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A Zener diode is a type of diode that is designed to operate in the reverse breakdown region. When a Zener diode is reverse-biased, it allows current to flow through it when the voltage across it reaches a certain level, called the Zener voltage. This is known as the Zener effect. The Zener effect occurs when the electric field across the depletion region of a p-n junction becomes strong enough to pull electrons out of the valence band and into the conduction band, creating a large number of electron-hole pairs. This results in a sharp increase in the current flowing through the diode, which can be used to regulate voltage in a circuit.
Zener diodes are commonly used as voltage regulators in electronic circuits. They are used to maintain a constant voltage across a load, even when the input voltage varies. They are also used to protect sensitive electronic components from voltage spikes and surges.
In summary, the function of a Zener diode is to regulate voltage in a circuit by allowing current to flow through it when the voltage across it reaches a certain level. Zener diodes are commonly used as voltage regulators and to protect electronic components from voltage spikes and surges.
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