Optical Conductivity: Explained & Compared to DC Conductivity

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of optical conductivity and how it differs from DC conductivity. It is the transport of photons through a material and is characterized by the material's properties. There is no simple equation like J = cE for describing it due to the influence of the material's properties.
  • #1
Master J
226
0
I've searched the net and haven't found an explanation for the term, so hopefully this will now return on searches for people. Besides, I'm confused about the term myself.

What is meant by "optical conductivity"? How is it different from say a DC conductivity in J = cE where c is conductivity, J current density, E electric field?

Thanks
 
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  • #2
It is the transport of photons through a material.

Zz.
 
  • #3
How is it characterized? Is there a similar equation as to J = cE ??
 
  • #4
Well, that relationship doesn't make sense with photons, does it? After all, photons are NOT affected by the applied E field. So already you can reason this out.

The conductivity of light through a material is not as simple. The material's properties themselves have significant influence on the absorption, scattering, etc. of light, (example: phonon modes that are available). So this is not a trivial thing to describe.

Zz.
 

1. What is optical conductivity?

Optical conductivity is a measure of how well a material conducts electricity when exposed to light. It is a frequency-dependent property that describes the ability of a material to absorb and transport light energy in the form of electrical current.

2. How is optical conductivity different from DC conductivity?

DC conductivity, also known as direct current conductivity, is a measure of how well a material conducts electricity under a constant electric field. In contrast, optical conductivity measures the material's response to varying frequencies of light.

3. What factors affect the optical conductivity of a material?

The optical conductivity of a material is influenced by various factors such as the material's electronic band structure, impurity concentrations, and temperature. It can also be affected by the direction and polarization of the incident light.

4. What are some practical applications of optical conductivity?

Optical conductivity is an essential property in fields such as optics, photonics, and materials science. It is used to study the electronic properties of materials, design optical devices, and develop new materials for applications such as solar cells, LEDs, and sensors.

5. How is optical conductivity measured?

Optical conductivity is typically measured using techniques such as spectroscopy, ellipsometry, and photoluminescence. These methods involve shining light of different frequencies on the material and measuring the resulting electrical response, which can then be used to calculate the material's optical conductivity.

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