In an n type semiconductor, the minority carriers are
- A. electrons
- B. holes
- C. protons
- D. positive ions
Explanation
Doping supplies a large number of electrons, but thermal generation still creates a small population of holes, and these minority carriers are what produce the leakage current in a reverse biased junction. Their number rises steeply with temperature, which is why semiconductor devices become unreliable when they overheat. In p type material the roles are exactly reversed.