Article
Article
Photonics
Article By:
Pau, Stanley College of Optical Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
Last reviewed:January 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.900173
An area of optics that encompasses the generation, transmission, modulation, amplification, conversion, and detection of light. A photon is the quantum unit of electromagnetic radiation. Whereas electronics involves the manipulation and operation of electrons, photonics involves the manipulation and operation of photons. Photonics and electronics are intimately related to each other. Fundamentally, photons are created and destroyed by the transition of electrons between energy states. Disciplines such as electro optics, optoelectronics, quantum electronics, quantum optics, and light-wave technology involve principles, phenomena, devices, and systems that are related to photonics and electronics. See also: Electronics; Electrooptics; Photon; Quantum electronics
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