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CASTECH INC - High Precision CNC Polished Aspherical Lenses

132 terms

Photonics Dictionary: P

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polystyrene

A plastic used in molded optical components. Styrene elements can be combined with acrylic elements to produce achromatic lenses.

polyvinyl alcohol

An optical-quality polymer used in birefringent retarders.

PON

passive optical network

Porro prism erecting system

The arrangement of two Porro prisms so that the inverted image formed by certain types of optical instruments is the same as the object. The first prism, which is set at 90° to the second, inverts...

positive spherical aberration -> spherical aberration

Spherical aberration is an optical aberration that occurs when light rays passing through a lens or curved optical surface do not converge or diverge to a single focal point. Instead of focusing to a...

positive-intrinsic-negative diode -> PIN photodiode

A PIN photodiode is a type of photodetector or semiconductor device used to convert light signals into electrical signals. The name "PIN" is derived from the arrangement of the three semiconductor...

potassium titanyl phosphate

A crystalline material with a high electro-optic coefficient, capable of operating at short wavelengths, with applications in laser, optical disc, printing and microwave systems.

power flow equation

Optical fiber channel characterization scheme based on three assumptions; the discrete mode spectrum can be replaced by a continuum; the loss due to coupling between guided and radiation modes...

precision aperture

An accurately produced hole of any size and shape that is used as a masking device in an optical system. Pinhole apertures of accurate diameters often are produced by laser beam penetration or by...

preform

A glass structure from which an optical fiber waveguide may be drawn.

prelasing

When uncontrolled laser energy leaks from a laser cavity prematurely, it causes serious damage to optical components and significant downtime for repair.

Prentice's rule

A method of determining prism power at any point on a lens. Prism power equals the product of the dioptric power and the distance, in centimeters, from the optical center.

pressurization

Injecting a gas (usually nitrogen) with a very low moisture content into the body of an optical instrument to create a positive internal pressure. This prevents the entrance of moisture, which could...

principal axis

A straight line connecting the curvature centers of the refracting lens surfaces. In a mechanical sense, a line joining the centers of a lens as it is placed in a mount. The principal axis is the...

principal focus -> focal point

That point on the optical axis of a lens, to which an incident bundle of parallel light rays will converge.

principal point

The intersection of the principal plane and the optical axis of a lens.

principal point of focus -> focal point

That point on the optical axis of a lens, to which an incident bundle of parallel light rays will converge.

prism coupler

An instrument that measures the angle at which a prism can couple laser light into an optical waveguide; used to determine the thickness and refractive index of thin films in integrated optical...

prism spectrograph -> spectrograph

An optical instrument for forming the spectrum of a light source and recording it on a film. The dispersing medium may be a prism or a diffraction grating. A concave grating requires no other means...

prism

A prism is a geometric optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light. It is typically a solid, transparent object with at least two flat surfaces that are inclined relative to each...

profile dispersion

In an optical waveguide, that dispersion attributable to the variation of refractive index profile with wavelength. The profile variation has two contributing factors: variation in refractive index...

projecting core coupler

A device that couples a light source to an optical fiber by projecting an image of the source and the fiber core onto a screen where they can be superimposed by micropositioners.

PROM

Pockels readout optical memory; programmable read-only memory

proof strength

The minimum amount of strength characteristic of an optical fiber, as determined by proof stressing; expressed in thousands of pounds of pressure per square inch.

proof stressing

A means of testing the strength of optical fibers to ensure reliability, by applying stress to the fiber so that any flaws generated during manufacturing or handling result in breakage of the fiber.

protective bevel

The removal of a sharp edge on an optical element by grinding, to prevent accidental chipping of that edge during subsequent handling.

protective coating

A film applied to a coated or uncoated optical surface primarily for protecting this surface from mechanical abrasion, from chemical corrosion, or from both. For example, a thin layer of silicon...

pseudohologram

Coded image obtained optically with a nonredundant pinhole array imaging aperture.

pulse spreading

Variations in a signal passing through an optical fiber caused by the effect on the pulse of the fiber's material and mode propagation characteristics.

pumping radiation

Radiation used to excite an optical or laser material to a higher energy level. See optical pumping.

pyramid error

Pyramid error in optics refers to an aberration in the shape of an optical surface, particularly in the context of mirrors. It is a type of distortion that can occur when the surface of a mirror...

pyrolysis

A process that employs heat to remove polyimide plastic coatings from silica optical fibers and capillary tubing.

Photonics DictionaryP

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