Avalanche breakdown characteristics of a diffused P-N junction

Abstract

A one-dimensional analysis is presented on the avalanche breakdown characteristics of a diffused p-n junction diode. By numerically integrating the carrier ionization rate in a junction space-charge layer, avalanche breakdown voltage is calculated for diffused diodes of silicon and germanium; this voltage is graphically illustrated throughout a range of parameters applicable to most practical situations. In addition, for calculating the maximum cutoff frequency of varactor diodes, junction capacity is similarly illustrated assuming the device is biased to avalanche breakdown. From these illustrations, and from an accompanying nomograph which relates the physical constants of a junction to its impurity atom gradient, the above parameters can be readily established without additional calculations. Further, examples are also presented to demonstrate the reduction of breakdown voltage resulting from a rapid increase of conductivity within the space-charge layer of a diffused p-n junction; this situation approximates many epitaxial and double diffused structures.