Electronics exam 1 vocab

intrinsic semiconductors

Natural semiconductors with no impurities.

Polycrystalline

semiconductors made up of multiple crystals or grains

Monocrystalline

Semiconductors consisting of a single crystal structure, offering uniform electrical properties.

Absolute Zero (0 kelvin)

Electrons stay in the valence band and charge carries have no free movement at what temperature?

Thermal Pair Generation

The process where electrons acquire thermal energy and start moving around, leaving the valence band and leaving a hole behind.

generations rate

_____ is a function of temperature

recombination rate

______ is proportional to the number of free electrons and holes

Doping

The process of adding different elements to an intrinsic semiconductor to change its properties

donor atom

________ adds free electrons to the semiconductor

Acceptor atoms

______ adds holes to the semiconductor

n-type

Donor atoms adding free electrons create a what kind of semiconductor?

p-type

Acceptor atoms add holes and create a what kind of semiconductor?

Diode

the most fundamental non-linear circuit element

Forward biased

When the diode is ____, we treat the diode as short

Reverse biased

When the diode is _____, we treat the diode as open

avalanche breakdown

occurs when the total field strength accelerates the electrons so their collisions with atoms release more charge carriers

Rectifiers

converts AC to DC

LED

Diodes that emit light when a current passes through them

photodiodes

The opposite of LEDs, they take in light and produce current