EMI Dictionary Terms
synchrotronA synchrotron is a type of particle accelerator that uses magnetic fields to steer charged particles, typically electrons or...
high-speed motion cameraA high-speed motion camera, also known as a high-speed camera or slow-motion camera, is a specialized imaging device...
machine vision systemA machine vision system is an integrated combination of hardware and software components designed to capture, process, and...
semifinished blankA formed piece of glass, one surface of which has been ground and polished to the required curvatures.
transient calorimetric techniqueA method of measuring total hemispherical emissivity of the plane surface of a solid that consists of thermally isolating a...
Ultraviolet-CUltraviolet-C (UV-C) refers to a specific range of ultraviolet radiation with shorter wavelengths than those of visible...
linewidth1. The range of frequencies or wavelengths over which radiations are absorbed or emitted in a transition between a specific...
cross-linked plasticPlastic in which the polymer chains become irreversibly joined during molding. The cross-linking can be achieved by heating,...
paraboloidal mirrorA concave mirror that has the form of a paraboloid of revolution. The paraboloidal mirror may have only a portion of a...
ultraviolet microscopyThe study and photographing of microscope specimens in ultraviolet light; using an optical microscope containing fluorite...
allochromyAny fluorescence in which the wavelength of the emitted light differs from that of the absorbed light.
infrared light-emitting diodeAn infrared light-emitting diode (IR LED) is a semiconductor device that emits infrared light when an electric current...
tunnel luminescenceLight that is emitted from a phosphor film applied to the surface of a three-layer thin film, respectively metal, oxide and...
radiant heatInfrared radiation emitted from a source that is not heated sufficiently to give off visible radiation.
image iconoscopeA camera tube similar in design to the iconoscope. However, the image formed in the image iconoscope is projected on a...
quantum wellA quantum well is a structure in quantum mechanics that confines particles, such as electrons or holes, in one spatial...
aptamerAn aptamer is a short, single-stranded DNA or RNA molecule that can bind to a specific target molecule with high affinity...
autofluorescenceAutofluorescence refers to the natural emission of fluorescence exhibited by certain biological structures or molecules when...
near-ultraviolet light sourceA light source, such as the sun or an incandescent lamp, that freely penetrates ordinary glass bulbs and emits in the...
recombination radiationThe radiation emitted in semiconductors when electrons in the conduction band recombine with holes in the valence band. If...
optical transitionThe process by which an atomic system changes from one energy level to another by either the emission or absorption of...
Paschen seriesAn array of lines in the infrared region of the emission spectrum of atomic hydrogen. Their wave numbers are expressed by...
infrared detectorAn infrared detector is a device that is used to detect and measure infrared radiation, which lies beyond the visible...
radiant exitanceThe radiant flux per unit area emitted from a surface.
electrolysisConduction of an electric current through a chemical compound in its natural state, solution or as a molten, to decompose...
latticeIn photonics, a lattice refers to a periodic arrangement of optical elements or structures, often on a microscopic or...
dBmDecibels referenced to one milliwatt; often used to specify power ratings for semiconductor diode lasers.
emission lineThe line or lines emitted by an element when its radiation particles travel from one energy level to another.
laser outputThe laser output refers to the generated and emitted light produced by a laser system. This output is characterized by...
nanotubeA nanotube, also known as a nanotubule or simply a tube-like structure, is a nanoscale cylindrical structure composed of...
Goldberg wedgeA neutral-colored gelatin wedge, cast between glass plates, that is used as an intensity scale in certain types of...
SPINAcronym for self-aligned polysilicon interconnect N-channel. A metal-gate process that uses aluminum for the metal-oxide...
photodiodeA two-electrode, radiation-sensitive junction formed in a semiconductor material in which the reverse current varies with...
die bondingDie bonding is a critical process in semiconductor manufacturing and microelectronics assembly, where a semiconductor die or...
nuclear quadrupole resonance spectroscopyA chemical detection technique used to measure molecules that have a magnetic dipole moment. The analysis is directed to...
observatory domeA hemispherical covering that is rotatable about a central axis. There is a slit opening along one side wide enough to allow...
label-freeLabel-free refers to a technique or method that does not require the use of additional labels, tags, or markers to detect or...
x-ray astronomyThe study of the celestial bodies, relative to x-ray emission. Satellites launched to study x-ray sources have revealed many...
ion emissionThe ejecting of ions from the surface of a material.
photoconductorA light-sensitive resistor in which resistance decreases with increase in light intensity when illuminated. The device...
photoelectric effectThe emission of an electron from a surface that occurs when a photon impinges upon the surface and is absorbed. This effect...
quantum opticsThe area of optics in which quantum theory is used to describe light in discrete units or "quanta" of energy known as...
intrinsic photoemissionThe photoemission that would occur if a crystal were pure and its structure perfect.
electron cyclotron maserA maser that relies on the fact that electrons in orbital motion in high-magnetic fields will emit energy at the cyclotron...
photoimmunotherapyPhotoimmunotherapy (PIT) is a medical treatment approach that combines elements of phototherapy and immunotherapy to target...
pulse repetition frequencyNumber of pulses emitted per unit of time by a pulsed laser.
silicon carbide light-emitting diodesSilicon carbide (SiC) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor devices that emit light when an electric current is...
quantum dotsA quantum dot is a nanoscale semiconductor structure, typically composed of materials like cadmium selenide or indium...
stoichiometryThe determination of what, how much and in what proportions chemicals must be combined to produce the desired reactions and...
refractive index liquidsA closely spaced series of well-known chemicals having a refractive index lying between 1.33 for water and 1.95 for a...
simultaneous exposure and developmentThe process, used with a positive photoresist, in which the photoresist is immersed in developing chemicals while being...
tip-enhanced Raman scatteringTip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) is a powerful technique that combines Raman spectroscopy with the enhanced spatial...
laser spectroscopyThat part of the science involved in the study of the theory and interpretation of spectra that uses the unique...
trapped plasma avalanche-triggered transitOscillator device composed of a semiconducting diode in a coaxial resonating cavity. When the biasing current is applied to...
curingThe use of chemicals or radiation to induce a desired change in a substance; e.g., some optical adhesives are set by...
infrared image tubeAn image converter that produces a visible image based on the infrared emittance of the object. The infrared energy is...
mid-wave infraredMWIR stands for mid-wave infrared, referring to a specific range of wavelengths within the infrared spectrum. Infrared...
crystalline lensThe internal lens of the eye. It is semielastic to permit changes in its power when focusing on objects at near distances.
enantiomerA molecule that is the mirror image of another molecule. The two mirror-image molecules have the same chemical properties;...
phosphorescenceLuminescence is the emission of light from a source that is delayed by more than 10-8 s following excitation.
