Question

Avalanche breakdown is due to ______.

Options

• Collision of minority charge carriers 

• Increase in depletion layer thickness

• Decrease in depletion layer thickness

• None of these

Answer 1

Avalanche breakdown is due to collision of minority charge carriers.

Explanation:

The minority charge carriers achieve very high velocities at high reverse voltage. The covalent bonds are broken by these by collision. As a result, a lot of charge carriers are produced. It's known as a Zener breakdown.