photoconductivity

[foh-toh-kon-duhk-tiv-i-tee]

noun

Physics.

1. the increase in the electrical conductivity of a substance, often nonmetallic, caused by the absorption of electromagnetic radiation.

photoconductivity

/ ˌfəʊtəʊkənˈdʌktɪv, ˌfəʊtəʊˌkɒndʌkˈtɪvɪtɪ /

noun

1. the change in the electrical conductivity of certain substances, such as selenium, as a result of the absorption of electromagnetic radiation

Other Word Forms

• photoconductive adjective
• photoconductor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of photoconductivity¹

First recorded in 1925–30; photo- + conductivity

Example Sentences

These are virtual carriers similar to those responsible for virtual photoconductivity in semiconductors theoretically predicted and experimentally observed over two decades ago.

From Nature