An avalanche diode is a semiconductor device specifically designed to operate in the reverse-breakdown region, safely conducting large amounts of current when a specific reverse voltage is reached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unlike standard diodes that would be destroyed by this reverse current, avalanche diodes are constructed to handle the heat and current evenly across their semiconductor junction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When a reverse-bias voltage is applied and increased, the electric field across the PN junction becomes extremely strong. This field accelerates the few free electrons present in the depletion region to high velocities. When these high-speed electrons collide with the silicon crystal lattice, they knock other electrons loose (a process called impact ionization). These newly freed electrons are also accelerated, knocking more electrons loose, creating an exponentially growing “avalanche” of current flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While often grouped together (and frequently sold under the generic name “Zener diodes”), they rely on two different physical mechanisms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An avalanche diode is a semiconductor device specifically designed to operate in the reverse-breakdown region, safely conducting large amounts of current when a specific reverse voltage is reached. Unlike standard diodes that would be destroyed by this reverse current, avalanche diodes are constructed to handle the heat and current evenly across their semiconductor junction. How […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18440,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-amateur-radio-ham-radio"],"yoast_head":"\n