Zener breakdown
We have electric field strength = Reverse voltage/ Depletion region
From the above relation we see that the reverse voltage is directly proportional to the electric field hence, a small increase in reverse voltage produces a very high intensity electric field with ina narrow Depletion region.
Therefore when the reverse voltage to a diode is increased, under the influence of high intensity electric filed large numbr of electrons within the depletion region break the covalent bonds with their atoms as shown above and thus a large reverse current flows through the diode. This breakdown is referred to as Zener breakdown.
We have electric field strength = Reverse voltage/ Depletion regionFrom the above relation we see that the reverse voltage is directly proportional to the electric field hence, a small increase in reverse voltage produces a very high intensity electric field with ina narrow Depletion region.
Therefore when the reverse voltage to a diode is increased, under the influence of high intensity electric filed large numbr of electrons within the depletion region break the covalent bonds with their atoms as shown above and thus a large reverse current flows through the diode. This breakdown is referred to as Zener breakdown.
