photocathoden.
/ˌfəʊtə(ʊ)ˈkaθəʊd/, U.S. /ˌfoʊdoʊˈkæˌθoʊd/ Electronics.
A cathode which emits electrons when illuminated, thereby causing an electric current.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electronics > electronic devices or components > cathode-ray tube > [noun] > phototube > allowing passage of current
photocathode1930
1930 Sci. Abstr. A. 33 525 (heading) Red-sensitive sodium photo-kathodes (photo-electric cells).
1931 Physics 1 343 If a silver surface is first oxidized in an electrical discharge, and then baked in the presence of caesium vapor, it may be converted into a photo-cathode of remarkable sensitivity.
1957 Proc. Inst. Electr. Engineers 104 B. 470/2 The photo-electric surface developed by Koller in 1929, consisting of a complex mixture of silver, oxygen and caesium, was the first of the really efficient modern photo-cathodes and it is still in use, especially when red or infra-red sensitivity is required.
1995 Pop. Sci. July 17/2 The monocular-style viewer is the first for consumers that uses next-level declassified military technology, called Generation III; a gallium-arsenide photocathode ‘sees’ near-infrared light to vastly improve resolution over previous products.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1930