zenerhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zener_n2%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_useZener, n.²
Revised 2018

Zenernoun2

Electronics.
  1. I.
    Compounds.
    1. I.1.
      1949–
      Zener effect noun
      [Originally after Italian effetto Zener (1948 in the paper referred to in quot. 1949).]
      The reduction in electrical resistance across the p–n junction of a semiconductor diode under a reverse voltage that occurs as a result of the quantum tunnelling of valence electrons to the conduction band, allowing substantial current to flow in the reverse direction.
      The Zener effect occurs at a well-defined voltage threshold. This is in contrast with the Avalanche effect, which takes place at a higher reverse voltage, with a less precipitous change in resistance.
      1. 1949
        L'Effetto Zener nei Metalli (The Zener Effect in Metals).
        Journal Acoustical Society of Amer. vol. 21 447/2
      2. 1957
        Internal field emission, often called Zener effect because of the early theoretical contributions made to the subject by C. Zener,..is analogous to field emission from metals.
        W. C. Dunlap, Introd. Semiconductors viii. 168
      3. 1962
        Lower voltage units usually have negative temperature coefficients indicating the existence of Zener effect. In such devices the transition region is apparently too thin to allow appreciable carrier multiplication to take place and Zener breakdown occurs before the critical avalanche condition has been reached.
        J. H. Simpson & R. S. Richards, Physical Principles Junction Transistors iv. 69
      4. 2009
        The rapid rise in current is due to the Zener effect.
        U.S. Patent 7,638,847 B1 3
    2. I.2.
      1952–
      Zener breakdown noun
      The reduction in electrical resistance across the p–n junction of a semiconductor diode under a reverse voltage that occurs as a result of the quantum tunnelling of valence electrons to the conduction band, allowing substantial current to flow in the reverse direction; = Zener effect n. at sense I.1.
      1. 1952
        Actually observed is 2.2 × 105 volts/cm, indicating that in other systems Zener breakdown may be more likely than heretofore believed.
        J. Bragg et al. in Digest Lit. Dielectrics 1951 vol. 15 iii. 38
      2. 1981
        As Vz [sc. the Zener voltage] decreases to very low levels, such as −5V, another mechanism, called Zener breakdown, will contribute to the sharp change in the characteristic.
        L. Nashelsky & R. L. Boylestad, Devices ii. 29
      3. 2010
        Zener breakdown occurs only in very heavily doped junctions.
        P. R. Gray et al., Anal. & Design Analog Integrated Circuits (ed. 5) i. 8
    3. I.3.
      1952–
      Zener voltage noun
      (In a Zener diode) the reverse voltage at which the Zener effect occurs and current begins to flow in the reverse direction.
      1. 1952
        The Zener voltage for this junction was 21·5 volts.
        Proceedings IRE vol. 40 1349/2
      2. 1969
        At Zener voltages of about 6V the slope resistance of the diode characteristic is minimal.
        J. J. Sparkes, Transistor Switching i. 13
      3. 1980
        The Zener voltage..is a function of the resistivity (that is, of the doping) of the materials from which the diode is constructed.
        C. F. G. Delaney, Electronics for Physicist ix. 215
      4. 2008
        When the voltage reaches the nominal Zener voltage, the diode current increases rapidly.
        I. Hickman in D. Ashby et al., Circuit Design ii. 215
    4. I.4.
      1952–
      Zener diode noun
      A type of semiconductor diode used for voltage regulation, in which, at a well-defined reverse voltage, the electrical resistance drops substantially, allowing a large current to flow in the reverse direction without a significant further increase in voltage.
      A Zener diode has a p–n junction that is doped in such a way as to maximize the Zener effect.
      1. 1952
        Zener diodes is the name applied to p-n junctions which exhibit such [sc. field-generated] currents.
        Proceedings IRE vol. 40 1311/1
      2. 1957
        One of the simplest methods of obtaining such a [stable collector-voltage] supply is with the aid of a diode biased into breakdown in the reverse direction (so-called Zener diode).
        R. F. Shea et al., Transistor Circuit Engineering iii. 62
      3. 1975
        Stabilisation of the feedback input stages is achieved with a zener diode.
        Gramophone August 384/3
      4. 1981
        In the forward direction a Zener diode behaves like any other diode.
        J. C. Sprott, Introduction to Modern Electronics vi. 136
      5. 2011
        Zener diodes are used to regulate the output of power supply circuits.
        O. Bishop, Electronics: First Course (ed. 3) 74/1
  2. II.
    Simple uses.
    1. II.5.
      1958–
      A Zener diode.
      1. 1958
        Zeners are often placed in series for higher voltage operation.
        Electronic Design 23 July 30/2
      2. 1976
        To provide any given voltage, it is only necessary to select a Zener having a voltage exceeding the required voltage by 0·7 volts.
        Pract. Electronics October 791/1
      3. 2012
        One zener alone would not offer the required level of reliability.
        P. Wilson, Circuit Designer's Companion (ed. 3) ix. 388

Originally published as part of the entry for Zener, n.¹

Zener, n.² was revised in June 2018.

Zener, n.² was last modified in July 2023.