Avalanche Breakdown vs Zener Breakdown
The Zener effect is dominant in voltages up to 5.6 volts and the avalanche effect takes over above that. They are both similar effects, the difference being that the Zener effect is a quantum phenomenon and the avalanche effect is the movement of electrons in the valence band like in any electric current., and more items.
What is the difference between Avalanche&Zener breakdown?
In today’s tutorial, we will discuss the Difference Between Avalanche & Zener Breakdown. The basic difference between avalanche and Zener breakdown is that avalanche breakdown occurs when electrons collide with each other while Zener breakdown occurs due to the high electrical field.
Another major difference is the doping, the avalanche effect occurs in lightly doped PN-junction diodes, whereas the Zener breakdown occurs in heavily doped diodes.
What is the difference between avalanche breakdown and zone Zener breakdown?
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. Let us look at the other differences between them in the below table.
When the jumping of electrons increases beyond the rated capacity of the diode, then avalanche breakdown occurs which breaks the junction. Thus, as long as the current in the diode is limited the Zener diode will not destroy the junction. But avalanche breakdown destroys the junction.
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?
What is avalanche breakdown?
The process of applying high voltage and increasing the free electrons or electric current in semiconductors and insulating materials is called an avalanche breakdown. This is observed in Zener diodes having a Zener breakdown voltage V z V z of 5 to 8 volts.
This effect is known as the Avalanche effect and the voltage after which the avalanche effect is noticed is known as the breakdown voltage. The avalanche breakdown effect is a result of impact ionization.
Avalanche breakdown: Avalanche breakdown occurs in a PN junction diode which is reasonably doped and has a thick depletion layer. It usually occurs when a high reverse voltage is applied across the diode. As we keep on increasing the reverse voltage, the electric field also keeps increasing.
How does avalanche breakdown occur in a diode?
Because of this saturation current, the avalanche breakdown mechanism occurs in the diode. The Zener breakdown takes place in heavily doped diodes. When the high electric field applied across the diode, the electrons start moving across the junction. Thus develop the small reversed bias current.