Optimax Systems, Inc. - Optical Components & Systems 2024 LB

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Bristol Instruments, Inc. - 872 Series High-Res 4/24 HP

106 terms

Photonics Dictionary: P

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positron -> electron

A charged elementary particle of an atom; the term is most commonly used in reference to the negatively charged particle called a negatron. Its mass at rest is me = 9.109558 x 10-31 kg, its charge is...

photoelectromagnetic effect

Interaction of a magnetic field with a photoconductive substance exposed to light to create a potential difference.

photoelectromotive force

The force that stimulates the emission of an electrical current when photovoltaic action creates a potential difference between two points.

photoelectron holography

A technique proposed for studying the atomic structure of crystals by measuring the interference pattern generated when the crystal is illuminated by a burst of finely tuned x-rays. The resulting...

photoelectron microscopy

Surface analysis by means of photon induced electron emission. PEM methods provide high lateral resolution of the observed sample.For surface material sciences PEM allows the investigation of...

photoelectron

Electron released in photoelectric activity.

plasma-cathode electron gun

An electron beam gun in which plasma that is generated within a low-voltage hollow-cathode discharge serves as the source of electrons.

photocoupler -> optoisolator

An optical coupling device that uses light to bridge the gap between incompatible wire communications systems. It contains an input amplifier, a light-emitting diode, a photodiode and an output...

photoelectric photometer

Also known as electronic photometer. A photometer with a photocell, phototransistor or phototube for measuring the intensity of light.

photoisolator -> optoisolator

An optical coupling device that uses light to bridge the gap between incompatible wire communications systems. It contains an input amplifier, a light-emitting diode, a photodiode and an output...

Pockels cell

A Pockels cell, also known as an electro-optic modulator, is an optical device used to control the polarization of light by applying an electric field. It is named after the physicist Friedrich Carl...

pair production

The production of a positron-electron pair by a photon having energy greater than one mega-electron-volt, whereby some of the photon energy is converted to the rest mass of the pair.

panoramic camera

A camera designed to form a continuous record of an expansive section of the horizon. The typical panoramic camera is mounted to rotate about a vertical axis. A slit opening in the film plane and the...

particle acceleration

Particle acceleration refers to the process by which charged particles, such as electrons or protons, gain kinetic energy and increase their velocity. This acceleration can occur in various natural...

Pauli exclusion principle

The number of electrons that can share a principal quantum number by preventing identity between any two electrons' four quantum numbers, thereby permitting the periodic arrangement of the elements.

Peltier cooler

A Peltier cooler, also known as a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) or thermoelectric module, is a solid-state device that uses the Peltier effect to transfer heat between two electrical junctions. It can...

PEM

photoelectromagnetic

permanent magnetic focusing

The focusing of an electron beam by a magnetic field that permanently retains the majority of its magnetic properties.

perovskite

The term perovskite refers to a specific crystal structure commonly found in various materials. Perovskite structures have a cubic arrangement of oxygen ions, forming a framework within which other...

phase

In optics and photonics, "phase" refers to a property of electromagnetic waves, such as light, that describes the position of a wave at a given point in time within its oscillation cycle. More...

phase-shift keying

A method of coding information in a communications system where the shift in the phase of an electromagnetic wave represents a particular bit or character.

phonon

A phonon is a quantum of vibrational energy associated with the periodic motion of atoms or molecules in a crystalline lattice. In simpler terms, phonons are quanta of lattice vibrations in a solid...

phosphor

A chemical substance that exhibits fluorescence when excited by ultraviolet radiation, x-rays or an electron beam. The amount of visible light is proportional to the amount of excitation energy. If...

phosphor light source

A source made to glow by electrons that are produced either electrically or by isotopes of various elements.

photobleaching

Photobleaching is a phenomenon in which the fluorescence of a fluorophore (a fluorescent molecule or dye) is permanently reduced or eliminated upon prolonged exposure to light. This process occurs...

photocathodes

Photocathodes are specialized materials or surfaces that exhibit the photoelectric effect, wherein the absorption of photons leads to the emission of electrons. When photons with sufficient energy...

photochemical

The term photochemical pertains to chemical processes or reactions that are initiated or influenced by the absorption of light. Photochemical reactions involve the interaction of light, often in the...

photochromic

Photochromic refers to a property exhibited by certain materials, typically organic compounds or dyes, which undergo reversible changes in color when exposed to light. Specifically, photochromic...

photoconductive antenna

Photoconductive antenna (PCA) is a semiconductor element that generates or detects high-frequency electromagnetic signals. Compact PCAs based on gallium arsenide (GaAs) or indium gallium arsenide...

photoconductivity

The conductivity increase exhibited by some nonmetallic materials, resulting from the free carriers generated when photon energy is absorbed in electronic transitions. The rate at which free carriers...

photoconductor contact

Material used to integrate photoconductors into electro-optical systems. It should provide low resistance to the flow of charge, avoid recombination of the charge carriers, inject only majority...

photodetector

A photodetector, also known as a photosensor or photodiode, is a device that detects and converts light into an electrical signal. Photodetectors are widely used in various applications, ranging from...

photodiode detector

A photodiode detector is a semiconductor device that converts light into an electrical current. It operates based on the principle of the photoelectric effect, where photons of light incident on the...

photodiode

A two-electrode, radiation-sensitive junction formed in a semiconductor material in which the reverse current varies with illumination. Photodiodes are used for the detection of optical power and for...

photoelectric constant

The constant that, multiplied by the frequency of the radiation-producing emission of photoelectrons, determines the amount of voltage each photoelectron absorbs.

photoelectric counter

A device used to count objects that pass a given point by allowing each object to obstruct a beam of light falling on a photocell. Slow counting rates can be recorded by a mechanical counter, but...

photoelectric current

The electron stream emitted by a phototube when the cathode is exposed to light.

photoelectric effect

The emission of an electron from a surface that occurs when a photon impinges upon the surface and is absorbed. This effect is the means by which photons may be detected.

photoelectric emission

The electron emission from a substance or instrument whose surface has been bombarded by a suitable amount of radiation.

photoelectric sensitivity

That property of a material that determines its ability to release electrons when absorbing photons.

photoelectric tube -> phototube

An electron tube having a photocathode for the emission of a photoelectric current.

photoemission -> photoelectric emission

The electron emission from a substance or instrument whose surface has been bombarded by a suitable amount of radiation.

photoemissive cell -> photoemissive detector

An electronic tube instrument in which the anode current varies with the intensity of light incident on the cathode.

photoemissive detector

An electronic tube instrument in which the anode current varies with the intensity of light incident on the cathode.

photoemissive effect -> photoelectric effect

The emission of an electron from a surface that occurs when a photon impinges upon the surface and is absorbed. This effect is the means by which photons may be detected.

photolithography

Photolithography is a key process in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices, integrated circuits, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). It is a photomechanical process used to transfer...

photoluminescence

Photoluminescence is a phenomenon in which a material absorbs photons (light) at one wavelength and then re-emits photons at a longer wavelength. This process occurs when electrons in the material...

photolysis flash -> spectroscopic flash

The light flash, produced in flash photolysis, that is triggered within a second discharge tube by the third electrode. It is to be differentiated from the photolysis flash which is triggered within...

photomask

A photomask, also known simply as a mask or reticle, is a key component in the photolithography process used in semiconductor manufacturing and other areas of microfabrication. It is a high-precision...

photomultiplier tube

A photomultiplier tube (PMT) is a highly sensitive vacuum tube that detects and amplifies low levels of light. It is widely used in various applications where high sensitivity, fast response times,...

Photonics DictionaryP