What is Tail current?
Current that keeps flowing like a tail as an IGBT turns off, because stored minority carriers prevent it from dropping to zero immediately. It causes turn-off loss.
Field: Power semiconductors
Tail current in the explanations
In a differential pair, the tail current source's current is split between the two transistors according to the difference between the input voltages.
What does a differential pair, with the emitters of two tra…It is the workhorse of EV, rail and industrial inverters, though tail current makes it unsuitable for high frequencies.
Which correctly describes an IGBT?An IGBT lowers drift resistance by injecting minority carriers (holes) when on, so at turn-off current continues until they recombine or are swept out—the tail current.
At IGBT turn-off, what is the phenomenon called in which th…
Questions that mention Tail current (5)
- What does a differential pair, with the emitters of two transistors connected to a common current source, do?
- Which correctly describes an IGBT?
- At IGBT turn-off, what is the phenomenon called in which the current does not drop to zero immediately but trails off because of stored minority carriers?
- Which correctly describes the typical division of use between silicon MOSFETs and IGBTs?
- Which ion implantation is used for wafer splitting (Smart Cut) and for lifetime control in power devices?
Related terms
IGBT Conductivity modulation CMRR (common-mode rejection ratio) Operational amplifier (op-amp) On-resistance SiC (silicon carbide) Ion implantation Annealing Body diode DC-DC converter