Editing Optoelectronics

{{Short description|Branch of electronics involving optics}}
{{Distinguish|electro-optics}}

[[File:Light sensor.png|thumb|Electronic light sensors]]

'''Optoelectronics''' (or '''optronics''') is the study and application of [[electronics|electronic]] 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 ray]]s, [[X-ray]]s, [[ultraviolet]] and [[infrared]], in addition to visible light.  Optoelectronic devices are electrical-to-optical or optical-to-electrical [[transducer]]s, or instruments that use such devices in their operation.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/ebook/978-1-84973-826-2|title=Supramolecular Materials for Opto-Electronics|series=Smart Materials Series|date=November 20, 2014|doi=10.1039/9781782626947|isbn=978-1-84973-826-2|via=pubs.rsc.org |editor-last1=Koch |editor-first1=Norbert }}</ref>

''[[Electro-optics]]'' is often erroneously used as a synonym, but is a wider branch of [[physics]] that concerns all interactions between light and [[electric field]]s, regardless of whether they form part of an electronic device.

Optoelectronics is based on the [[quantum mechanics|quantum mechanical]] effects of [[light]] on electronic materials, especially [[semiconductors]], sometimes in the presence of [[electric field]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.element-14.com/community/docs/DOC-22516/l/physics-and-technology--vishay-optoelectronics|archiveurl=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160516081725/http://www.element-14.com/community/docs/DOC-22516/l/physics-and-technology--vishay-optoelectronics|url-status=dead|title=Physics and Technology - Vishay Optoelectronics|archivedate=May 16, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Photoelectric]] or [[photovoltaic]] effect, used in:
** [[photodiode]]s (including [[solar cell]]s)
** [[phototransistor]]s
** [[photomultiplier]]s
** [[optoisolator]]s
** [[integrated optical circuit]] (IOC) elements
* [[Photoconductivity]], used in:
** [[photoresistor]]s
** [[photoconductive camera tube]]s
** [[charge-coupled imaging device]]s
* [[Stimulated emission]], used in:
** injection [[laser diode]]s
** [[quantum cascade laser]]s
* Lossev effect, or [[radiative recombination]], used in:
** [[light-emitting diode]]s or LED
** [[OLED]]s
* [[Photoemission|Photoemissivity]], used in
** [[Phototube|photoemissive camera tube]]

Important applications<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.element-14.com/community/docs/DOC-22930/l/optocoupler-application-examples|title=''Optocoupler Application Examples''}}</ref> of optoelectronics include:
* [[Optocoupler]]
* [[Optical-fiber communications]]

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Electronics]]
* [[Interconnect bottleneck]]
* [[Liquid-crystal display]]
* [[Non-radiative lifetime]]
* [[OECC]] (OptoElectronics and Communications Conference)
* [[Optical amplifier]]
* [[Optical communication]]
* [[Optical fiber]]
* [[Optical interconnect]]
* [[Opto-electronic oscillator]]
* [[Parallel optical interface]]
* [[Photoemission]]
* [[Photoemission spectroscopy]]
* [[Photovoltaic effect]]
* [[Stimulated emission]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.oida.org OIDA (Optoelectronics Industry Development Association)]

{{Photonics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Optoelectronics| ]]