# How can the neutral regions in a diode have constant potential?

## Homework Statement

It is said that the potential in the neutral regions of a PN junction diode is CONSTANT.

V=Q/4ΠΣr

## The Attempt at a Solution

It is said in all textbooks to ASSUME that the electric field in the neutral regions as zero.
Two aspects confuse me.
1. What charges cause the CONSTANT potential in the neutral region? Is it the charges in the depletion region or the charges in the neutral region(even though net charge is zero there are still charges in the neutral region,which can a cause a potential,right?)
As, for a point in space to have a potential there must be a charge involved since V=Q/4ΠΣr

2. If the potential is due to the charges in the depletion region, how can it be constant through out the neutral region? Since as we move away from the depletion region charges through the neutral region doesn't 'r' in the equation,V=Q/4ΠΣr vary?

Please don't give an answer like since electric field is zero the potential is constant, since i don't think that is a fundamental way to think about it. Please give an answer in terms of the fundamental DEFINITION of Electric Potential. Thanks in advance.

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Simon Bridge
Homework Helper
1. The charges in the doped regeon ensure this. In the neutral regeon, there are charges, but they are not mobile.
2. You are using the relation incorrectly... the doped regeon is treated as being much wider than it is thick. Thus it is modelled as two very wide sheets of charge.The equation you wrote is for only one charge.

Calculate the potential and electric field due to a large sheet of charge...
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/elesht.html
...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depletion_region

Amal Thejus
1. The charges in the doped regeon ensure this. In the neutral regeon, there are charges, but they are not mobile.
2. You are using the relation incorrectly... the doped regeon is treated as being much wider than it is thick. Thus it is modelled as two very wide sheets of charge.The equation you wrote is for only one charge.

Calculate the potential and electric field due to a large sheet of charge...
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/elesht.html
...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depletion_region
So you are saying the CONSTANT potential in the NEUTRAL regions is due to the charges in the NEUTRAL region itself?

If so how does the neutral n region which has more electrons than the neutral p region have a Postive potential compared to the p region ?
I have attached a photo showing the variation of ELECTRIC POTENTIAL inside the diode.

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Simon Bridge