Zener breakdown occurs in a p - n junction having p and n both: (a) heavily doped and have wide depletion layer. (b) lightly doped and have narrow depletion layer. (c) heavily doped and have narrow depletion layer. (d) lightly doped and have wide depletion layer.

Answer: (c). Zener breakdown happens when a very strong electric field ( ~ 10⁶ V/m) across the junction pulls electrons out of covalent bonds. Such a high field at a few volts needs a very thin depletion layer, which comes from heavy doping on both sides. So the answer is (c) heavily doped with a narrow depletion layer.

Zener breakdown occurs in a p - n junction having p and n both: | JEE Main 2021 (24 Feb, Shift 2)

Q64JEE Main 2021 · 24 FEB · SHIFT 2Medium

Special Purpose Diodes

Zener breakdown occurs in a p $-$ n junction having p and n both:

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Answer: (c)

Zener breakdown happens when a very strong electric field ( $\sim 10^{6}$ V/m) across the junction pulls electrons out of covalent bonds.
Such a high field at a few volts needs a very thin depletion layer, which comes from heavy doping on both sides.
So the answer is (c) heavily doped with a narrow depletion layer.

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