== Reverse bias ==
{{unreferenced|section|date=November 2013}}
[[File:PN Junction in Reverse Bias.png|frame|right|A silicon p–n junction in reverse bias.]]
Connecting the ''P-type'' region to the ''negative'' terminal of the battery and the ''N-type'' region to the ''positive'' terminal corresponds to reverse bias. If a diode is reverse-biased, the voltage at the cathode is comparatively higher than the anode. Therefore, no current will flow until the diode breaks down. The connections are illustrated in the diagram to the right.
Because the p-type material is now connected to the negative terminal of the power supply, the '[[Electron hole|holes]]' in the P-type material are pulled away from the junction, causing the width of the depletion zone to increase. Likewise, because the N-type region is connected to the positive terminal, the electrons will also be pulled away from the junction. Therefore, the [[depletion region]] widens, and does so increasingly with increasing reverse-bias voltage. This increases the voltage barrier causing a high resistance to the flow of charge carriers, thus allowing minimal electric current to cross the p–n junction. The increase in resistance of the p–n junction results in the junction behaving as an insulator.
The strength of the depletion zone electric field increases as the reverse-bias voltage increases. Once the electric field intensity increases beyond a critical level, the p–n junction depletion zone breaks down and current begins to flow, usually by either the [[Zener breakdown|Zener]] or the [[avalanche breakdown]] processes. Both of these breakdown processes are non-destructive and are reversible, as long as the amount of current flowing does not reach levels that cause the semiconductor material to overheat and cause thermal damage.
This effect is used to one's advantage in [[Zener diode]] regulator circuits. Zener diodes have a certain – low – breakdown voltage. A standard value for breakdown voltage is for instance 5.6 V. This means that the voltage at the cathode can never be more than 5.6 V higher than the voltage at the anode, because the diode will break down – and therefore conduct – if the voltage gets any higher. This in effect regulates the voltage over the diode.
Another application of reverse biasing is [[Varicap]] diodes, where the width of the [[depletion zone]] (controlled with the reverse bias voltage) changes the capacitance of the diode.
== Reverse bias ==
{{unreferenced|section|date=November 2013}}
[[File:PN Junction in Reverse Bias.png|frame|right|A silicon p–n junction in reverse bias.]]
Connecting the ''P-type'' region to the ''negative'' terminal of the battery and the ''N-type'' region to the ''positive'' terminal corresponds to reverse bias. If a diode is reverse-biased, the voltage at the cathode is comparatively higher than the anode. Therefore, no current will flow until the diode breaks down. The connections are illustrated in the diagram to the right.
Because the p-type material is now connected to the negative terminal of the power supply, the '[[Electron hole|holes]]' in the P-type material are pulled away from the junction, causing the width of the depletion zone to increase. Likewise, because the N-type region is connected to the positive terminal, the electrons will also be pulled away from the junction. Therefore, the [[depletion region]] widens, and does so increasingly with increasing reverse-bias voltage. This increases the voltage barrier causing a high resistance to the flow of charge carriers, thus allowing minimal electric current to cross the p–n junction. The increase in resistance of the p–n junction results in the junction behaving as an insulator.
The strength of the depletion zone electric field increases as the reverse-bias voltage increases. Once the electric field intensity increases beyond a critical level, the p–n junction depletion zone breaks down and current begins to flow, usually by either the [[Zener breakdown|Zener]] or the [[avalanche breakdown]] processes. Both of these breakdown processes are non-destructive and are reversible, as long as the amount of current flowing does not reach levels that cause the semiconductor material to overheat and cause thermal damage.
This effect is used to one's advantage in [[Zener diode]] regulator circuits. Zener diodes have a certain – low – breakdown voltage. A standard value for breakdown voltage is for instance 5.6 V. This means that the voltage at the cathode can never be more than 5.6 V higher than the voltage at the anode, because the diode will break down – and therefore conduct – if the voltage gets any higher. This in effect regulates the voltage over the diode.
Another application of reverse biasing is [[Varicap]] diodes, where the width of the [[depletion zone]] (controlled with the reverse bias voltage) changes the capacitance of the diode.
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