Mechanism of microplasma turn-off upon the avalanche breakdown of silicon p–n structures

Resumo

A possible mechanism for natural-microplasma turn-off in silicon p–n junctions is studied. It is shown that the turn-off effect is not a random process, but is based on a certain physical mechanism. The mechanism is associated with the formation of graded-gap regions caused by thermoelastic stresses and electric- field redistribution in the microplasma region.