photonicsn.
/fəʊˈtɒnɪks/, U.S. /foʊˈtɑnɪks/ The branch of technology that deals with the applications of the particle properties of light, esp. (in later use) applications to the transmission of information.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > [noun] > smallest unit of light > study of
photonics1952
the world > matter > physics > atomic physics > particle physics > photon particle > [noun] > study of
photonics1952
1952 Jrnl. Brit. Interplanetary Soc. 11 58 From the fundamental domains of photonics, electronics,..and physical chemistry, our interest passes..to aerodynamics and the physics of solid bodies.
1976 Physics Bull. Mar. 126/1 The term ‘photonics’, by analogy with electronics, describes the application of the photon to the transmission of information.
1978 Daily Tel. 11 Mar. 10/6 We can expect the new science of photonics to be comparable to electronics. We shall be making telephone calls by laser.
1995 Hospital News Jan. 14/5 Recognizing the importance of optoelectronics and photonics to the world's economy, the Ontario government created the Ontario Laser and Lightwave Research Centre.
2002 K. Warwick I, Cyborg viii. 116 Berger's hope is to use photonics, to direct lasers to transmit information precisely between the slices by means of light signals.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1952