What is Optoelectronics?

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About Optoelectronics

Optoelectronics is the study and application of light-emitting or light-detecting devices.
It is widely considered a sub-discipline of photonics. Photonics refers to the study and application of the physical science of light.
Optoelectronics is a fast-emerging technology field that consists of applying electronic devices to sourcing, detection, and control of light.
It is largely based on semiconductor materials. These exhibit suitable bandgap energies for absorbing near-infrared and visible light, and their electric conductivity (albeit not perfect) is also essential for such applications.
Examples of optoelectronic devices consist of:
- Telecommunication laser
- Optical fibre
- Blue laser
- LED traffic lights
- Photodiodes
- Solar cells
These devices are used in a wide variety of application areas, such as military services, automatic access control systems, telecommunications, medical equipment, and more.
Optoelectronics should not be confused with electro-optics, as this field is a wider branch of physics that deals with the interaction of electric fields and light, without concern if an electronic device is involved or not.

Q1) What are Photodiodes?

It is a form of light sensor that converts light energy into electrical energy (voltage or current). Photodiode is a type of semi conducting device with PN junction. Between the p (positive) and n (negative) layers, an intrinsic layer is present. The photo diode accepts light energy as input to generate electric current.

Source: New Laboratory of Advance Synthesis and Characterisation develops probe stations for universities to probe opto-electronic properties in range of materials