Marx effectThe decrease in the energy of a photoelectric emission as a result of the simultaneous incidence of radiation having lower...
cesium vapor lampA lamp that emits light as the result of the passage of an electrical current through ionized cesium vapor.
two-photon polymerizationTwo-photon polymerization (TPP) is a technique used in additive manufacturing, specifically in the field of 3D printing. It...
white-light continuumAn extremely wide emission spectrum generated by the nonlinear effects created when a high peak power from a short-pulse...
single molecule localization microscopySingle molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) is a group of super-resolution microscopy techniques that surpass the...
chemical vapor depositionChemical vapor deposition is a process of applying dopants to a glass bait by flame reactions of gaseous compounds. See also...
laser ablationLaser ablation is a process that involves the removal or erosion of material from a target surface using laser energy. This...
spectroscopySpectroscopy is a technique used in the study of interactions between matter and electromagnetic radiation. It involves...
threshold wavelengthThe greatest wavelength of radiation for a specified surface for the emission of electrons.
resonance absorption (light)The re-emission of absorbed energy, having the same wavelength as the incident energy, in an arbitrary direction from a...
long-wave infraredLong-wave infrared (LWIR) refers to a specific range of the infrared spectrum. Infrared radiation is divided into three main...
chip-on-board lightsChip-on-board (COB) lights refer to a type of LED lighting technology where multiple LED chips are directly mounted onto a...
CMOS image sensorA CMOS image sensor, short for complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor image sensor, is a type of semiconductor device used...
cosine collectorTranslucent collector developed to compensate for the partial blocking of a flat surface's collection angle that normally...
hydrophilicHydrophilic is a term used to describe substances or materials that have an affinity for water. The word hydrophilic comes...
photon drag effectThe induction of an electric field in a semiconductor by an incident laser beam. The technique has rapid response time at...
ion-beam sputteringIon-beam sputtering (IBS) is a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique used for depositing thin films onto substrates. It...
photodiffusion effectThe potential difference between two areas of a semiconductor when one is exposed to light.
stimulated emissionRadiation similar in origin to spontaneous emission but determined by the presence of other radiation having the same...
mounting cementAn adhesive used to hold optical components in their mounts. It may be a thermoplastic or chemical-hardening substance.
accessible emissionThe present radiation level within a laser or electromagnetic radiation operating area.
single-molecule FRETSingle-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) is a specialized technique in biophysics and molecular...
luminous exitanceThe total luminous flux given out per unit area; i.e., the sum of the luminous emittance and any radiation that is reflected...
indium gallium arsenide cameraAn InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide) camera is a type of imaging device that utilizes InGaAs sensors to capture images in the...
optoelectronicPertaining to a device that responds to optical power, emits or modifies optical radiation, or utilizes optical radiation...
biostimulationThe action of a biological system responding to a single or multiple coherent particles of light produced from a laser...
TO packageHousing that resembles a small metal can for a semiconductor component, photodetector or similar device.
intrinsic photoconductivityThe absorption of a photon raising an electron across the forbidden gap from valence to conduction band of the semiconductor...
epitaxyA well controlled thin films technique for growing films with good crystal structure in ultra high vacuum environments at...
perovskiteThe term perovskite refers to a specific crystal structure commonly found in various materials. Perovskite structures have a...
thermal radiatorA source that emits radiant energy when its molecules or atoms are thermally excited.
epifluorescence microscopyFluorescence imaging technique in which the excitation light from the objective is directed into the sample producing...
superresolutionSuperresolution refers to the enhancement or improvement of the spatial resolution beyond the conventional limits imposed by...
cesium oxide cellA photoemissive detector sensitive to wavelengths up to 1 µm. It has one sharp maximum of sensitivity at 350 nm and a...
Einstein coefficientsThree proportional coefficients labeled Am, Bmn, and Bnm, that respectively characterize the rate of spontaneous emission,...
Forbush decreaseDecrease in cosmic ray activity that is observed approximately 24 hours after a solar flare, attributed to a shielding...
voltaic cellAn electric cell having two electrodes of unlike metals immersed in a solution that chemically affects one or both of them,...
volumetric imagingVolumetric imaging refers to the capture, visualization, and analysis of three-dimensional (3D) information from a volume of...
flame photometryA part of the spectrochemical analysis of a sample that deals with the excitation of that sample by flame analysis.
surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopySurface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an analytical technique that combines the principles of Raman spectroscopy...
halideIn chemistry, a halide refers to a chemical compound containing one or more halogen atoms bonded to another element. The...
holographic microscopyThe holographic recording of a microscopic specimen whereby magnification is achieved by alteration in a wavelength or...
extrinsic detectorA photodetector composed of a semiconductor material whose responsive properties can be altered by the addition of...
fiber optic transceiverA fiber optic transceiver, often simply referred to as an "optical transceiver," is a device used in fiber optic...
photoluminescence mappingA technique used for noncontact inspection of semiconductor wafers. The material is illuminated by an excitation source that...
light fidelityLiFi, short for light fidelity, is a wireless communication technology that utilizes visible light or infrared light to...
optical materialsOptical materials refer to substances or compounds specifically chosen for their optical properties and used in the...
extreme ultravioletExtreme ultraviolet (EUV) refers to a specific range of electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum....
flame emission spectroscopyA technique in photometry that uses an oxyhydrogen or oxyacetylene flame to optically excite a solution containing the...
vacuum spectrographA spectrograph that functions in a vacuum and therefore eliminates any air-absorption of the emission being surveyed.
electron emissionThe freeing of electrons from an electrode into the surrounding space.
epitaxial depositionEpitaxial deposition is a process used in semiconductor manufacturing and materials science to grow a thin crystalline...
