Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-quantum-condensed-matter-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2004/section-a/3/solution
Past exam of the quantum condensed matter course of the University of Cambridge 2004 Section A 3 Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-10-20
In a p-n junction, diffusion and electron-hole recombination near the contact leave a depletion region of ionized dopants. Its built-in electric field opposes further majority-carrier diffusion. At thermodynamic equilibrium drift and diffusion currents cancel. Forward bias lowers the electrostatic barrier and injects electrons and electron holes across the junction; reverse bias raises the barrier and suppresses that majority-carrier injection. For an ideal diode below breakdown,Thus a modest forward voltage gives a rapidly increasing current, whereas reverse current remains approximately . This asymmetric current-voltage relation makes the junction a rectifier. Real leakage, electron-hole recombination and breakdown limit the ideal expression.
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