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Photonics Dictionary

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cubic

cube-corner prism -> corner cube

A corner cube, also known as a corner reflector or retroreflector prism, is a type of optical device used to reflect light or electromagnetic waves back towards their source with minimal deviation in...

CubeSat

A CubeSat is a type of miniaturized satellite characterized by its standardized size and modular design. CubeSats are typically used for scientific research, technology demonstration, educational...

cubic convolution

A method of resampling in which a 16-pixel neighborhood around a given pixel from the original image is used to calculate the final brightness value of that pixel in the corrected image.

cup bevel

A bevel produced by grinding with a cup-shaped tool.

Curie temperature

The temperature above which a ferromagnetic material becomes only paramagnetic.

curie

Standard maintained by the International Commission on Radiological Units as a unit of radioactivity defined as the quantity of any radioactive nuclide in which the number of disintegrations per...

curing

The use of chemicals or radiation to induce a desired change in a substance; e.g., some optical adhesives are set by exposure to ultraviolet light and are said to be UV-curing.

current saturation

A condition during laser operation when laser output can no longer be increased by additional electric current.

current transient

A sudden, brief increase in current or voltage in a circuit that can damage sensitive components and instruments. Preventive measures include slow-starter circuits, filtering and static control.

cursor

On a display monitor, a small, mobile rectangle, cross-hair or pointer that locates a feature in an image that is the object of attention, or indicates where the next character will appear in word...

curvature

The measure of departure from a flat surface, as applied to lenses; the reciprocal of radius. Applies to any surface, including lenses, mirrors and image surfaces.

curvature loss -> macrobend loss

In an optical waveguide, that loss attributable to macrobending. Macrobending usually causes little or no radiative loss.

curvature of field

A lens aberration that causes a flat object surface to be imaged onto a curved surface rather than a plane.

curvilinear distortion

A lens aberration in which the focal length varies radially outward from the center of the field. It has the effect of making a straight tangential line in the object appear curved in the image,...

custom lapping and polishing services

Custom lapping and polishing services involve specialized processes used to improve the surface finish and dimensional accuracy of components to meet specific requirements or standards. These...

custom optic

A custom optic refers to an optical component that is designed, manufactured, and tailored to meet specific requirements or applications. These optics can include lenses, mirrors, prisms, filters, or...

cut plane

In computer graphics, intersection of a plane with a three-dimensional object to create a sectional view.

cutback technique

A technique for measuring fiber attenuation or distortion by performing two transmission measurements. One is at the output end of the full length of the fiber. The other is within 1 to 3 m of the...

cutoff wavelength

1. In detector technology, the long wavelength at which detector response falls to a set percentage (usually 20 or 50 percent). 2. In fiber optics, the shortest wavelength at which a fiber transmits...

cuton wavelength

In filter terminology, that wavelength where the filter transmission increases beyond 5 percent.

cutting

The process of forming a lens to a given pattern, or of cutting a piece of glass along the line of scratch.

cutting center

The point on a cutting line that will become the geometrical center of the cut lens.

field curvature -> curvature of field

A lens aberration that causes a flat object surface to be imaged onto a curved surface rather than a plane.

transient -> current transient

A sudden, brief increase in current or voltage in a circuit that can damage sensitive components and instruments. Preventive measures include slow-starter circuits, filtering and static control.

accumulator

A broadband continuum resonator that confines a wide range of wavelengths. From the optical confinement a single wavelength may be released by means of a tuning grating.

actinic focus

That point in the electromagnetic spectrum at which an optical system focuses the most chemically effective rays.

acuity, visual -> visual acuity

The numerical definition of the ability of an observer to perceive fine detail. The average value may be taken as one minute, or 6.7 cycles/mm, at 250 mm (normal viewing distance).

acutance

In photography, the density gradient across an edge separating light from darkness, a physically measurable quantity that correlates well with subjectively observed sharpness of definition. By...

acute bisectrix

In biaxial crystals, the principal angle that bisects the smaller angle between the optic axes.

arcuate displacement

Displacement in a direction perpendicular to that of the intended displacement, as in a translation stage with simple flexures that experiences vertical displacement during horizontal motion; it is...

autofocus system

A means of adjusting the sharpness of an image automatically, with a sensor for estimating distance or contrast and a drive mechanism to adjust the lens. Active systems generate a light source to...

automatic power control circuit -> monitor current

In a laser diode, the photocurrent produced by a photodiode that detects the emission from the rear facet of the semiconductor chip. It can be used to provide feedback control of the forward current...

binocular

Designating any instrument in which both eyes can be used to view the image to achieve a stereoscopic effect, or merely to facilitate observation. See also prism binoculars.

binocular collimation

The adjustment of a binocular instrument so that the lines of sight of both telescopes are parallel.

binocular luster

The glossy appearance of an object viewed, because of the binocular combination of two very unlike colors.

binocular magnifier

A device having a pair of decentered lenses, one for each eye, that focuses on a single object as a magnifier. It is often supplied with a forehead fixture or an elastic headband to leave the hands...

binocular microscope

A microscope designed with two eyepieces (oculars), permitting the use of both eyes when viewing through the instrument.

binocular parallax

The difference in angular bearing of an object as seen by the two eyes, due to the separation of the visual optical axes.

binocular threshold

The absolute luminance threshold for detection by the two eyes.

binocular vision

The ability of the two eyes to see an object from two slightly different points of view. This difference allows an individual to perceive the depth and dimension of the object in view.

biocular

A term pertaining to devices (generally optical) designed for use with both eyes viewing through a single exit pupil. The term may be distinguished from binocular in that biocular instruments contain...

blackbody locus

With respect to a chromaticity diagram, this is the locus of points that represent the chromaticities of blackbodies possessing different color temperatures.

break current

The point at which decreasing current supplied to a laser results in the extinguishing of the laser discharge.

camera obscura

A forerunner of the modern camera, this instrument had a focusable lens that produced a sharp image on the enclosure opposite the aperture but had no photosensitive material to record it.

center of curvature

The center of the sphere of which the surface of a lens or mirror forms a portion. Each curved surface of a lens has a center of curvature; the surfaces may be convex or concave.

centered curve

The surface curvature designed to reduce the marginal error found in the periphery of a spectacle lens.

characteristic curve

A graph used in photography to portray the increase of a film's density as its time of exposure increases.

circular birefringence

The optical phenomenon in which right circularly polarized light transmitted by an active medium travels at a different velocity than that of left circularly polarized light.

circular dichroism spectroscopy

A type of spectroscopy used extensively in the analysis of biological samples. Because most biologically synthesized molecules, such as proteins, are optically active, circular dichroism spectroscopy...

Photonics Dictionary