= Short-circuit current
{title2=$I_{\rm sc}$}
The short-circuit current is the terminal <electric current> of a device when its terminal <voltage> is zero. For a solar cell, it is usually denoted $I_{\rm sc}$ and is obtained from the illuminated current–voltage curve where the two terminals are connected through a sufficiently low-resistance measuring path.
A nonzero short-circuit current establishes photogenerated charge collection, but the delivered terminal <power> $P=VI$ is zero at an ideal short circuit. Useful electrical output instead requires a finite operating <voltage>, often near the <maximum power point>. The short-circuit current depends on illumination, active area and collection efficiency; short-circuit current density divides it by the specified area, allowing devices of different sizes to be compared.
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