PN junctions and diodes

How does the avalanche breakdown voltage generally change as temperature rises?

  1. AIt increases
  2. BIt decreases
  3. CIt does not change
Show answer and explanation

Answer: A. It increases

As temperature rises, scattering by lattice vibrations increases, making it harder for carriers to gain enough energy for impact ionization, so the avalanche breakdown voltage increases (a positive temperature coefficient). Zener breakdown, by contrast, occurs at a lower voltage as temperature rises.

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More PN junctions and diodes questions

  1. What is the phenomenon in which forward current through a PIN diode injects many carriers into the i-layer and greatly reduces its resistance?
  2. What can be evaluated by measuring the capacitance of a reverse-biased PN junction while varying the voltage (C-V measurement)?
  3. Of the two terminals of a PN junction diode, what is the terminal on the p-type side called?
  4. What is the property of a diode that lets current flow easily in one direction but hardly at all in the other called?
  5. Which statement correctly describes the depletion layer of a PN junction in thermal equilibrium?