Er:YAG laserAn Er:YAG laser is a type of solid-state laser that uses a crystal made of erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet...
deformable mirror deviceA spatial light modulator consisting of a metallized polymer film stretched over an array of metal-oxide semiconductor...
multilineDescribing a laser that emits simultaneously at more than one wavelength.
fluorescenceFluorescence is a type of luminescence, which is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other...
custom lapping and polishing servicesCustom lapping and polishing services involve specialized processes used to improve the surface finish and dimensional...
indium phosphideIndium phosphide (InP) is a compound semiconductor material composed of indium (In) and phosphorus (P). It belongs to the...
infrared spectroscopyThe measurement of the ability of matter to absorb, transmit or reflect infrared radiation and the relating of the resultant...
emissive powerThe emissivity of a body times the emissive power of a blackbody at the same temperature. For a blackbody, it is the total...
secondary emission photocell
optoisolatorAn optical coupling device that uses light to bridge the gap between incompatible wire communications systems. It contains...
polymerPolymers are large molecules composed of repeating structural units called monomers. These monomers are chemically bonded...
FMCW lidarFMCW lidar stands for frequency-modulated continuous wave lidar. It is a type of lidar (light detection and ranging)...
spectrochemical equipmentEquipment used for chemical analysis by investigation of the spectra formed and observed in chemical activity. Of particular...
Q-switched pulseA laser output that occurs when the cavity resonator Q is first kept very low, using rotating mirrors or saturable...
cadmium lampA mercury vapor discharge lamp that has cadmium added to emit radiation in the red region as a complement to the mercury...
halogen lampA halogen lamp, also known as a tungsten halogen, quartz-halogen, or quartz iodine lamp, is an incandescent lamp that uses a...
fluorophoreA fluorophore is a molecule or a portion of a molecule that has the ability to emit light upon excitation by an external...
spectrophotometric analysisThe detection and measurement of spectral reflectance, spectral transmittance or relative spectral emittance, relative to...
attenuated total reflectance spectroscopyAttenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy is a technique used in analytical chemistry to obtain IR spectra of samples....
alexandriteA host crystal for chromium that emits pulsed or continuous-wave laser light, tunable from about 720 to 790 nm.
multimode laserA laser that produces emission in two or more transverse or longitudinal modes.
chemical vapor deposition equipmentChemical vapor deposition (CVD) equipment refers to a class of specialized apparatus used in the process of chemical vapor...
photochemical hole burningA method of producing disks for erasable optical data storage. Information is recorded by a laser beam that generates pits...
crystalA solid with a structure that exhibits a basically symmetrical and geometrical arrangement. A crystal may already possess...
mosaicOne surface of a nonconducting plate that is coated with many minute particles of photoemissive material that are insulated...
ablative photodecompositionAblation applied to polymers and chemical solids. Process of material removal that minimizes edge damage but will not heat...
interstellar absorption linesSharp and narrow absorption lines found in the spectra of stars. They result from the absorption of a part of a star's...
optics of materialThe area of optics that deals with the interaction of light with a given material. The optical properties of material are...
blind approach beacon systemA ground-based navigation beacon that emits pulsed signals which are picked up by aircraft making an instrument (blind)...
laser Q-spoilerA fast-action shutter inserted between one end of a laser rod and the end mirror; when inserted to prevent emission and then...
multispectral imagingMultispectral imaging is a technique that involves capturing and analyzing images at multiple discrete spectral bands within...
electron-gun systemAn electron-gun system is an assembly used to generate and control a focused beam of electrons. Electron guns find...
chemical-mechanical polishingA technique for polishing silicon in which an alkaline suspension containing silicon dioxide particles creates a soft layer...
flame excitationThe use of high temperatures, between 2000 and 3000 °C, to excite emission lines from a sample in spectroscopic...
half-shade plateA semicircular, half-wave quartz plate between the polarizer and analyzer. It often is used in forming precision settings...
detemA device in which the functions of optical detector and emitter are combined.
infrared-emitting diodeA semiconductor device with a semiconductor junction in which infrared radiant flux is nonthermally produced when a current...
biophotonicsThe technology that deals with the interaction of organic materials with light and other forms of radiant energy whose...
actinometerA device that measures the intensity of photochemically active radiation, particularly from the sun. One form of this...
photonic crystalsPhotonic crystals are artificial structures or materials designed to manipulate and control the flow of light in a manner...
germanium detectorA type of photoconductive detector in which germanium, usually doped with boron, gallium and indium, serves as a...
organic light-emitting diodeAn organic light-emitting diode (OLED) is a type of light-emitting diode (LED) technology that utilizes organic compounds to...
STED microscopySTED microscopy, or stimulated emission depletion microscopy, is a superresolution imaging technique in fluorescence...
chelate laserA laser having a rare-earth chelate within a plastic host as the lasing material. The chelate laser is easily pumped and has...
radiant intensityThe radiant energy emitted within a time period per unit solid angle, usually measured in watts per steradian.
heat waveIn reference to infrared, emissions that are like radio waves but that have a higher frequency.
solar cellA device for converting sunlight into electrical energy, consisting of a sandwich of P-type and N-type semiconducting...
beta fluorographyThe use of a short-duration electron beam to record high-speed events that occur in microscopic objects made of materials...
metal arcThe electrical arc formed between metal rods that emits the spectrum of the metal itself. Commonly used in the chemical...
actinic radiationElectromagnetic energy that is capable of producing photochemical activity.
accelerometerAn accelerometer is a sensor or transducer that measures the rate of change of velocity of an object, or in simpler terms,...
modified chemical vapor depositionModified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) is a technique used in the fabrication of optical fibers. It is a specialized form...
horizon detectorAn infrared device used in satellites and rockets to determine a heat horizon for the Earth at altitudes (above 200 miles)...
electron deviceAny device in which the passage of electrons through a vacuum, gas or semiconductor is the principal means of conduction.
piezoelectric motion systemsPiezoelectric motion systems are mechanical systems that utilize piezoelectric materials to generate controlled motion or...
lasing thresholdThe lowest excitation power level at which a laser's output is mainly the result of stimulated emission rather than...
infrared jammingA countermeasure used against heat seeking missiles to reduce their effectiveness. Normally it involves the emittance of...
anomalous photoconductivityA spectral phenomenon in which the degree of the photoresponse of an illuminated semiconductor is determined by the...
carrier injectionCarrier injection refers to the process of introducing charge carriers (either electrons or holes) into a semiconductor...
rare earth dopantsRare earth dopants refer to elements from the lanthanide series, also known as rare earth elements, that are intentionally...
near-infrared spectrometerA near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer is an analytical instrument used to measure the absorption, transmission, or reflection...
thermographyThermography is a technique that involves the use of an infrared imaging device, called a thermal camera or infrared camera,...
endoscopeAn endoscope is a medical device used for visualizing and examining the interior of hollow organs, body cavities, or...
laser rangefinderA laser rangefinder is a device that uses laser technology to measure the distance between the device and a target. It...
optical bistabilityThe phenomenon that can render an optical resonator the equivalent of a semiconductor flip-flop. A bistable device will...
bright-line spectrumAn emission spectrum consisting of bright bands against a dark background.
reticleAn optical element located at an image plane, containing a pattern that assists in pointing an instrument or measuring...
three-level laserA laser having a material, such as ruby, that has an energy state structure of three levels: the ground state (1) wherein...
