For a P - N junction diode which of the following statements is true about the order of magnitude of the various currents ?

Options

A. Forward current is in mA and reverse current is in `muA`
B. Forward current is in `muA` are reverse current is in mA
C. Both forward and reverse currents are in `muA`
D. Both forward and reverse currents are in mA

Answer

To solve the question regarding the order of magnitude of the various currents in a P-N junction diode, we will analyze the behavior of the diode under both forward and reverse bias conditions.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the P-N Junction Diode**:
- A P-N junction diode consists of two regions: P-type (positive) and N-type (negative). The P-type region has an abundance of holes (positive charge carriers), while the N-type region has an abundance of electrons (negative charge carriers).

2. **Forward Bias Condition**:
- In forward bias, the P-type side is connected to the positive terminal of the battery, and the N-type side is connected to the negative terminal. This reduces the width of the depletion region, allowing current to flow.
- The majority carriers (holes from P and electrons from N) move across the junction, resulting in a significant current flow.
- **Order of Current**: The forward current is typically in the order of **milliamperes (mA)**.

3. **Reverse Bias Condition**:
- In reverse bias, the P-type side is connected to the negative terminal and the N-type side to the positive terminal. This increases the width of the depletion region, preventing current flow from majority carriers.
- However, a small current can still flow due to minority carriers (electrons in P-type and holes in N-type).
- **Order of Current**: The reverse current is very small, typically in the order of **microamperes (µA)**.

4. **Comparison of Currents**:
- From the above analysis, we can conclude:
- Forward current (I_forward) is in the order of **mA**.
- Reverse current (I_reverse) is in the order of **µA**.
- Therefore, the forward current is much larger than the reverse current.

5. **Final Conclusion**:
- The true statement regarding the order of magnitude of the various currents in a P-N junction diode is that the forward current is in the order of milliamperes, while the reverse current is in the order of microamperes.