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# A depleted region is a region where there are no holes and no free electrons in a semiconductor, therefore making it behave as an insulator. The Depleated Region is the area inbetween the P-type and N-type semiconductors in the diode.[[Image:Diode_Diagram.JPG|400px]]

# A depleted region is a region where there are no holes and no free electrons in a semiconductor, therefore making it behave as an insulator. The Depleated Region is the area inbetween the P-type and N-type semiconductors in the diode.[[Image:Diode_Diagram.JPG|400px]]

# Bias voltage is the voltage it takes to get the diode to start conducting. Below a certain voltage, the diode won't conduct current even in the forward direction. It is the voltage which allows the electrons and holes to overcome the depleted zone and meet with each other, creating current. Reverse Biased means that the positive end of the battery is connected with the n-type semiconductor and the negative end is connected with the p-type semiconductor. This sucks all the electrons from the n-type region and fills in all the holes in the p-type region, increasing the size of the depleted zone.  

# Bias voltage is the voltage it takes to get the diode to start conducting. Below a certain voltage, the diode won't conduct current even in the forward direction. It is the voltage which allows the electrons and holes to overcome the depleted zone and meet with each other, creating current. Reverse Biased means that the positive end of the battery is connected with the n-type semiconductor and the negative end is connected with the p-type semiconductor. This sucks all the electrons from the n-type region and fills in all the holes in the p-type region, increasing the size of the depleted zone.  

# Diode breakdown happens when a reverse biased diode is subjected to so much voltage that it conducts in the reverse direction. When a diode is reverse-biased past the breakdown voltage, it stays in a metastable state, so by itself, it would stay an insulator, but anything at all (such as a temperature fluctuation) would cause the diode to draw so much current that would cause excessive heat that will destroy a diode.

# Diode breakdown happens when a reverse biased diode is subjected to so much voltage that it conducts in the reverse direction. When a diode is reverse-biased past the breakdown voltage, it stays enters metastable state, in which it would stay an insulator, but anything at free charge (such as a temperature fluctuation) would start an avalanche and make the diode to draw so much current that would cause excessive heat that may damage the diode.

# If a resister is placed in the circuit, it prevents the amperage to get too high and stops the diode from being fried. If the amps do get too high, then the resister would lower the voltage and the amps by creating resistance and turning the excess energy to heat. To make an avalanche-like pulse, you would also a capacitor that would be connected to the diode. It serves as a temporary battery that allows the voltage and amperage to get high and create a pulse, then the capacitor will become drained and the resister would lower the voltage to below breakdown and the system would reset itself.  

# If a resister is placed in the circuit, it prevents the amperage to get too high and stops the diode from being fried. If the amps do get too high, then the resister would lower the voltage and the amps by creating resistance and turning the excess energy to heat. To make an avalanche-like pulse, you would also a capacitor that would be connected to the diode. It serves as a temporary battery that allows the voltage and amperage to get high and create a pulse, then the capacitor will become drained and the resister would lower the voltage to below breakdown and the system would reset itself.  

# A Photodiode is a diode that is especially sensitive to light. It is usually made with a clear glass or plastic case that allows light through to maximize the effect light has upon the diode

# A Photodiode is a diode that is especially sensitive to light. It is usually made with a clear glass or plastic case that allows light through to maximize the effect light has upon the diode

# An avalanche photodiode is a diode designed in such a way that it releases a pulse of electrons per photon instead of just one. In the process mentioned beforehand, the avalanche photodiode uses the energy from the photon to throw the photodiode off its metastable state and create a pulse.  

# An avalanche photodiode is a diode designed in such a way that it releases a pulse of electrons per photon instead of just one. In the process mentioned beforehand, the avalanche photodiode uses the energy from the photon to throw the photodiode off its metastable state and create a pulse.  

# Temperatures are caused by vibrations of atoms and a higher temperature would cause more random thermal fluctuations. Some of these thermal fluctuations have enough energy to throw the photodiode off its metastable state also, causing misfiring.

# Temperatures are caused by vibrations of atoms and a higher temperature would cause more random thermal fluctuations. Some of these thermal fluctuations have enough energy to throw the photodiode off its metastable state also, causing misfiring.