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Reverse bias increases the depletion region (the "space charge region"). Remembering that electrons travel from (-) to (+) terminal, and that in reverse mode the (+) terminal is attached to the n-doped side of a PN junction, I would expect that current generation through avalanche breakdown is occuring due to majority carriers.
(source)
What am I missing here?
The majority carriers operate when the PN junction is forward biased. The minority carriers operate when the PN junction is reverse biased. Since avalanche breakdown occurs when the PN junction is reverse biased, it can only be caused by the minority carriers. Therefore, it is correct to say that avalanche breakdown is caused by minority carriers.
