Photoconductors: Light-Responsive Materials
Photoconductors are materials whose electrical conductivity increases when exposed to light. They are also known as photoresistors or light-dependent resistors
Photodetectors: Converting Light into Electricity
Photodetectors are devices that sense light and convert it into electrical signals. They are essential components in a wide range
Noise Temperature: Measuring Noise Power as Heat
Noise temperature is a way to express the amount of noise power in an electrical system as if it were
Thermal Noise: The Random Background of Electronics
Thermal noise, also known as Johnson–Nyquist noise, is a fundamental type of electrical noise generated by the random motion of
Maxwell’s Demon: Challenging the Second Law
Maxwell’s demon is a famous thought experiment proposed by physicist James Clerk Maxwell to challenge the Second Law of Thermodynamics,
Radiative Forcing: Measuring Climate Change Drivers
Radiative forcing is a measure of the energy imbalance in Earth’s atmosphere caused by changes in factors like greenhouse gases,
Albedo: How Reflective a Surface Is
Albedo is the fraction or percentage of incoming light or radiation that a surface reflects without absorbing it. Key points:
Stefan–Boltzmann Constant: Linking Temperature to Radiated Energy
The Stefan–Boltzmann constant is a fundamental physical constant that serves as the proportionality factor in the Stefan–Boltzmann law, which describes
Kirchhoff’s Law of Thermal Radiation: Absorbers Are Emitters
Kirchhoff’s law of thermal radiation states that for a body in thermal equilibrium, the emissivity (how well it emits radiation)
Wien’s Displacement Law: Temperature Sets Color
Wien’s displacement law states that the wavelength at which a blackbody emits most intensely is inversely proportional to its temperature.