantum theory) and avalanche multiplication. For simplicity, let's talk about A.M.: With negative voltages, E field is very high and induces free carriers to cross depleted region. A percentage of free carriers (depends on material, depletion region width, doping, temperature and voltage applied) will impact with crystal and generate a pair of free carriers (hole + electron). So, for each impact, a couple of carriers is generated and accelerated by E field => repeat this for all the depletion region and all the width and you'll find a rapid increase of inverse current.
The breakdown region of a transistor is the region where the supply voltage, Vcc, becomes so large that the collector-emitter junction of the transistor breaks down and conducts, even though there is no base current.
The p-region of a diode contains an abundance of holes, but also contains a small percentage of electrons. Similarly, the n-region also contains a small percentage of holes. These are knows as the minority carriers. Again, like charges repel, so when the diode is reverse biased, these minority carriers will migrate toward the boundary region. The minority carriers will recombine at the boundary region, and thus enable an electric current. Because these carriers are few in number (orders of magnitude less than the majority carriers), this current is very small. This represents the leakage current of a diode. The mobility of minority carriers increases with temperature, and heating a diode will cause greater numbers of minority carriers to congregate at the boundary region. This will increase leakage current. Surface contamination on the diode may also allow small amounts of electricity to be conducted, again causing leakage.
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.
zener breakdown and avalanche breakdown.
The current that consists of imaginary carriers of positive charge is called a displacement current. It is a concept in electromagnetism introduced by James Clerk Maxwell to account for the time-varying electric fields in the region between the plates of a charging capacitor. Displacement current plays a crucial role in the modification of Ampère's law to form Maxwell's equations.
Avalanche breakdown is a phenomenon that can occur in both insulating and semiconducting materials. It is a form of electric current multiplication that can allow very large currents to flow within materials which are otherwise good insulators. It is a type of electron avalanche. The Avalanche process occurs when the carriers in the transition region are accelerated by the electric field to energies sufficient to free e- h pairs via collisions with bond electrons.
The quasi-neutral region in a PN junction helps balance the concentration of charge carriers (electrons and holes) on both sides of the junction. This region allows for the flow of current by providing a pathway for the charge carriers to move across the junction. It contributes to the overall behavior of the junction by facilitating the formation of an electric field that helps regulate the flow of current through the junction.
Collector has larger area than base and emitter because base collector is reverse biased, hence the current flow here due to the minority carriers and the large power dissipation takes place by the majority carriers, this power dissipated in the form of heat.. To cool the device from heat we made the larger area........
A breakdown diode is called so because it operates in the breakdown region of its voltage-current characteristic curve. In this region, a small increase in voltage can lead to a large increase in current, allowing the diode to conduct in reverse bias. This behavior is typically utilized in applications like voltage regulation and clamping, where the diode prevents excessive voltage from damaging other components. The name reflects its ability to "break down" and conduct under certain voltage conditions.
In an NPN transistor, the majority carriers in the base region are called holes. The base is made of p-type material, which means it has an abundance of holes (positive charge carriers) compared to electrons. This allows for efficient charge transport when the transistor is in operation, facilitating the flow of current from the collector to the emitter.