Optoelectronics

Optoelectronics is based on the quantum mechanical effects of light on semiconducting materials, sometimes in the presence of electric fields.

Optoelectronics includes the following physical phenomena.

• Photoelectric or photovoltaic effect, used in:
  • photodiodes (including solar cells)
  • phototransistors
  • photomultipliers
• Photoconductivity, used in:
  • light-dependent resistors
  • photoconductive camera tubes[?]
  • charge-coupled imaging devices

• Stimulated emission, used in:
  • lasers
• Lossev effect, or radiative recombination[?], used in:
  • light-emitting diodes or LED
• Photoemissivity[?], used in
  • photoemissive camera tube[?]