photodetection
Capturing optical signals
Photodetection is the sensing or measurement of light.
The term appears in technical contexts involving devices that convert light into electrical signals—cameras, solar cells, fiber optic systems, and scientific instruments.
A photodetector registers when photons strike its surface: The photodetection system measured light intensity across the spectrum.
Light-to-current semiconductor
- phototransistorLight-sensitive amplifying component
- CCDLight-sensitive imaging chip
- CMOSSemiconductor logic architecture
- photocellLight-sensitive electronic component
LDR · photoresistor · responsivity · sensitivity · saturation · silicon · germanium · semiconductor
Able to be seen
- infraredHeat-bearing electromagnetic waves
- ultravioletWavelengths shorter than violet
- near-infraredRadiation just past visible
- shortwaveHigh-frequency radio band
longwave · wavelength · nanometer · broadband · narrowband · monochromatic · multispectral · hyperspectral
Increase in intensity
- gainPositive return received
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- transductionSignal or energy transformation
- analogComparable equivalent
digital · readout · sampling · noise · signal-to-noise · filtering · bandwidth · saturation
Producing visual representations
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
- rangefindingMeasuring distance to objects
- fiber-opticLight-carrying cable technology
- colorimetryMeasuring perceived hues precisely
Incident power per area
- intensityStrength or force level
- illuminationProvision of light
- fluxContinuous change or flow
- luminosityIntrinsic brightness of source
photodiode
Light-to-current semiconductor
- phototransistorLight-sensitive amplifying component
- CCDLight-sensitive imaging chip
- CMOSSemiconductor logic architecture
photocell · LDR · photoresistor · responsivity · sensitivity · saturation · silicon · germanium · semiconductor · junction
visible
Able to be seen
- infraredHeat-bearing electromagnetic waves
- ultravioletWavelengths shorter than violet
- near-infraredRadiation just past visible
shortwave · longwave · wavelength · nanometer · broadband · narrowband · monochromatic · multispectral · hyperspectral · absorption
amplification
Increase in intensity
- gainPositive return received
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- transductionSignal or energy transformation
analog · digital · readout · sampling · noise · signal-to-noise · filtering · bandwidth · saturation · linearity
imaging
Producing visual representations
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
- rangefindingMeasuring distance to objects
- fiber-opticLight-carrying cable technology
irradiance
Incident power per area
- intensityStrength or force level
- illuminationProvision of light
- fluxContinuous change or flow
photodetectionphotoemission
Light-induced electron release
light emission · luminescence · electroluminescence · phosphorescence · fluorescence
photo, photograph, photography, photographic, photographer, photon, photonic, photosynthesis, photoelectric