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photocathode.

Noun
Sci-FiSettingTechnical
MEANING

A surface that emits electrons when struck by light of suitable energy.

Use it for

light converted into emitted electrons; the input surface of a detector; photoelectric behavior distinct from ordinary reflective metal

Words that belong together

  • a photocathode surface
  • photocathode sensitivity

On the page

Light reaching the photocathode released electrons into the detector.
Contamination lowered the photocathode sensitivity before the electronics showed any fault.

Related words

photoemissionphotoelectric effectphotomultiplier
Word forms
Base
photocathode

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Science-fiction vocabulary

Usage notes

Primary category: sci-fi. Forms: Singular photocathode; plural photocathodes. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.

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