Mikrowatt

Mikrowatt is a term used to denote the microwatt, a unit of power equal to one millionth of a watt (10^-6 W). The symbol is typically µW, and in some texts it may be written as uW. The microwatt is part of the SI micro- prefix family and is used to express very small power levels in electronics, optics, and sensor technology.

The microwatt is commonly encountered in datasheets and specifications to describe low-power quantities such as quiescent current, leakage power, optical power in photodetectors, and signal power in radio-frequency circuits. In practical terms, 1 µW equals 0.001 milliwatts (mW) and 0.000001 watts (W). Conversely, 1 W equals 1,000,000 µW and 1,000,000,000 nW. This unit is particularly relevant in battery-powered devices, energy harvesting systems, and precision instrumentation where tiny power levels matter.

Measurement of microwatts relies on specialized instruments such as calibrated power meters, thermopile detectors, photodiodes, and attenuated signal chains. In optical communications and photonics, micro- and microwatt scales are used to describe received optical power and to manage energy budgets across components.

Etymology and history: The term derives from the micro- prefix meaning small combined with watt. The use of the microwatt expanded with advances in low-power electronics and high-sensitivity measurement techniques during the 20th century.

Note: Mikrowatt can also appear as a brand or product name in some contexts; when capitalized as a proper noun, its meaning should be inferred from the surrounding context.