Explain the cause and origin of the high reverse bias current after breakdown of a PN junction
Added by Shannon W.
Step 1
If the reverse bias voltage is increased beyond a certain level, the electric field becomes strong enough to ionize the atoms in the depletion region, creating electron-hole pairs. These electrons and holes are accelerated by the electric field and create more Show more…
Show all steps
Your feedback will help us improve your experience
Adi S and 55 other Physics 101 Mechanics educators are ready to help you.
Ask a new question
Labs
Want to see this concept in action?
Explore this concept interactively to see how it behaves as you change inputs.
Key Concepts
Recommended Videos
1) (a) In PN junction, why is the reverse-bias current expected to be small in magnitude and to saturate at small reverse voltage? (b) In PN junction, under revise biasing, what processes occur in the quasineutral regions adjacent to the depletion region edges? It is drift and diffusion, diffusion and recombination, generation and diffusion, or generation and drift? (c) In BJT, define in words (no equations) what is meant by ‐emitter efficiency‐. (d) In the ideal transistor analysis, what assumptions are made about the regional (E B C) doping concentrations and quasineutral widths? (e) What are the differences between a BJT and HBT? (f) In a p+-n junction, the n-doping Nd is doubled. How do the following change if everything else remains unchanged? Indicate only increase or decrease. (f1) Junction capacitance (f2) Built-in potential (f3) Breakdown voltage (f4) Ohmic losses (g) An idea MS contact is formed between a metal and a semiconductor with ΦM =χ. Under what conditions will the contact be ohmic-like, and under what conditions will the contact be rectifying?
Madhur L.
Why does the reverse bias configuration lead to a very small current?
Sketch and explain what happens when a diode is in: - Forward bias - Reverse bias
Ankur S.
Recommended Textbooks
University Physics with Modern Physics
Physics: Principles with Applications
Fundamentals of Physics
Transcript
18,000,000+
Students on Numerade
Trusted by students at 8,000+ universities
Watch the video solution with this free unlock.
EMAIL
PASSWORD