photodetectorn.
/ˈfəʊtəʊdᵻˌtɛktə/, U.S. /ˈfoʊdoʊdəˌtɛktər/, /ˈfoʊdoʊdiˌtɛktər/ A device that responds to incident light, esp. one whose operation depends on the electrical effect of individual photons.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > [noun] > smallest unit of light > detection of > instrument for
photodensitometer1928
photodetector1947
1947 Proc. National Electronics Conf. 1946 2 171 (heading) Photodetectors for ultraviolet, visible and infrared radiation.
1959 Proc. IRE 47 1475/1 Until the early 1950's, the development of infrared photodetectors revolved principally around polycrystalline films of PbS, PbSe, or PbTe.
1972 S. S. Charschan Lasers in Industry ix. 529 Quantum or photo~detectors depend on the action of light quanta on a single electron rather than on the absorption and distribution of energy over an entire macroscopic body.
1992 Mech. Products & Tools July 1376/1 The top chamber contains an LED and a logic chip photodetector encased in a clear plastic moulding.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1947