Low frequency noise of reverse biased rectifier diodes in the avalanche breakdown regime

A detailed investigation of the low frequency noise in rectifier diodes in the breakdown regime showed that the noise is a nonmonotonic function of the reverse current. A dynamic “competition” between impact ionization and microplasma switching explains the nonmonotonic, repetitive, and correlated variations in the breakdown slope (change in voltage per unit change in current—dV/dI), the noise level, and the noise waveform. These variations are …