What happens during the forward bias of a diode?

During the forward bias of a diode, the diode allows current to flow. This occurs when the positive terminal of the voltage source is connected to the anode and the negative terminal is connected to the cathode. The application of a positive voltage to the anode reduces the potential barrier of the p-n junction, allowing charge carriers (holes from the p-type side and electrons from the n-type side) to recombine. As a result, the diode becomes conductive, permitting current to pass through.

This behavior is fundamental to the operation of a diode in various applications, such as rectifiers, where the diode conducts current during one half of an alternating current (AC) signal cycle. In contrast, when in reverse bias, the diode blocks current, maintaining its non-conducting state, which is critical for applications requiring control of current flow. The choices involving light emission and power consumption refer to specific types of diodes, such as LEDs or power diodes, but do not address the broader principle of current flow during forward bias.