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222 terms

Photonics Dictionary: R

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replicated optics
Optical components, usually reflectors, produced using proprietary techniques that transfer the precision of a master to a number of elements.
representative fraction
Ratio between map or photo linear distance and the actual ground dimensions represented.
repressing -> molded blank
A blank whose basic surface curves are attained by heating and forming a given weight of raw glass; a rough glass blank resembling the finished lens in size and shape. After molding, a precision lens...
resolution
1. In optics, the ability of a lens system to reproduce the points, lines and surfaces in an object as separate entities in the image. 2. The minimum adjustment increment effectively achievable by a...
resolution chart -> resolution target
A chart on paper or glass containing a series of sets of lines at progressively smaller spacing and used to ascertain the limiting number of lines per millimeter that an optical system is capable of...
resolution target
A chart on paper or glass containing a series of sets of lines at progressively smaller spacing and used to ascertain the limiting number of lines per millimeter that an optical system is capable of...
resolving power
A measure of an optical system's ability to produce an image which separates two points or parallel lines on the object. See Rayleigh criterion of resolving power.
resolving power chart -> resolution target
A chart on paper or glass containing a series of sets of lines at progressively smaller spacing and used to ascertain the limiting number of lines per millimeter that an optical system is capable of...
resonance
Resonance can be defined in various contexts, including physics, chemistry, and music. Here are definitions for resonance in a few different fields: Physics: In physics, resonance refers to the...
resonance fluorescence
In atomic fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence emitted by an atom at a spectral line of a wavelength identical to that of the stimulating radiation.
resonance ionization spectroscopy
A type of ultrasensitive laser spectroscopy that can detect quantities as small as a single atom of some substances and that can differentiate between isobars of different elements.
resonance radiation
That radiation emitted by an atom or molecule that has the same frequency as that of an incident particle; e.g., a photon. It generally involves a transition to the lowest energy level of the atom or...
resonance spectrum
The fluorescent emission spectrum emitted by certain substances following the irradiation of one of these substances with light that is of the same wavelengths as its fluorescence.
resonant cavity -> resonator
A resonator is a device or system that exhibits resonance, which is a phenomenon that occurs when an external force or stimulus is applied at a specific frequency, causing the system to oscillate...
resonator
A resonator is a device or system that exhibits resonance, which is a phenomenon that occurs when an external force or stimulus is applied at a specific frequency, causing the system to oscillate...
resorption
The absorption of a material by a medium or system that has formerly been released from absorption by that same medium or system.
retardation plate -> wave plate
An optical element having two principal axes, slow and fast, that resolve an incident polarized beam into two mutually perpendicular polarized beams. The emerging beam recombines to form a particular...
retarder cell
A device that uses nematic liquid crystals sandwiched between fused silica substrates to change the phase of polarized light. The cell is tunable from half-wave to zero retardation because variation...
reticle
A reticle, also known as a reticule or graticule, is a pattern or set of markings placed in the focal plane of an optical instrument, such as a microscope, telescope, riflescope, or camera, to...
reticulation
The formation of a distinct, irregular surface pattern on a photographic emulsion due to differential swelling of the gelatin.
retina camera
A special-purpose camera used by ophthalmologists to photograph the retina of the eye. The optical system operates through the eye pupil, and the illuminant must be able to send light into the eye...
retinal reflectometry
The study of the quality of the image formed on the retina by the measurement of the flux reflected from the eye when the image of a grating or line is produced on the retina.
retrodirective reflector -> retroreflector
A retroreflector is an optical device or structure that reflects incident light or electromagnetic waves back to their source, regardless of the direction from which the light approaches. Unlike...
retrofocus lens
Also known as reversed telephoto lens. A lens consisting of an ordinary objective with a negative component near its front focal point. Thus, the back focus is large, relative to its focal length....
retroreflecting multipass cell
Two lenses, separated by a distance equal to the sum of their focal lengths, and retroreflecting mirror assemblies, one of which is coaxial with the lenses and the other slightly translated off-axis.
retroreflection
Retroreflection is a phenomenon in optics where light is reflected back toward its source, typically in a direction nearly parallel to the direction from which it originated. This occurs due to the...
retroreflectivity
Retroreflectivity refers to the property of a surface or material to reflect light back to its source, regardless of the angle of incidence. Unlike most surfaces that scatter light in various...
retroreflector
A retroreflector is an optical device or structure that reflects incident light or electromagnetic waves back to their source, regardless of the direction from which the light approaches. Unlike...
return to zero
A form of binary notation that includes a third code representing a stop between bits.
reverse bias
Voltage that produces current flow in the direction of greater resistance to the steady-state direct current; i.e., from the cathode to the anode.
reversed telephoto lens -> retrofocus lens
Also known as reversed telephoto lens. A lens consisting of an ordinary objective with a negative component near its front focal point. Thus, the back focus is large, relative to its focal length....
rheology
The characteristics of a material that determine its tendency to flow.
rhodamine
Rhodamine refers to a family of fluorescent organic dyes that are widely used in various fields, including biology, chemistry, medicine, and materials science. These dyes are known for their bright...
rhomboid prism
A reflecting prism that is rhomboidal in shape. It has two parallel transmitting faces, and two parallel reflecting faces; the latter are oblique to the former (usually but not necessarily at...
RIA
Robotic Industries Association
riez photodiode
A photodiode having a conducting grid that covers the surface of the photodiode junction and intercepts and wastes some of the light. In this way, efficient optical- and microwave-frequency design...
rim ray
A ray of an image-forming bundle that passes through the edge of the entrance pupil or aperture stop. Usually used in connection with meridian rays, an upper rim ray is one that passes through the...
ring blocking
The formation of a block by attaching optical elements to a plate with a ring of pitch or other thermoplastic material.
ring topology
A system of local area networking in which each node or station is connected to two others, ultimately forming a loop. Data are passed in one direction only, being received by each node and then...
ring-laser gyroscope
A ring laser gyroscope (RLG) is a type of gyroscope that uses laser light to detect and measure changes in orientation. It operates based on the Sagnac effect, which is a fundamental principle of...
ripples
The approximately concentric waves that form on a surface that has been polished without an oscillation of the polishing lap.
RISC
reduced instruction set computing
Risley prism
A Risley prism, also known as a Risley prism pair or Risley rotating prism, is an optical device used for controlling the direction of a laser beam or other optical beam by independently rotating two...
robotic arms
Robotic arms, also known as robot arms or manipulator arms, are mechanical devices designed to mimic and perform the functions of human arms. They consist of multiple articulated segments, joints,...
Rockwell hardness
Rockwell hardness (Rc) refers to a method for measuring the hardness of a material, primarily metals, using an indentation test. It is named after the Rockwell scale, which was developed by Stanley...
roentgenology
The study of x-rays, their biological effects and technology. Named for W.C. Roentgen, who discovered x-rays in 1895.
Rogovsky coil
Conductor element for use in integrated electro-optic systems that measures current flowing through it.
ROI
region of interest
rolling shutter artifacts
Rolling shutter artifacts are distortions or visual anomalies that can occur in images or videos captured by cameras with rolling shutter sensors. A rolling shutter is a type of image sensor that...
Ronchi grating
A transparent plate ruled with black lines and equal, clear spaces. It is used as a multiple knife-edge for testing a concave mirror.

Photonics DictionaryR

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