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photocurrent

photocurrent

7.5
A flow of electricity made in a material when light hits it
  • noun
  • /ˈfoʊtəˌkɜr.ənt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fotocorriente
  • The photocurrent generated by the solar cell increased as the sunlight became stronger.
  • photocurrent spectra

Examples

  • Although photocurrent and absorption measurements have presented by far the most unambiguous proof of the existence of the Wannier-Stark ladder, other optical experiments offer complementary advantages.

    Academic text (1994)
  • As an example, we have plotted in Figure 6 the peaks of the complete photocurrent spectra for the superlattice in Figure 5b.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The photocurrents were apparently preserving the correlations present in the light beams themselves.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Figure 5b reproduces selected low-temperature photocurrent spectra of a GaAs-Ga0.65Al0.35.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Scientists measured the photocurrent produced by the material under different light intensities.

  • The photocurrent in the experiment showed a clear relationship between light exposure and electrical output.

Surface Forms

photocurrent singular
photocurrents plural

Morphology

photocurrent = current (transparent) = photo + current

The meaning is a direct combination of 'photo-' meaning light and 'current' meaning an electric flow.

Etymology

Photocurrent combines photo- (from a Greek word for 'light', as in photo or photograph) and current ('flow'). So a photocurrent is an electric 'flow' made by light, which is why a material produces a current when light shines on it.