Light and Energy

The amount of energy falling on the Earth's surface from the sun is approximately 5.6 billion (quintillion) megajoules per year. Averaged over the entire Earth's surface, this translates into about 5 kilowatt-hours per square meter every day. The energy input from the sun in a single day could supply the needs for all of the Earth's inhabitants for a period of about 3 decades. Obviously, there is no means conceivable (nor is it necessary) to harness all of the energy that is available; equally obvious is that capturing even a small fraction of the available energy in a useable form would be of enormous value.
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Light and Energy

Introduction

The topics discussed in this section are the photovoltaic effect and solar cells, photosynthesis, the photoelectric effect, solar cells, charge-coupled devices, fuel cells, and nuclear fusion.

Electronic Imaging Detectors

The featured discussion is intended to aid in understanding the basics of light detection and to provide a guide for selecting a suitable electronic detector for specific applications in optical microscopy.

The MOS Capacitor

Electromagnetic radiation is derived from the electric and magnetic properties common to all forms of this energy, as manifested by the generation of electrical and magnetic oscillating fields as the waves propagate through space.

Introduction to CMOS Image Sensors

CMOS image sensors are designed with the ability to integrate a number of processing and control functions, which lie beyond the primary task of photon collection, directly onto the sensor integrated circuit.

Photomultiplier Tubes

A photomultiplier tube is a photoemissive device in which the absorption of a photon results in the emission of an electron and is useful for light detection of very weak signals.

Contributing Authors

Kenneth R. Spring - Scientific Consultant, Lusby, Maryland, 20657.
Mortimer Abramowitz - Olympus America, Inc., Two Corporate Center Drive., Melville, New York, 11747.
Matthew Parry-Hill, John C. Long, Kirill I. Tchourioukanov, Robert T. Sutter, Christopher A. Burdett, Thomas J. Fellers and Michael W. Davidson - National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, 1800 East Paul Dirac Dr., The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32310.