I(V)-characteristics

If the calculation is performed for different currents I we get the I(V)-curves, which are shown in the figure : At lower currents the characteristcs are nearly ohmic, but with increasing voltage the current tends to saturate until the pinch-off effect causes a plateau of the current. A further increase of the voltage results in a further increase of the current because of a possible break-through between the p-layers and the positive contact. If the generation is increased the current plateau is shifted to higher values. The reason for this shift is the current redistribution from the n-layer to the p-layers. The current in the n-layer decreases with illumination and the pinch-off situation disappears if the total current is kept unchanged. In order to get the pinch-off situation again this current has to be increased resulting in a higher value of the current plateau.

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