Why do equipotential lines have no direction?
Equipotential lines are always perpendicular to the electric field. In three dimensions, the lines form equipotential surfaces. Movement along an equipotential surface requires no work because such movement is always perpendicular to the electric field.
What is meant by depletion region?
In semiconductor physics, the depletion region, also called depletion layer, depletion zone, junction region, space charge region or space charge layer, is an insulating region within a conductive, doped semiconductor material where the mobile charge carriers have been diffused away, or have been forced away by an …
How do you change the width of a depletion region?
The atom, which loses the valence electron at n-side, becomes a positive ion. Hence, the positive ions at n-side and the negative ions at p-side are increased over a given period. This increases the width of depletion region.
What happens to the width of depletion layer?
Under forward biasing the applied potential difference causes a field which acts opposite to the potential barrier. This results in reducing the potential barrier , and hence the width of depletion layer decreases.
Why does the width of depletion region increase in reverse bias?
When p-n junction is reversed biased, the positive terminal of the external battery is connected to n-side of p-n junction and its negative terminal to p-side of p-n junction. Due to it, the majority charge carriers move away from the junction. This increases the width of the depletion layer.
What is the effect of reverse bias on the width of a pn junction?
If the reverse biased voltage applied on the p-n junction diode is further increased, then even more number of free electrons and holes are pulled away from the p-n junction. This increases the width of depletion region. Hence, the width of the depletion region increases with increase in voltage.
What is the effect of forward bias on depletion region?
The depletion layer of a diode is substantially thinner while in forward bias and much thicker when in reverse bias. Forward bias decreases a diode’s resistance, and reverse bias increases a diode’s resistance.
How is the width of depletion layer affected in forward and reverse bias?
(i) When forward biased, the width of depletion layer decreases. (ii) When reverse biased, the width of depletion layer increases.