Which failure mode occurs when electrostatic discharge (ESD) damages Zener diodes?

💡 Explanation

ESD events can cause a permanent short in the Zener diode due to dielectric breakdown because electrical overstress leads to localized melting and conductive path formation. Therefore, the reverse breakdown voltage decreases, rather than other parameters changing functionally without physical damage.

• Which outcome results from air ingestion causing vapor bubble implosion in hydraulic actuator rod bearings?
• Which outcome occurs during robotic arm movement planned using inverse kinematics when the joint angle solution is imaginary?
• Which risk markedly increases when forging dies exceed erosion tolerance?
• Which outcome results when compressed air system's pressure relief valve fails to reseat after an overpressure event?
• Which outcome results when high drain voltage causes short-channel MOSFET electrons to gain excessive kinetic energy?
• Which risk increases when lateral soil pressure exceeds the design tolerance of underground concrete columns in a braced excavation?