Optoelectronics is the study and application of electronic devices that interact with light. In this context, light often includes invisible forms of radiation such as ultraviolet and infrared.

Optoelectronics is based on the quantum mechanical effects of light on semiconducting materials, sometimes in the presence of electric fields.

Optoelectronics includes the following physical phenomena.

• Photoelectric or photovoltaic effect, used in:
  • photodiodes (including solar cells)
  • phototransistors
  • photomultipliers
• Photoconductivity, used in:
  • light-dependent resistors
  • photoconductive camera tubes
  • charge-coupled imaging devices

• Stimulated emission, used in:
  • lasers
• Lossev effect, or radiative recombination, used in:
  • light-emitting diodes or LED
• Photoemissivity, used in
  • photoemissive camera tube