Zener and Avalanche Breakdown – Rankers Physics

P-N Junction Diode and its applications: Practice Problem & Solution

Assertion (A): Avalanche breakdown dominates when the doping concentration is high and depletion layer is thin. Reason (R): Zener breakdown occurs due to the collision of minority charge carrier.  
Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
(A) is true but (R) is false
Both (A) and (R) are false

Short Solution (Best for NEET):

To solve this problem, we apply the core principles of P-N Junction Diode and its applications. Understanding the underlying formula is key to arriving at the correct answer below:

Concept: \(p-n\) junction breakdown.
Avalanche breakdown occurs in lightly doped junctions with wider depletion regions. Zener breakdown occurs in heavily doped junctions due to quantum tunneling, not minority carrier collisions. Thus, both (A) and (R) are false.

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