![]() ![]() A diode reaches avalanche breakdown when the reverse-bias voltage exceeds the breakdown voltage. A high voltage Zener diode, also known as an avalanche diode, is meant to operate beyond the breakdown voltage. Some diodes, called Zener diodes, are specially designed with a low breakdown voltage that can be safely exceeded without damaging it. If you reverse-biased a diode past its breakdown voltage, the diode will conduct current in the wrong direction. From the IV curve, you can tell that a real diode is non-linear. An ideal diode would not conduct any current if reverse-biased (experiencing negative voltage), but would conduct current fully (as if it were just a wire) if we were to apply a positive voltage across the diode. The Current-Voltage curve of a diode (Figure 2) shows the response of the diode as a function of current versus voltage. The electrical symbol for the diode has a corresponding line that also indicates the anode and thus the direction of current flow during forward voltage operation. Figure 1: A diode has polarity indicated as a band on the cathode (-) side. The band also corresponds to the symbol of the diode, indicating current flow. An actual diode, shown to the left in Figure 1, is marked by a band on the cathode side. Current flows in one direction from the positive terminal (called the anode) to the negative terminal (called the cathode). The symbol for a diode (to the right in Figure 1) looks something like an arrow pointing in the direction of the forward current. A diode is a passive component made with semiconductor materials (a chip) that conducts current flowing in one direction but does not conduct current flowing in the opposite direction.
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