Current Components in a Transistor

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The conduction of current in NPN transistor is owing to electrons and in PNP transistor,
it is owing to holes. The direction of current ow will be in opposite direction. Here, we
can discuss the current components in a PNP transistor with common base
conguration. The emitter-base junction (JE) is forward biased and the collector-base
junction (JC) is reversed biased as shown in gure. All the current components related
to this transistor are shown here.

We know that, the current arrives the transistor through the emitter and this current is
called emitter current (IE). This current consists of two constituents Hole current
(IhE) and Electron current (IeE). IeE is due to passage of electrons from base to emitter
and IhE is due to passage of holes from emitter to base.

Normally, the emitter is heavily doped compared to base in industrial transistor. So, the
Electron current is negligible compared to Hole current. Thus we can conclude that, the
whole emitter current in this transistor is due to the passage of holes from the emitter
to the base.
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Some of the holes which are crossing the junction JE (emitter junction) combines with
the electrons present in the base (N-type). Thus, every holes crossing JE will not arrive
at JC. The remaining holes will reach the collector junction which produces the hole
current component, IhC. There will be bulk recombination in the base and the current
leaving the base will be . The electrons in the base which are lost by the
recombination with holes (injected into the base across JE) are relled by the electrons
that enter into the base region. The holes which are arriving at the collector junction
(JC) will cross the junction and it will go into the collector region.
When the emitter circuit is open circuited, then IE = 0 and IhC = 0. In this condition, the
base and collector will perform as reverse biased diode. Here, the collector current, IC
will be same as reverse saturation current ( ICO or ICBO ). ICO is in fact a small reverse
current which passes through the PN junction diode. This is due to thermally generated
minority carriers which are pushed by barrier potential. This reverse current increase; if
the junction is reverse biased and it will have the same direction as the collector
current. This current attains a saturation value (I0) at moderate reverse biased voltage.
When the emitter junction is at forward biased (in active operation region), then the
collector current will become .The is the large signal current gain
which is a fraction of the emitter current which comprises of IhC.
When the emitter is at closed condition, then IE 0 and collector current will be
. In a PNP transistor, the reverse saturation current (ICBO) will comprises
of the current due to the holes passing through the collector junction from the base to
collector region (IhCO) and the current due to the electrons which are passing through
the collector junction in the opposite direction (IeCO).

The total current entering into the transistor will be equal to the total current leaving the
transistor (according to Kirchhoffs current law).

Parameters Related to Current Components

DC Current gain (dc): If the , then . This can be referred as dc

current gain of common base transistor. This will be always positive and it will be less
than unity.

Small Signal Current Gain (ac): with collector base voltage constant (VCB). It is
always positive and it will be less than unity.
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