Schottky-barrier IRCCDA form of infrared CCD that utilizes internal photoemission as a photodetection mechanism.
junction diodeA semiconductor device with the property of conducting current more easily in one direction than the other. It has two...
infrared mappingThe process of mapping the infrared emittance of an area through the use of an infrared detector and related scanning...
fiber optic spectrometerA fiber optic spectrometer is a device used for measuring the spectral content of light. It utilizes optical fibers to...
chirpingA rapid change, as opposed to a long-term drift, of the emission wavelength of an optical source. Chirping is most often...
spectrophotometerA spectrophotometer is a scientific instrument used to measure the intensity of light at various wavelengths in the...
KynarPennwalt's trade name for polyvinylidene fluoride, a material used in the jacket of fiber optic cables where low smoke...
microcombA microcomb, short for microresonator frequency comb, is a novel photonic device that generates a precise series of evenly...
frequency combA frequency comb is a precise and regular series of equally spaced spectral lines, or frequencies, that are generated with...
calorimetryCalorimetry is a branch of science that involves the measurement of heat flow in physical or chemical processes. It...
flame spectroscopyThe study of flames by means of a laser emitting blue light and a spectrometer to measure the green fluorescence created by...
scientific complementary metal-oxide semiconductorScientific complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (sCMOS) refers to a type of image sensor technology specifically designed...
InGaAs photodiodeAn InGaAs photodiode refers to a photodetector device that is constructed using a semiconductor material composed of a...
repetitively pulsed laserA pulsed laser that emits a recurring pulsed output. Frequency of the pulses emitted is known as pulsed recurrence frequency...
complementary metal-oxide semiconductorComplementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) refers to a technology used in the fabrication of integrated circuits,...
optical coherence tomographyOptical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique used in medical and scientific fields to capture...
field emission displayAn X-Y electrically addressable series of arrays with individual electron emitters bombarding a phosphor-coated transparent...
optically pumped laserA laser in which stimulated emission is triggered by the absorption by electrons of light from an auxiliary source such as a...
photoelectric constantThe constant that, multiplied by the frequency of the radiation-producing emission of photoelectrons, determines the amount...
vertical external cavity surface-emitting laserA laser that has a surface-emitting semiconductor gain element coupled to an external mirror designed to complete the laser...
integrated photonicsIntegrated photonics is a field of study and technology that involves the integration of optical components, such as lasers,...
nanopositioningNanopositioning refers to the precise and controlled movement or manipulation of objects or components at the nanometer...
spontaneous emissionRadiation emitted when a quantum mechanical system drops spontaneously from an excited level to a lower level. This...
phosphor persistenceThe property of a phosphor that determines its ability to emit light for a time after the stimulus has been extinguished....
racemicInactive optically, but having the capacity for resolution into forms of opposed optical activity. The term is derived from...
homojunctionA junction between semiconductors that differ in their doping level conductivities but not in their atomic or alloy...
diode laserA diode laser is a type of laser that uses a semiconductor diode as the active medium to generate coherent light....
image intensifierAn image intensifier, also known as an image intensification tube or image intensification device, is a specialized...
distributed feedback laserA distributed feedback laser (DFB laser) is a type of semiconductor laser diode designed to emit coherent, narrow-bandwidth...
electron spectroscopyThe theory and interpretation of spectra produced by the electron emissions of substances after their irradiation by x-rays.
radiant efficiencyThe ratio of the radiant flux emitted by a source to the power supplied.
lateral modeIn a diode laser, a mode in the plane of the active layer that is perpendicular to the direction of the emitted beam.
color conversion filterA filter that serves to alter the color temperature and the mired value of the radiation emitted by a source.
photomultiplier tubeA photomultiplier tube (PMT) is a highly sensitive vacuum tube that detects and amplifies low levels of light. It is widely...
point source lampA lamp, usually incandescent, that has a very compact filament, permitting a greater concentration of emitted light, aided...
remote sensingRemote sensing is a method of data collection and observation where information about objects, areas, or phenomena on...
radiometryRatiometry is a technique used in various scientific fields, particularly in analytical chemistry and biochemistry, to...
N-type materialA quadrivalent semiconductor material, with electrons as the majority charge carriers, that is formed by doping with donor...
laser active elementsLaser active elements typically refers to the substances or materials within a laser system that play a critical role in the...
galvanoluminescenceThe emission of radiant energy produced by the passage of an electrical current through an appropriate electrolyte in which...
cesium 134An isotope of cesium that emits negative beta particles and has a half-life of 2.19 years; its applications include...
laser dyeClass of organic dyes that emit coherent radiation over a wide spectral range.
multiphoton processA process involving the interaction (absorption, emission or both) of two or more photons with a molecular entity.
photopolymerA polymer produced as a result of photochemical processes.
semifinishedA term used to describe a spectacle lens or blank with one surface totally finished.
spectral lineA narrow range of emitted or absorbed wavelengths.
