The drift and diffusion currents under equilibrium

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anhnha
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Can you help me explain this part from my book?
Two-stage diagram of a pn junction: top shows hole diffusion arrow rightward and electron diffusion arrow leftward across the boundary between p-type and n-type regions; bottom shows uncovered space charges and opposing hole drift and electron drift arrows with an electric field arrow labeled ε.

Textbook page text on pn junction equilibrium: equation (2.61) sets |I_drift,p + I_drift,n| = |I_diff,p + I_diff,n|, then equations (2.62) and (2.63) impose I_drift,p = I_diff,p and I_drift,n = I_diff,n for each carrier.


In equilibrium, the pn junction has no external connections, i.e., the terminals are open and no voltage is applied across the device.
If so, I wonder why there is drift current in the equation above. In equilibrium, the total current is zero but I don't understand how can they get the equation.
Is it right that in equilibrium, the total current is zero but each current (drift and diff currents) are not necessary to be zero?

PS: I have just seen the image. It is relatively clear now. In equilibrium, the net current is zero.
From that I can get the equation above. However, I am confused about these currents. I think they are only exist in a short of time, right?
After that time:
The diffusion is zero when the concentration of electrons and holes are equal in P and N sandwiches.
The dift currents are zero when all minority charge carriers are depleted.
If possible, can you explain about the next part?
 
Attachments
  • Textbook page on pn junction equilibrium showing equation (2.61), |I_drift,p + I_drift,n| = |I_diff,p + I_diff,n|, and the per-carrier conditions (2.62) |I_drift,p| = |I_diff,p| and (2.63) |I_drift,n| = |I_diff,n|, with explanatory text.
    Drift and diff current.JPG
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  • Diagram of a pn junction in two stages: top, p-type and n-type regions with hole diffusion arrow to the right and electron diffusion arrow to the left; bottom, uncovered space charges at the junction with hole drift and electron drift arrows, and an electric field arrow labelled E pointing left.
    PN junction currents.JPG
    16.2 KB · Views: 2,167
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@anhnha... I see you are still active now. Can you explain to me what the next part in the following sentence is?

anhnha said:
If possible, can you explain about the next part?
 
Thank you!
Could you explain about unrealistic phenomenon here?
Why is there a charge accumulation?
I don't see how is each side of equation 2.61 can be zero.
For the right hand side part, the total current always flows from p to n and in the left hand side the total current always flows from p to n.
I don't see how possible it is to assume that each side of the equation is zero.

With the next part, I meant to say that because there is a limited number of electrons on each side of the pn junction so after the diffusion all electrons and holes are spread equally so how is it possible for the current to continue here?
I think I can answer it now. Because of the drift current, the concentration will never be equal so there is always diffusion current.
 
OK. The problem with my understanding of this phenomenon is that it does not contain all these terms. Can I know how old you are? Because I have just learned this topic myself (I am 17), and I could help you understand it the way I understood it, because my way makes a little more sense physically. But that is only if you want me to.

PS: I hope you are not female. Last time I checked, asking females their age was not chivalrous. :smile::oldbiggrin: