Optoelectronics (or optronics) is the study and application of
electronic
Electronic may refer to:
*Electronics, the science of how to control electric energy in semiconductor
* ''Electronics'' (magazine), a defunct American trade journal
*Electronic storage, the storage of data using an electronic device
*Electronic co ...
devices and systems that find, detect and control
light, usually considered a sub-field of
photonics. In this context, ''light'' often includes invisible forms of radiation such as
gamma rays,
X-ray
An X-ray, or, much less commonly, X-radiation, is a penetrating form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation. Most X-rays have a wavelength ranging from 10 picometers to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 ...
s,
ultraviolet and
infrared, in addition to visible light. Optoelectronic devices are electrical-to-optical or optical-to-electrical
transducers, or instruments that use such devices in their operation.
''
Electro-optics
Electro–optics is a branch of electrical engineering, electronic engineering, materials science, and material physics involving components, electronic devices such as lasers, laser diodes, LEDs, waveguides, etc. which operate by the propaga ...
'' is often erroneously used as a synonym, but is a wider branch of
physics that concerns all interactions between light and
electric fields, whether or not they form part of an electronic device.
Optoelectronics is based on the
quantum mechanical effects of
light on electronic materials, especially
semiconductors, sometimes in the presence of
electric fields.
*
Photoelectric
The photoelectric effect is the emission of electrons when electromagnetic radiation, such as light, hits a material. Electrons emitted in this manner are called photoelectrons. The phenomenon is studied in condensed matter physics, and solid sta ...
or
photovoltaic
Photovoltaics (PV) is the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect, a phenomenon studied in physics, photochemistry, and electrochemistry. The photovoltaic effect is commercially u ...
effect, used in:
**
photodiodes (including
solar cells)
**
phototransistors
**
photomultiplier A photomultiplier is a device that converts incident photons into an electrical signal.
Kinds of photomultiplier include:
* Photomultiplier tube, a vacuum tube converting incident photons into an electric signal. Photomultiplier tubes (PMTs for sho ...
s
**
optoisolators
**
integrated optical circuit (IOC) elements
*
Photoconductivity
Photoconductivity is an optical and electrical phenomenon in which a material becomes more electrically conductive due to the absorption of electromagnetic radiation such as visible light, ultraviolet light, infrared light, or gamma radiation.
Wh ...
, used in:
**
photoresistors
**
photoconductive camera tube
Photoconductivity is an optical and electrical phenomenon in which a material becomes more electrically conductive due to the absorption of electromagnetic radiation such as visible light, ultraviolet light, infrared light, or gamma radiation.
Wh ...
s
**
charge-coupled imaging device
A charge-coupled device (CCD) is an integrated circuit containing an array of linked, or coupled, capacitors. Under the control of an external circuit, each capacitor can transfer its electric charge to a neighboring capacitor. CCD sensors are a ...
s
*
Stimulated emission, used in:
** injection
laser diodes
**
quantum cascade laser Quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs) are semiconductor lasers that emit in the mid- to far-infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and were first demonstrated by Jérôme Faist, Federico Capasso, Deborah Sivco, Carlo Sirtori, Albert Hutchinson, ...
s
* Lossev effect, or
radiative recombination, used in:
**
light-emitting diodes or LED
**
OLEDs
*
Photoemissivity, used in
**
photoemissive camera tube
Important applications
of optoelectronics include:
*
Optocoupler
An opto-isolator (also called an optocoupler, photocoupler, or optical isolator) is an electronic component that transfers electrical signals between two isolated circuits by using light. Opto-isolators prevent high voltages from affecting the ...
*
Optical fiber
An optical fiber, or optical fibre in Commonwealth English, is a flexible, transparent fiber made by drawing glass (silica) or plastic to a diameter slightly thicker than that of a human hair. Optical fibers are used most often as a means t ...
communications
Communication (from la, communicare, meaning "to share" or "to be in relation with") is usually defined as the transmission of information. The term may also refer to the message communicated through such transmissions or the field of inquir ...
See also
*
Interconnect bottleneck
The interconnect bottleneck comprises limits on integrated circuit (IC) performance due to connections between components instead of their internal speed.
In 2006 it was predicted to be a "looming crisis" by 2010.
Improved performance of computer ...
*
Liquid-crystal display
A liquid-crystal display (LCD) is a flat-panel display or other electronically modulated optical device that uses the light-modulating properties of liquid crystals combined with polarizers. Liquid crystals do not emit light directly but in ...
*
Non-radiative lifetime
*
OECC The OECC, established in 1996, is an annual conference which publishes proceedings and scientific research articles as a result of its conferences. ''OECC'' stands for the OptoElectronics and Communications Conference, which has conducted annual mee ...
(OptoElectronics and Communications Conference)
*
Optical amplifier
*
Optical communication
Optical communication, also known as optical telecommunication, is communication at a distance using light to carry information. It can be performed visually or by using electronic devices. The earliest basic forms of optical communication date ...
*
Optical fiber
An optical fiber, or optical fibre in Commonwealth English, is a flexible, transparent fiber made by drawing glass (silica) or plastic to a diameter slightly thicker than that of a human hair. Optical fibers are used most often as a means t ...
*
Optical interconnect
In integrated circuits, optical interconnects refers to any system of transmitting signals from one part of an integrated circuit to another using light. Optical interconnects have been the topic of study due to the high latency and power consumpt ...
*
Opto-electronic oscillator
*
Parallel optical interface
*
Photoemission
The photoelectric effect is the emission of electrons when electromagnetic radiation, such as light, hits a material. Electrons emitted in this manner are called photoelectrons. The phenomenon is studied in condensed matter physics, and solid sta ...
*
Photoemission spectroscopy
Photoemission spectroscopy (PES), also known as photoelectron spectroscopy, refers to energy measurement of electrons emitted from solids, gases or liquids by the photoelectric effect, in order to determine the binding energies of electrons in t ...
*
Photovoltaic effect
*
Stimulated emission
*
Electronics
References
External links
*
OIDA (Optoelectronics Industry Development Association)
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