Avalanche Breakdown: What is it?

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Avalanche breakdown (or “the avalance effect”) is a phenomenon that can occur in both insulating and semiconducting materials. It is a form of electric current multiplication that can allow very large currents within materials which are otherwise good insulators. It is a type of electron avalanche. The avalanche process occurs when carriers in the transition region are accelerated by the electric field to energies sufficient to create mobile or free electron-hole pairs via collisions with bound electrons.

There is a difference between Avalanche breakdown and Zener breakdown. In Zener breakdown, the electrons “tunnel” from the valence band of the p side to the conduction band on the n side. In classical physics, electrons should not have been able to cross over in this way. Tunnelling is, in fact, a quantum mechanical phenomenon, which comes about from electrons having wave properties.

The main differences between Zener and Avalanche Breakdown are:
1. Zener breakdown and avalanche breakdown are processes by which diodes begin to conduct significant currents, when they are subject to a high reverse voltage.
2. Zener breakdown occurs when the doping levels are high, and involves electrons tunnelling from the valence band of the p side to the conduction band on the n side.
3. Avalanche breakdown occurs when charge carriers which are accelerated by the electric field gain enough kinetic energy such that, when they collide with lattice atoms, they ionise the lattice atoms to produce electron-ion pairs. These pairs, in turn, cause further ionisations, leading to an “avalanche” effect.

[abigailmike]

3:28 is when the avalanche breakdown actually starts

[mohammedabusufiyan]

Lol 😂. I was solely concentrating on the drawings 😂. How are they so neat and clean?

[AJ-bjds]

I like your videos very much sir.Very Simple and clear explanation ....Thank u very much sir ..we r hoping more no. Of videos from u sir ....keep Rocking 😊😃😘

[QB_Quotes]

So nice video .... mine all concepts are clear now ... Keep ur work, ma'am ... I really appreciate ur work ... :)

[allusivasantoshi]

Finally I got some clarity on avalanche breakdown..thank u.👍👍

[HM-rcnn]

why this breakdown is non reversible???while zener one is reversible???

[AdityaPrasad]

3:58 The free atom hits the "atom" at high speed... does it hit the atom or does it "hit" valance electrons and thereby pass on KE??

[puenchong]

Have big mis taken in this video, correctly n- type semiconductor is electron donor, p-type semiconductor is electron accpter. but in this video was resversed

[sayanguha]

3:42
What do you mean by the junction breaks down?
::-- Do you mean to say that the thickness of depletion layer increases ...in other words the depletion layer spreads out?

[shreekant_]

Very very very helpful video's of ur channel..
I love 😍 them all

[sadamhussain]

very help full video... thanks dear uploader...

[ramakrishnagara]

Excellent presentation. I understood Avalanche Breakdown clearly. Thank you
Can u tell me which software/equipment is used for this presentation

[justrandom]

How do you draw such straight lines by hand? Is there a trick to it?

[gpkumar]

Prof I am giving higher potential to anode +10 v and lower potential to +5 v to cathode. What is the behavior of diode now?

[akhileshsajja]

what is the main difference between avalanche breakdown and zener breakdown???

[Norm_y]

Why there is no forward saturation current in pn jn diode....🤔

[BharathKumar-eohy]

What is the main difference between the avalanche and zener i want clarity

[alansaldanha]

Today I fully understood the meaning of avalance breakdown.

[HarshvardhanNigam]

why have you shown free electron in P side ? i guess holes are the majority carriers in p type SC .