FTIR spectrometerFTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectrometer is a powerful analytical instrument used to obtain an infrared spectrum of...
leading edge spikeIn a sequence of laser pulse emissions, the intitial pulse that often helps initiate a reaction at the target surface,...
broadband dielectric mirrorsBroadband dielectric mirrors, also known as broadband mirrors, are optical coatings designed to efficiently reflect or...
protective coatingA film applied to a coated or uncoated optical surface primarily for protecting this surface from mechanical abrasion, from...
optical testing instrumentAn optical testing instrument is a device or system used to evaluate and measure the performance, quality, and...
shot noiseNoise generated by the random variations in the number and velocity of the electrons from an emitter.
gas photocellA photoemissive cell having an inert gas added to its envelope. Subsequent ionization of the gas increases the responsivity...
organic dyeAny organic substance, that when dissolved in appropriate liquid based solvents will absorb and emit electromagnetic...
xenon arcThe arc formed when the rare gas xenon is excited electrically and emits a brilliant white light. Xenon is used to fill...
varactorA semiconductor diode that exhibits change in capacitance with a change in applied voltage; used as a voltage-variable...
photomaskA photomask, also known simply as a mask or reticle, is a key component in the photolithography process used in...
scaling lawIn coherence theory, an optical law put forth by physicist Emil Wolf that explains the behavior of light as it travels away...
autopositiveAny photographic medium that, when chemically developed, produces an exact photographic reproduction of the original.
electron emitterIn a cathode tube, the electrode that serves as a source for electrons.
photosensitive recordingThe recording achieved when a surface, illuminated by a signal-controlled light beam, emits electrons or reacts in some...
free radicalsShort-lived molecular or atomic particles, with an unpaired electron, that play an important part in many photochemical...
fluorescence lifetimeFluorescence lifetime refers to the average time it takes for a fluorophore, a molecule that absorbs light at one wavelength...
laser detectorDevice that operates by interaction of incident radiation with semiconductor based material in order to produce an...
dot matrix displayA display format consisting of small light-emitting elements arranged as a two-dimensional array. Various elements are...
radiation thermocoupleA thermocouple that is used in infrared spectroscopy to detect a sample's infrared emittance. See thermocouple.
reactive evaporationReactive evaporation refers to a process in thin-film deposition where a material is deposited onto a substrate through...
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assayAn enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a laboratory technique used to detect and measure the presence of specific...
flow cytometryFlow cytometry is a powerful technique used in biology and medicine for the quantitative analysis of the physical and...
laser-mediated gene transferLaser-mediated gene transfer refers to a technique in molecular biology and genetic engineering that utilizes lasers to...
hydrogelA hydrogel is a three-dimensional network of polymer chains that are hydrophilic, meaning they have a strong affinity for...
stacked-diode laserA type of laser used when a great amount of power is required. Avoiding the bulk of large numbers of optical lenses, this...
stibine gasThe purest gas source of antimony, which is used in the manufacture of compound semiconductors for IR sensors and...
femtosecond laserA femtosecond laser is a type of laser that emits ultrashort pulses of light with durations on the order of femtoseconds,...
intensified charge-coupled device cameraAn intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) camera is an advanced imaging device that combines the capabilities of both an...
positroniumBasically, a hydrogen atom with two alterations, positronium is the lightest atom in the universe and has an extremely light...
native fluorescenceThe light emitted from tissues without the use of fluorescent dyes as markers. Because cancerous tissues and normal tissues...
spectral flow cytometrySpectral flow cytometry is an advanced flow cytometry technique that expands the capabilities of traditional flow cytometry...
fiber laserA fiber laser is a type of laser in which the active gain medium is an optical fiber doped with rare-earth ions such as...
scanning electron microscopyScanning electron microscopy (SEM) is an advanced imaging technique used in microscopy to obtain high-resolution,...
electrochemistryThe study of the reversible conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy. Electroplating is an electrochemical...
line-scan cameraA line-scan camera, also known as a line-scan image sensor or linear array camera, is a type of digital camera designed to...
carbonizationCarbonization is a process in which organic materials are heated in the absence of air, leading to the decomposition of the...
charge-injection deviceA charge-injection device (CID) refers to a class of devices that manipulate and detect electrical charge within a...
reagentA reagent is a substance or compound that is used in a chemical reaction to bring about a specific transformation or to...
core-coupled lensA semispherical or conical lens created directly on the core of an optical fiber to focus light from a laser into the fiber...
emissivityThe ratio of an object's radiance to that emitted by a blackbody radiator at the same temperature and at the same wavelength.
double-beam spectrophotometerA spectrophotometer in which the beam emitted by the radiation source is split into beams that travel through the sample and...
semilenticular screenA projection screen having vertical ribs or flutes set into a plastic surface.
photographic photometryA form of photometric measurement, often used with light sources that are transparent or fluctuating, in which a...
laser photochemistryThe study concerned with the stimulation of chemical activity by laser light as a result of the absorption of photons by a...
overcoatA layer of material applied to a coated surface to protect it from physical or chemical action.
combinerA semitransparent mirror in an optical system that combines two or more output beams into a single coaxial beam.
thin-film semiconductorA semiconductor formed by applying a particular single-crystal layer to the specific insulator.
free-space opticsFree-space optics (FSO), also known as optical wireless communication or optical wireless networking, refers to the...
photolysisThe photochemical reaction of light present in the decomposition of a substance.
impurity levelIn the context of optical materials, the term "impurity level" refers to the presence of foreign atoms or molecules within...
McClatchey modelCalculation of gas and aerosol transmission and emission characteristics for several model atmospheres, including two model...
chromatographyThe chemical method of separating compounds dissolved in one phase (usually mobile) through its equilibration with a second...
phase conjugationThe use of a reflective device, which can be fashioned from a variety of materials including gases, solids, dyes, aerosols,...
flux rise timeTime elapsed during the radiant output change from 10 to 90 percent of maximum in a light-emitting diode or laser. Usually...
laser spark spectroscopyA method of analysis in which a pulsed laser beam is used to heat a particle, producing a plasma, or laser spark. As the...
coincidence circuitElectronic circuit capable of distinguishing the pulses emitted by separate counters in a given time phase and determining...
metamerismIn colorimetry, the phenomenon in which spectrally different radiations produce the same color sensation for a given...
infrared homingThe tracking of a target by its infrared emittance. See heatseeker.
active regionThe layer of material in a laser diode from which the optical radiation is emitted; light producing region
bremsstrahlungElectromagnetic radiation that is emitted by an electron as it is accelerated or decelerated while moving through the...
beaconA device, either visual or electronic, that emits signals to identify set positions for use in the navigation of aircraft...
near-infrared cameraA near-infrared (NIR) camera is an imaging device designed to capture images in the near-infrared region of the...
Doppler effectThe effect produced on a wave frequency because of the relative motion of a source or an observer. The radiation emitted...
two-sixReferring to compound semiconductor materials combining one element with two valence electrons and one or more with six....
maserAn acronym for microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Predecessor to the laser, the maser or...
negative-electron-affinity photocathodeA photocathode having a P-type semiconductor with a work function less than its bandgap. The photocathode can release a...
single-molecule spectroscopyAn advanced technique that allows the detection of one molecule within a crystal or a cell through optical excitation....
auroraThe strongest light emitted by the Earth's upper atmosphere. It most often can be viewed in the Arctic as the aurora...
