In physics and electronic engineering, dark current is the relatively small electric current that flows through a photosensitive device such as a photomultiplier tube, photodiode, or charge-coupled device even when no photons are entering the device. It is referred to as reverse bias leakage current in non optical devices and is present in all diodes. Physically, dark current is due to the random generation of electrons and holes within the depletion region of the device that are then swept by the high electric field.
The charge generation rate is related to specific defects within the depletion region. Dark Current Spectroscopy can be used to determine the defects present by monitoring the peaks in the dark current histogram's evolution with temperature.
In analytical chemistry, dark current refers to constant response produced by a spectrochemical receptor, even in the absence of radiation. This response adds to the signal produced when the receptor is used to measure light and so must be dealt with to determine how much of the detector response is actually due to the radiation. To compensate for this extra signal, the dark current may be measured in the absence of radiation and then subtracted from the final signal or it is reduced to zero by a compensating circuit. Dealing with dark current is a form of blank correction.
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