Difference Between Zener Breakdown and Avalanche Breakdown
1. What is Avalanche breakdown?
When high electric field is produced by applying high reverse voltage across the diode, it generates free electrons hence, current at the junction. Due to this current breakdown occurs called the avalanche breakdown.
2. What is Zener breakdown?
The phenomena in which reversed biased diode produces free electrons generated by collision of high velocity electrons and other atoms. The free electrons produce increased reverse saturation current resulting is breakdown called Zener breakdown.
3. What is PN junction breakdown?
When the PN diode is reversed biased, the increase in voltage increases the reverse saturation current. This phenomenon is called as the PN junction breakdown.
4. State about the depletion layer in Zener breakdown.
The depletion layer in Zener breakdown is thin.
5. What type of electric field is produced in the Avalanche breakdown?
The electric field produced in the Avalanche breakdown is weak in nature.
Difference Between Zener Breakdown and Avalanche Breakdown
The difference between Zener breakdown and Avalanche breakdown is a very important topic to study in semiconductors. When a diode is reverse-biased with an increase in voltage the reverse current also increases. This phenomenon is called breakdown. When the PN diode is reverse biased, a breakdown occurs called PN junction breakdown. Both Zener and avalanche breakdowns are the phenomena for PN junction breakdown. Zener breakdown is the breakdown in which free electrons generate reverse saturation current resulting in breakdown. Avalanche breakdown is breakdown due to increased resultant current produced by a high electric field obtained by applying a high reverse voltage across the diode.
In this article, you will learn about Zener breakdown, Avalanche Breakdown, and the difference between these two.
Table of Content
- What is Zener Breakdown?
- What is Avalanche Breakdown?
- What is the Difference between Zener Breakdown and Avalanche Breakdown?
- Tabular Difference Between Zener Breakdown and Avalanche Breakdown
- Similarities Between Zener Breakdown and Avalanche Breakdown