photodetector

[foh-toh-di-tek-ter]

noun

1. photosensor.

2. Electronics.,  any device, as a photodiode, phototube, or photovoltaic cell, that uses the photoelectric effect to convert radiant energy into an electrical signal.

Word History and Origins

Origin of photodetector¹

First recorded in 1945–50; photo- + detector

Example Sentences

Now the researchers want to increase the performance of photodiodes by engineering the stack of layers that comprise the photodetector device.

From Science Daily

These used a mirror to 'scan' a vertical slice of the terrain, digitizing the light with a photodetector.

From Scientific American

Near-room-temperature mid-infrared quantum well photodetector.

From Nature

Youngblood, N., Chen, C., Koester, S. J. & Li, M. Waveguide-integrated black phosphorus photodetector with high responsivity and low dark current.

From Nature

Polarization-sensitive broadband photodetector using a black phosphorus vertical p–n junction.

From Nature