ZENER BREAKDOWN has caused me a breakdown

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concepts of avalanche breakdown and Zener breakdown in diodes, focusing on the flow of electrons and the effects of high voltage on semiconductor materials. Participants explore the mechanisms involved in these breakdown processes and the implications for current flow in circuits.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks clarification on the avalanche effect, specifically how liberated electrons behave after colliding with valence electrons.
  • Another participant explains that newly liberated electrons can cause further collisions, leading to an avalanche effect.
  • A participant questions what happens to the holes created in the n-type material due to the collisions caused by minority carriers.
  • There is a suggestion that free electrons drift in the circuit, filling holes, similar to other circuits.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the feasibility of filling vacancies quickly and questions the motivation behind the inquiry.
  • Concerns are raised about the differences between avalanche breakdown and Zener breakdown, with a request for clarification on what occurs in each case.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding and curiosity about the mechanisms of avalanche and Zener breakdown. There is no consensus on the specifics of electron flow or the implications of these breakdowns, indicating ongoing debate and exploration of the topic.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight the complexity of the processes involved and the potential for misunderstandings regarding the behavior of electrons in high-voltage scenarios. The discussion reflects a mix of theoretical and practical considerations without resolving the underlying questions.

sudar_dhoni
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could any1 please explain avalance effect
i can understand that the electrons minority carriers are accelerated by high voltage and collide with valence electrons break free them and what happens after that
do they all go back to the positive terminal please explain after the production of avalanche of electrons
 
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The newly liberated electrons, provided they have enough energy, do the same to other stationary electrons.

Hence the term avalanche.
 
sokrates said:
The newly liberated electrons, provided they have enough energy, do the same to other stationary electrons.

Hence the term avalanche.

after that what will happen that's what my question
 
you'll observe high amounts of current at the external circuit.
 
sokrates said:
you'll observe high amounts of current at the external circuit.

ok high amount of current will flow from the n type to the + terminal
but then who will fill the holes caused now in the n type due to collision by the minority carriers on the valence band electrons of n type
those places will be vacant and there will be holes in n type what will happen next?
 
Unsure from your wording exactly what's bothering you, you seem to be questioning both the avalanche effect itself and then what happens after that when the Zener diode is switched on...but free electrons drift in a circuit with a zener diode just like any another other circuit, filling holes .

Try: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_current for a general discussion

Also try here, it seems applicable to your concerns:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zener_diode
 
Naty1 said:
Unsure from your wording exactly what's bothering you, you seem to be questioning both the avalanche effect itself and then what happens after that when the Zener diode is switched on...but free electrons drift in a circuit with a zener diode just like any another other circuit, filling holes .

Try: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_current for a general discussion

Also try here, it seems applicable to your concerns:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zener_diode

ok i 'll come straight to the point now
please explain the flow of electrons through the entire circuit till it completes one cycle in
1) avalanche breakdown
2) zener breakdown
 
I don't know where you are going with this.

There are far too many electrons around, to fill those "vacancies" in extremely fast timescales.

Is there any experimental or theoretical motivation behind all this?

Or are you just feeding your curiosity?

There are effects like "source starvation" observed in small devices where the source cannot supply enough electrons to the circuit, and all that is seen by a decrease in current.

But such a thing will NEVER happen in a Avalanche breakdown mechanism, because you are NOT budging the CORE electrons at ALL ! Ripping a few outer shell electrons and seeing a large current is all you see. Before you can rip the core electrons, you'd need much greater voltages and by that time you'd have burned up your whole circuit anyway...
 
sokrates said:
I don't know where you are going with this.

There are far too many electrons around, to fill those "vacancies" in extremely fast timescales.

Is there any experimental or theoretical motivation behind all this?

Or are you just feeding your curiosity?

There are effects like "source starvation" observed in small devices where the source cannot supply enough electrons to the circuit, and all that is seen by a decrease in current.

But such a thing will NEVER happen in a Avalanche breakdown mechanism, because you are NOT budging the CORE electrons at ALL ! Ripping a few outer shell electrons and seeing a large current is all you see. Before you can rip the core electrons, you'd need much greater voltages and by that time you'd have burned up your whole circuit anyway...

ok then explain zener diode and zener breakdown
how there it does not happen what happens in avalanche breakdown
in both the same will happen
but in zener diode what special will happen which does not happen in avalanche breakdown
 

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