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Difference Between Zener Breakdown and Avalanche Breakdown

Difference between Zener Breakdown and Avalanche Breakdown

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Shadrack Mutinda
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50 views4 pages

Difference Between Zener Breakdown and Avalanche Breakdown

Difference between Zener Breakdown and Avalanche Breakdown

Uploaded by

Shadrack Mutinda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Difference between Zener Breakdown and

Avalanche Breakdown
Breakdown diodes can be defined as two-terminal electrical components. Different diodes are
available in the market fabricated with semiconductor objects such as Silicon and Germanium.
The overall objective of the diode is to allow the current to flow only in one direction and block
the current in the reverse direction.

In this session, let us know the difference between Zener breakdown and avalanche breakdown.

PN Junction Breakdown
An electrical breakdown of any material such as the conductor, semiconductor, and insulator can
occur due to two different phenomena known as a) Zener Breakdown b) Avalanche Breakdown.

What Is Zener Breakdown?


When the diode is reverse biased, the kinetic energy of the electrons increases, and they move at
a high velocity. The high-velocity electrons collide with other atoms and give rise to free
electrons. These free electrons, in turn, give rise to a high value of reverse saturation current.
This is known as Zener breakdown.

Read More: Zener Diode

What Is Avalanche Breakdown?


The avalanche breakdown occurs when a high reverse voltage is applied across the diode. As we
increase the applied reverse voltage, the electric field across the junction increases. This electric
field exerts a force on the electrons at the junction and frees them from covalent bonds. These
free electrons start moving with high velocity across the junction and collide with the other
atoms, thus creating more free electrons. This results in a rapid increase in net current. Both
these breakdowns occur in Zener diodes.

Volt-Ampere Characteristics of Si and Ge Zener Diode

Zener Breakdown vs Avalanche Breakdown


The main difference between Zener breakdown and avalanche breakdown is their mechanism of
occurrence. Zener breakdown occurs because of the high electric field. The avalanche
breakdown occurs because of the collision of free electrons with atoms. Both these breakdowns
can occur simultaneously. Let us look at the other differences between them in the below table.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
Q1

Which are the materials used in the fabrication of diodes?


Silicon and Germanium are the semiconductor materials used in the construction of the
diode.
Q2

State true or false: in the Zener breakdown, the increase in


temperature increases the breakdown voltage.
False. In Zener breakdown, the increase in temperature decreases the
breakdown voltage.
Q3

In which type of diode avalanche breakdown takes place?


It occurs in diodes that are lightly doped.
Q4

Define Zener breakdown?


The process in which the electrons move across the barrier from the valence band of p-
type material to the conduction band of n-type material is known as Zener breakdown.
Q5

What happens in avalanche breakdown when the increase in


temperature takes place?
When the temperature increases the breakdown voltage also increases.

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