Avalanche Diode

What is Avalanche Diode

A diode that is designed to go through avalanche breakdown at a specified reverse bias voltage
This diode conducts in reverse bias condition where the reverse bias voltage applied across the p-n junction creates a wave of ionization leading to the flow of large current.

These diodes are designed to breakdown at specific reverse voltage in order to avoid any damage.

Avalanche Breakdown
A form of electric current multiplication that can allow very large currents within materials which are otherwise good insulators
The avalanche breakdown is due to minority carriers accelerated enough to create ionization in the crystal lattice, producing more carriers which in turn create more ionization. Because the avalanche breakdown is uniform across the whole junction, the breakdown voltage is more nearly constant with changing current compared to a non-avalanche diode.

Avalanche Diode VS Zener Diode

Avalanche diode
Optimized for avalanche effect so they exhibit small but significant voltage drop under breakdown conditions have a small positive temperature coefficient of voltage

Zener Diode
keep voltage always higher than breakdown have a negative temperature coefficient

Applications/Uses
Voltage Reference
Protection

RF Noise Generation
Microwave Frequency Generation

Single Photon Avalanche Detector

Voltage Reference
The voltage after breakdown varies only slightly with changing current. This makes the avalanche diode useful as a type of voltage reference. Voltage reference diodes rated more than about 5.5 volts are avalanche diodes

Protection
A common application is protecting electronic circuits against damaging high voltages. The avalanche diode is connected to the circuit so that it is reversebiased If the voltage increases beyond the design limit, the diode goes into avalanche breakdown, causing the harmful voltage to be conducted to ground They are often referred to as clamping diodes or transient voltage suppressors because they "clamp" the maximum voltage to a predetermined level.

RF Noise Generation
Avalanche diodes generate radio frequency noise. Commonly used as noise sources in radio equipment and hardware random number generators

Microwave Frequency Generation

If placed into a resonant circuit, avalanche diodes can act as negative resistance devices. The IMPATT diode is an avalanche diode optimized for frequency generation.

Single Photon Avalanche Detector

The silicon avalanche photodiode is a high gain photon detector. These are made from doped silicon and depend on the avalanche breakdown effect to detect even single photons.

References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalanche_diode http://www.engineersgarage.com/tutorials/diodes?page=3 http://www.buzzle.com/articles/types-of-diodes.html