Table of Contents
- 1 What is the effect of temperature on zener breakdown and avalanche breakdown?
- 2 Why does zener breakdown decrease with temperature?
- 3 How avalanche breakdown is different from Zener breakdown?
- 4 What is the difference between avalanche breakdown and Zener breakdown?
- 5 What is the difference between avalanche diode and Zener diode?
- 6 What is Zener breakdown?
What is the effect of temperature on zener breakdown and avalanche breakdown?
A zener diode has two distinctly different breakdown mechanisms: zener breakdown and avalanche breakdown. The zener breakdown voltage decreases as the temperature increases, creating a negative temperature coefficient (TC). The avalanche breakdown voltage increases with temperature (positive TC) (Pryce, 1990).
Why does zener breakdown decrease with temperature?
Zener breakdown and temperature effect: As temperature increases , band gap decreases so less electric field is required to torn electrons from valence band to conduction band. So zener breakdown voltage decreases as the temperature increases. Thus zener breakdown is negative temperature coefficient.
Why does Zener breakdown and avalanche breakdown voltage increase with temperature?
Since the path length gets smaller, then the electrons or holes will need larger electric field to acquire kinetic energy equal or greater then the energy gap. To increase the electric field one has to increase the voltage. Hence, the breakdown voltage increases with the temperature increase.
How avalanche breakdown is different from Zener breakdown?
The main difference between Zener breakdown and avalanche breakdown is their mechanism of occurrence. Zener breakdown occurs because of the high electric field whereas, the avalanche breakdown occurs because of the collision of free electrons with atoms. Both these breakdowns can occur simultaneously.
What is the difference between avalanche breakdown and Zener breakdown?
Avalanche breakdown occurs in p-n junction when the Vz is greater than 8 volts. After learning about the difference between Zener breakdown and Avalanche breakdown let us discuss them in detail: Zener breakdown occurs in p-n junction diodes because of their narrow depletion region.
How does temperature affect Zener breakdown voltage?
Zener breakdown occurs when the electric field is much stronger to torn the electrons from valence band to conduction band. As temperature increases , band gap decreases so less electric field is required to torn electrons from valence band to conduction band. So zener breakdown voltage decreases as the temperature increases.
What is the difference between avalanche diode and Zener diode?
Zener diode exhibits a controlled breakdown and does not require any external circuitry to limit the current. The V-I characteristics of the diode with avalanche breakdown increases gradually whereas for a diode with Zener breakdown the V-I characteristics are sharp.
What is Zener breakdown?
The Zener breakdown occurs when the high electric field is applied across the PN junction diode. This results in the flow of electrons across the PN-junction. What is Avalanche breakdown?