Hertz effectThe ionization and spark emission due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Raman spectroscopyRaman spectroscopy is a technique used in analytical chemistry and physics to study vibrational, rotational, and other...
photoelectric emissionThe electron emission from a substance or instrument whose surface has been bombarded by a suitable amount of radiation.
pulsarAn astronomical body that emits radiation concentrated by a strong magnetic field into two beams that rotate, giving a...
photoacoustic imagingAbbreviated PAI. An imaging modality with a hybrid technique based on the acoustic detection of optical absorption from...
continuous spectrumThe radiation spectrum of matter found in condensed states, liquid or solid, that is continuous and not a line spectrum. The...
responsive quantum efficiencyThe number of electrons emitted per photon incident upon a photodetector.
Franz-Keldysh effectObserved lengthening in wavelengths of the optical absorption edge of a semiconductor with the application of an electric...
PIN photodiodeA PIN photodiode is a type of photodetector or semiconductor device used to convert light signals into electrical signals....
mass spectrometryAn instrumental technique that utilizes the mass-to-charge ratio of charged particles as recorded from a mass spectrometer...
masks for evaporation/depositionIn the context of thin film deposition processes such as evaporation or sputtering, masks are used to selectively deposit...
Rydberg atomThe term "Rydberg atom" refers to an atom in a highly excited state where one or more of its electrons are in a Rydberg...
lidarLidar, short for light detection and ranging, is a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances and...
gallium arsenide injection laserA laser system consisting of a planar PN junction within a single crystal of gallium arsenide. The pair of parallel,...
near-infrared spectroscopyNear-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive analytical technique that uses the near-infrared region of the...
photochemistryThe study of chemical reactions stimulated by the properties of light.
reactorIn chemistry, a device in which a chemical reaction takes place. In electronics, a device that introduces reactance into a...
substrateA substrate refers to a material or surface upon which another material or process is applied or deposited. In various...
Lippich prismA small half-shade analyzer placed in the eyepiece of a polarimeter to determine the character of the polarized light...
convergent beam sensing modeA type of photoelectric proximity mode sensing incorporating a lens system to focus the light from the emitter in a small,...
leachingThe process of removing some of the constituents of a glass surface by chemical action.
flexible displayA flexible display refers to a type of electronic visual display that is designed to be bendable, foldable, or rollable,...
photodischarge spectroscopyA spectroscopic process that detects and analyzes the discharge from an extrinsic surface with less than bandgap light. This...
multistripe arrayA monolithic laser diode incorporating multiple coupled emitters.
injection luminescent diodeA semiconductor diode operating in either a coherent or incoherent mode that is used as a near-infrared or visible source in...
flame spectrometryThe procedure applied to flame-excited line emissions to determine spectra and wavelengths.
cyanometerAn instrument designed to measure the proportion of light emitted by a source in the blue region of the spectrum.
image dissector tubeAn electron tube that is used as a camera tube for a television system. When the picture to be transmitted is focused on a...
electroless platingThe deposition of a metallic coating, usually nickel, on a component by chemical means rather than by electroplating; the...
Brucke loupeA telemicroscope in which a negative eyepiece is used to produce erect images.
gray bodyA temperature radiator whose spectral emissivity at all wavelengths is in constant ratio (less than unity) to that of a...
Mach-Zehnder interferometerA Mach-Zehnder interferometer is an optical device used to measure the phase difference between two collimated beams of...
cathode emission
spectral repeatabilitySpectral repeatability refers to the consistency and reproducibility of spectral measurements across multiple trials or...
spectrum light sourceA lamp that yields a nonluminous flame; used in the spectroscopic analysis of radiation emitted by a substance placed in the...
physisorptionA type of adsorption in which the adsorbed layer is attached to the adsorbent surface by an attractive force between the...
radiation temperatureThe temperature of a complete radiator that has a total radiant emittance identical to that of an unknown resource.
mid-infrared cameraA mid-infrared camera is a type of imaging device designed to capture images in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral range,...
lambertian source planeIn optics, a plane that emits a flux proportional to the cosine of the angle of the normal; dense opal glass is an example.
dark beamA precision-engineered microminiature light source that is safe for darkroom use, yet emits a beam of light bright enough to...
optical switchingOptical switching refers to the process of controlling the routing or transmission of optical signals within a network using...
Nernst glowerA Nernst glower, also known simply as a Nernst lamp or Nernst filament, is a type of incandescent lamp or radiant heater...
microfluidicsMicrofluidics is a multidisciplinary field that involves the manipulation and control of very small fluid volumes, typically...
gain-switchingGain-switching is a technique used in lasers to generate short pulses of light by modulating the gain of the laser medium....
luminous emittanceLuminous flux emitted per unit area of a source, expressed as lumens per area.
population inversionThe condition in which there are more atomic systems in the upper of two energy levels than in the lower, so stimulated...
nonthermal radiationThe radiation emitted from a group of charged particles that does not depend on the temperature of the source in which those...
swept-source laserA swept-source laser, also known as a wavelength-swept laser, is a type of laser that rapidly and continuously changes its...
light amplifierA device that serves to emit light of the same wavelength as the input light, only with an increase in intensity. It may be...
metaboliteA metabolite is any small molecule that is a product of metabolism, the chemical processes that occur within living...
pulsed laser depositionA technique for depositing a material coating on metal, ceramic, semiconductor or polymer substrates. The interaction of...
photonic integrated circuitA photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is a compact and integrated device that incorporates multiple photonic components and...
spectral power distributionThe relative power emitted by a source as a function of wavelength. It determines the color-rendering properties of the...
plasmon ion-assisted depositionPlasmon ion-assisted deposition (PIAD) is a technique used in thin-film deposition processes, particularly in the production...
resonance radiationThat radiation emitted by an atom or molecule that has the same frequency as that of an incident particle; e.g., a photon....
hemispherical cavityLaser cavity bounded by a plane mirror and a concave spherical mirror with the plane mirror located at the center of...
