Negative resistance is a phenomenon where an increase in voltage across a device or component leads to a decrease in current through it, contrary to the typical behavior of resistors where an increase in voltage results in an increase in current (positive resistance). This means that as the voltage applied across a device exhibiting negative resistance increases, the current flowing through it decreases.
In Class 12 studies or in electronics, negative resistance is often discussed in the context of certain semiconductor devices, such as tunnel diodes or some types of transistors. Tunnel diodes, for example, exhibit a region in their current-voltage characteristic where the slope is negative, indicating negative resistance behavior.
Several factors can cause negative resistance to occur in a device. One common cause is the presence of quantum mechanical effects or the configuration of energy bands in certain semiconductor materials. For instance, in tunnel diodes, negative resistance arises due to quantum tunneling phenomena across a narrow depletion region in the diode structure. In other devices, negative resistance may be engineered through feedback mechanisms or specific doping profiles that alter the carrier transport characteristics.
A negative resistance reading occurs when the voltage-current relationship of a device or component shows a negative slope on the current-voltage curve. This reading indicates that increasing the voltage applied to the device leads to a decrease in current through it. It can be observed experimentally and is crucial in applications where oscillations, amplification, or switching characteristics are desired.
Negative resistance differs from positive resistance in its voltage-current relationship. Positive resistance, which is typical of most resistors and conductors, shows a linear or nonlinear relationship where an increase in voltage leads to a proportional increase in current (Ohm’s law). In contrast, negative resistance shows an inverse relationship where an increase in voltage causes a decrease in current.
The principle of negative resistance stems from the unique electronic properties of certain materials or devices. In semiconductors like tunnel diodes, negative resistance occurs due to quantum mechanical effects that allow electrons to tunnel through a potential barrier under specific conditions. This tunneling effect creates a region in the current-voltage characteristic where the resistance appears negative, manifesting as a distinctive behavior useful in applications such as oscillators, signal generation, and switching circuits. Understanding and utilizing negative resistance principles are essential in advanced electronic circuit design and theoretical studies of semiconductor physics.