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A p-n photodiode is fabricated from a semiconductor with a band gap of 2.5 eV. It can detect a signal of wavelength

Asked in NEET 2009 · Photodiode and solar cell

Answer: (3) 4000 A

Step-by-step solution

Idea: a photodiode responds only to photons carrying at least the gap energy, so there is a longest wavelength it can see.

λₘₐₓ=(hc)/(E_g)=(12400 eV A)/(2.5 eV)=4960 A.

Anything longer than 4960 A carries too little energy per photon and is not absorbed.

Of the four wavelengths offered only 4000 A is shorter than this limit.

So the diode can detect 4000 A.

Why the other options are wrong

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