Fermi-Dirac functionThe mathematical expression of the probability of any given state of energy being occupied when a semiconductor is in...
x-radiographyRadiography using the emission of x-rays to form an image of the structure penetrated by the radiation.
metallorganic chemical vapor depositionA method of growing single crystals in which atoms and molecules from gaseous organic compounds interact and form a layer on...
photochromatic compoundA chemical compound that exhibits a reversible change in its absorption spectrum upon irradiation with given wavelengths of...
adsorption indicatorA chemical placed in a solution that will indicate when an excess of a substance or ion has been reached by coloring the...
immunohistochemistryImmunohistochemistry (IHC) is a method for detecting antigens or haptens in cells of a tissue section by using labeled...
extrinsic propertiesThe properties exhibited by a semiconductor as the result of its modification by imperfections and impurities in the crystal.
electroforming processAn electrochemical process of metal fabrication using an electrolyte, an anode to supply the metal, and a control of the...
einsteinA unit of energy equal to the amount of energy absorbed by one molecule of material undergoing a photochemical reaction, as...
resonance spectrumThe fluorescent emission spectrum emitted by certain substances following the irradiation of one of these substances with...
multimodality imagingA technique that combines two or more imaging processes in order to minimize the disadvantages within each of the...
photobiomodulationA light therapy that utilizes nonionizing light sources, including lasers, LEDs, and broadband light, in the visible and...
fiber optic sensorA fiber optic sensor is a device that uses optical fibers to detect and measure physical, chemical, biological, or...
well plateA well plate, also known as a microplate or microtiter plate, is a flat plate with multiple small wells or depressions...
image enhancement laserA semiconductor platelet laser that emits a coherent image by means of plane optical pumping over the platelet surface, and...
microchannel plateA microchannel plate (MCP) is a specialized electron multiplier device used in various applications such as particle...
monomerA molecule that has the ability to chemically combine with other molecules to form a polymer, hence being capable of being...
photoemission
bleach (or bleacher)A chemical used in the developing of positive photographs that incites oxidation and thereby dissolves the negative silver...
environmental parametersPotential hazards to a system's application and installation, including temperature variations, chemical reactivity,...
laser pointerHandheld optical laser device containing a semiconductor or DPSS source. The output is corrected via internal collimating...
astronomyThe scientific observation of celestial radiation that has reached the vicinity of Earth, and the interpretation of these...
excess noise factorA factor, F, indicating the increase in shot noise in an avalanche photodiode as compared with the ideal multiplier, which...
three-fiveReferring to compound semiconductor materials combining one element that has three valence electrons with one or more that...
photodetectorA photodetector, also known as a photosensor or photodiode, is a device that detects and converts light into an electrical...
photoacoustic spectroscopyA method for obtaining the optical absorption spectra of solids, semisolids, liquids and gases. PAS is inherently...
monoergicPertaining to radiation or particle emission, whereby the emission is produced with minimal energy spread.
photonicsThe technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. The...
optical ceramicsTransparent glassy and or crystalline structured materials engineered from inorganic, non-metallic materials via various...
flow chemistryFlow chemistry, also known as continuous-flow chemistry, is a chemical manufacturing process where reactions take place in a...
transparencyAn image affixed to a transparent photographic film or plate by photographic, printing or chemical methods. It may be viewed...
photochromicPhotochromic refers to a property exhibited by certain materials, typically organic compounds or dyes, which undergo...
Abbe-Porro prismA reflecting prism that inverts the image. The image is reflected four times internally and emitted laterally. The prism is...
self-absorptionIn optical emission spectroscopy, the reduction in radiant power in the central portion of spectral lines arising from the...
annealingThe process of heating and slowly cooling a solid material, like glass or metal, to stabilize its thermal, electrical or...
optofluidicsOptofluidics is an interdisciplinary field that combines principles from optics and fluidics to create devices and systems...
graserAn acronym of gamma ray amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. It is a gamma ray laser that operates between...
lambertian emitterAn optical source that has a luminous distribution that is uniform for all directions.
chemical microscopyThe field of microscopy as applied to chemical problems and analysis.
wide-field fluorescence microscopyWide-field fluorescence microscopy uses either naturally occurring structures or staining with fluorescent tags that are...
line-narrowed laserA semiconductor laser in which the naturally occurring broad linewidth has been narrowed by incorporating the laser diode...
hyperchromic shiftHyperchromic shift refers to an increase in the absorption of light, leading to a higher absorbance, often observed in...
3D laser line profile sensorA 3D profile sensor, also known as a 3D profiling sensor or 3D depth sensor, is a technology that is used to capture and...
blackbody sourceA blackbody source, often simply referred to as a blackbody, is a theoretical or practical physical object that absorbs all...
phenotypeIn biology, particularly genetics and evolutionary biology, the phenotype refers to the observable characteristics or traits...
emission spectroscopyA study of the energies and wavelengths of radiation emitted by atoms and molecules when particular physical conditions are...
diodeA two-electrode device with an anode and a cathode that passes current in only one direction. It may be designed as an...
light-emitting diodeAn LED, or light emitting diode, is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs...
packing fractionThe ratio of the active core area of a fiber bundle to the total area at its light-emitting or receiving end.
carbon dioxide laserA gas laser in which the energy-state transitions between vibrational and rotational states of CO2 molecules give emission...
germanium crystalGermanium crystal refers to a crystalline form of the element germanium (Ge), which is a metalloid and semiconductor...
directed energyDirected energy refers to a type of energy that is emitted and transferred in a controlled direction. The term is often...
crystal diodeA diode with a semiconducting material, such as germanium or silicon, for one electrode, and a fine wire "whisker''...
near-infrared spectroscopy cerebral oximetryA monitoring technique used to measure the oxygen saturation levels in the brains of patients, commonly in operating room...
chemical actinometerA light-sensitive detector having a chemical compound that reacts when exposed to light. It is used in photochemistry and...
waferIn the context of electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, a wafer refers to a thin, flat disk or substrate made of a...
darkeningThe formation of a dark-colored film on a metal surface by chemical activity.
emissometryThe use of a material's emissivity to measure absorption. It is useful as an absorption loss measurement technique, since at...
ground stateAlso known as ground level. The lowest energy level of an atom or atomic system. A material in the ground state is not...
emission spectrumAn emission spectrum is a graphical representation or a characteristic pattern of the wavelengths or frequencies of light...
filament emissionThe freeing of electrons from a filament in an electron tube as the result of the filament being heated by an electric...
photovoltaicPhotovoltaic (PV) refers to a technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductors. The term...
mode beatingIn optics, "mode beating" refers to an interference phenomenon that can occur in laser systems with multiple longitudinal...
Nd:YAG laserNd:YAG laser refers to a solid-state laser that utilizes neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:Y3Al5O12) as the gain...
