What is Avalanche breakdown?
A phenomenon in which carriers accelerated by a strong reverse field strike atoms and create new carriers, which multiply in a chain reaction so that a large current flows.
Field: PN junctions and diodes
Avalanche breakdown in the explanations
In avalanche breakdown, carriers accelerated by the strong depletion-region field strike atoms and create electron-hole pairs (impact ionization); these are accelerated in turn, and the current multiplies like an avalanche.
Which correctly describes the mechanism of avalanche breakd…As temperature rises, lattice-vibration scattering increases and carriers are less able to gain enough energy for impact ionization, so the avalanche breakdown voltage rises (a positive temperature coefficient).
How does the avalanche breakdown voltage generally change a…Below about 5 V the mechanism is mainly tunneling (Zener) breakdown; above it, mainly avalanche breakdown.
Which phenomenon does a voltage-regulator (Zener) diode mai…
Questions that mention Avalanche breakdown (4)
- Which correctly describes the mechanism of avalanche breakdown?
- How does the avalanche breakdown voltage generally change as temperature rises?
- Which phenomenon does a voltage-regulator (Zener) diode mainly use?
- When a reverse bias is applied to an abrupt PN junction, where is the electric field strongest?
Related terms
SiC (silicon carbide) Built-in potential Conductivity modulation Depletion layer Diffusion capacitance Forward bias Ideality factor Junction capacitance (depletion capacitance) Ohmic contact Reverse recovery time