What Is an Avalanche Diode?
An avalanche diode is a semiconductor device that exploits the avalanche breakdown phenomenon when subjected to a reverse bias voltage.
Comprising materials like silicon or GaAs, avalanche diodes find use in high-precision voltage references and high-speed switches. When a reverse bias voltage is applied, electrons gain energy from the electric field, triggering avalanche multiplication—a process where collisions generate additional charge carriers, leading to a rapid increase in current.
Constructed with a PN junction and electrodes, avalanche diodes operate at high reverse bias voltages, facilitating high-speed switching with low noise. Furthermore, they exhibit high sensitivity when utilized as light detectors.