Difference Between Avalanche & Zener Breakdown

Hello, friends, I hope you all are doing great. 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. The charge carrier that exists in the diode gets heat from the surrounding area at room temperature. After the application of reverse-biased voltage about the junction of the diode then K.E of electrons rises and they move with a large speed.

During their motion, they collide with the other atoms and generate free electrons due to these free electrons’ reverse current flows. Due to this reverse current avalanche breakdown phenomena occur. But Zener breakdown exits in such a highly doped diode. When the electrical voltage is given to the diode electrons move towards the junction. Due to that small value reverse current flows. When the crossing of electrons to the junction increases over the rated capacity of diode then avalanche breakdown exits that damage the junction of the diode. In today’s post, we will have a detailed look at both Avalanche and Zener breakdowns with the detailed and compare them to find their differences. So let’s get started with the Difference Between Avalanche & Zener Breakdown.

Difference Between Avalanche & Zener Breakdown

Avalanche Breakdown

• It process that exists in both semiconductors and insulators. Due to this process very high current passes in the material that are insulators.
• It is also called an electron avalanche.

• It is done due to the charge carriers exist in the transition area of material and link to the external supply then free electrons will move.
• Current will flow in differnt substances if they have free charges either electrons or holes.
• In semiconductors, these two charge carriers help to flow current.
• The loss of connected electrons in the reverse biased state can cause the creation of electrons hole pari when left its place.
• In the case of the field given to material electrons go to the positive side and hold to the negative.
• The energy given to the free electrons will release more electrons from the material and cause to make avalanche.
• That process causes the larger part of the device to conduct current
• Due to high voltage losses curent cause to make heat in the material. In reverse-biased state electrons cause the breakdown to large current
• The value of reverse-biased potential is larger for this avalanche.
• The temperature coefficient is positive.
• Due to the collision of electrons with the ionization of the atom occurs.
• The value of breakdown voltage is in direct relation with the temperature. When a breakdown occurs the value of voltage does not remain constant.

Zener Breakdown

• The phenomenon in which electrons from the valence band of p-type material cross the potential barrier and combine with the conduction band of partially filled n-type substances is called Zener breakdown.

• Zener diode faces Zener effect is a category of breakdown that was given by Melvin Zener.
• It works in the reverse-biased state when the field is applied to the diode and free electrons move from the valence to the conduction band of the material, causing the current flow due to minority charges.
• In a reverse-biased state, the depletion region rises, which results in an increment of field about the junction.
• Due to the field, the material results in free charge carriers.
• Due to an increase in free carries, the current will flow with high-value
• In an avalanche breakdown, minority electrons go to the transition area, create a field, and make new electron-hole pairs.
• The zener factor can exist with the avalanche fact.
• The working volts are less than five volts for the Zerner avalanches and for avalanches larger than five volts.
• The doping level for Zener breakdown is larger than the avalanche breakdown.
• The value of reverse-biased voltage is less for this breakdown.

• When a breakdown occurs, the value of voltage remains constant.
• The temperature coefficient is negative.
• Due to the electrical field, ionization occurs in this phenomenon.
• The breakdown voltage is in inverse relation with the temperature.

That is all about the difference between avalanche and Zener breakdown. If you have any query ask in comments. Thanks for reading.