<P> Therefore, the macroscopic picture of the current flow through the diode involves electrons flowing through the n - type region toward the junction, holes flowing through the p - type region in the opposite direction toward the junction, and the two species of carriers constantly recombining in the vicinity of the junction . The electrons and holes travel in opposite directions, but they also have opposite charges, so the overall current is in the same direction on both sides of the diode, as required . </P> <P> The Shockley diode equation models the forward - bias operational characteristics of ap--n junction outside the avalanche (reverse - biased conducting) region . </P> <P> Connecting the p - type region to the negative terminal of the battery and the n - type region to the positive terminal corresponds to reverse bias . If a diode is reverse - biased, the voltage at the cathode is comparatively higher than at the anode . Therefore, very little current will flow until the diode breaks down . The connections are illustrated in the adjacent diagram . </P> <P> Because the p - type material is now connected to the negative terminal of the power supply, the' holes' in the p - type material are pulled away from the junction, leaving behind charged ions and causing the width of the depletion region to increase . Likewise, because the n - type region is connected to the positive terminal, the electrons will also be pulled away from the junction, with similar effect . This increases the voltage barrier causing a high resistance to the flow of charge carriers, thus allowing minimal electric current to cross the p--n junction . The increase in resistance of the p--n junction results in the junction behaving as an insulator . </P>

What is reverse biasing of a pn junction
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