PP junctionA transition boundary between two regions having different properties in a P-type semiconducting material.
side-lit cableA type of fiber optic cable that emits light from its sides along its length.
luminescent fiberFiber that emits luminescent radiation excited by ultraviolet, x-ray or high-energy particles.
Bohr's frequency relationThe law given by the formula:
that is, the frequency of radiation emitted or absorbed by a system when E2 and E1...
pulsed laserA laser that emits energy in a series of short bursts or pulses and that remains inactive between each burst or pulse. The...
single-photon emission computed tomographyA medical imaging method in which gamma camera heads rotate about the patient to detect radionuclides, enabling physicians...
GaN-based LEDsGallium nitride-based light-emitting diodes (GaN-based LEDs) are semiconductor devices that emit light when an electric...
quantum efficiencyQuantum efficiency (QE) is a measure of the effectiveness with which a device or system, typically in the context of...
image amplifierAn electro-optic system using, in general form, an evacuated glass envelope with a semitransparent photocathode at one end...
electron image tubeA cathode-ray tube that increases the brightness or size of an image or forms a visible image from invisible radiation. The...
sodium light sourceAn electric discharge lamp in which the conducting vapor is that of metallic sodium instead of the usual mercury. It emits a...
optical glassOptical glass refers to a type of glass specifically engineered and manufactured for use in optical components and systems,...
covalent crystalA crystal formed by covalent bonds that are generally highly directional by nature. The electric characteristics of these...
vertical-cavity laser diodeA type of surface-emitting laser diode that uses dielectric mirrors to produce surface emission. The laser cavity is...
hyperspectral imagingHyperspectral imaging is an advanced imaging technique that captures and processes information from across the...
digital holographic microscopyDigital holographic microscopy (DHM) is an advanced imaging technique that combines holography and digital image processing...
diffuse reflectance spectroscopyDiffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) is a nondestructive analytical technique used to investigate the optical properties...
neutral density wedgeA strip or annulus of glass coated with a semitransparent material such as inconel. The coating thickness, and as a result...
fluoro-immunosensorA fiber optic device that uses a HeNe laser, beamsplitter, monochromator and photomultiplier to detect trace levels of...
superfluorescenceThe process in which the normal rate of fluorescent emission from a substance is enhanced by virtue of the optical gain of...
detector arrayA detector array refers to a collection of individual detector elements arranged in a two-dimensional grid or matrix format....
attosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopyAttosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopy (APAP) is an advanced technique in ultrafast spectroscopy that allows...
bacteriorhodopsinA light-harvesting protein found in the purple membrane of a micro-organism called Halobacterium halobium. The protein...
resonance fluorescenceIn atomic fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence emitted by an atom at a spectral line of a wavelength identical to that of...
infrared radiation sourceAny object that emits radiation of a wavelength lying between about 0.75 to 1000 µm. A calibrated secondary source...
self-luminous light sourceAny material that derives its energy from chemically or electrically induced reactions; isotope or radium excitation is used...
blackbodyAn ideal body that completely absorbs all radiant energy striking it and, therefore, appears perfectly black at all...
radiation trappingThat process by which radiation spontaneously emitted by a volume of optical materials is resonantly reabsorbed within the...
CID cameraCID, or charge injection device, camera refers to a type of imaging device that utilizes a specific kind of solid-state...
full width half maximumFull width half maximum (FWHM) is a measure of the extent of a function. Given by the difference between the two extreme...
GaN distributed feedback lasersGaN (Gallium Nitride) distributed feedback (DFB) lasers refer to a specific type of semiconductor laser based on Gallium...
neodymium:YAGLiterally, neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet. A cylindrical rod of yttrium-aluminum-garnet doped with neodymium that is the...
photoelectric absorptionThe transformation of incident radiant energy into a photoelectric emission current.
chalcogenideChalcogenide refers to a class of compounds containing elements from group 16 of the periodic table, which includes sulfur...
light-activated silicon-controlled rectifierA PN-PN device with incident light taking the place of gate current; three of the four semiconductor regions are available...
total fluxThe luminous flux emitted by a light source in all directions.
radiationThe emission and/or propagation of energy through space or through a medium in the form of either waves or corpuscular...
lumenA lumen is a unit of measurement used to quantify the amount of luminous flux, which is the perceived power of light. In...
metabolic imagingMetabolic imaging refers to the visualization and quantification of metabolic processes within living organisms, tissues, or...
nanoparticle photonic resonator absorption microscopyNanoparticle photonic resonator absorption microscopy is a microscopy technique that combines the principles of photonic...
high harmonic generationHigh harmonic generation (HHG) refers to a nonlinear optical process in which intense laser light interacts with a gaseous...
Förster resonance energy transferFörster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a mechanism describing the transfer of energy between two closely spaced...
hyperspectral resolutionHyperspectral resolution refers to the level of detail or granularity in the spectral information captured by a...
actinochemistryThe study of chemical changes produced by radiation.
laser-induced fluorescenceLaser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is a spectroscopic technique that involves using a laser to excite molecules or atoms,...
GRIN lensA GRIN (gradient index) lens is a type of optical lens that utilizes a gradient in refractive index across its volume rather...
isocandela diagramIndication of emission brightness with degree of emission from an optical source.
resonatorA resonator is a device or system that exhibits resonance, which is a phenomenon that occurs when an external force or...
thermoelectric solar cellA solar cell that uses a thermoelectric converter, consisting of two sheets of metal with a semiconductor sandwiched between...
dopingIn the context of materials science and semiconductor physics, doping refers to the intentional introduction of impurities...
ultraviolet fiber opticsUltraviolet (UV) fiber optics refers to optical fibers that are designed and optimized for the transmission of ultraviolet...
time-to-amplitude converterA time-to-amplitude converter (TAC) is an electronic circuit that converts a time interval between two events into an...
heat lampA lamp designed to emit a large amount of infrared radiation; used in applications requiring heat.
mode-locked lasersMode-locking is a technique used in lasers to produce ultrashort pulses of light with durations on the order of picoseconds,...
photoelectric pyrometerAn instrument used to measure the temperature of a source through the use of photoelectric cells to detect and measure the...
photoemissive effect
flat panel displayAn electronic display in which a flat screen is formed by an orthogonal array of display devices, such as electroluminescent...
electromagnetic radiationRadiation emitted from vibrating charged particles. A combination of oscillating electrical and magnetic fields that...
radioactivity detectorAn instrument used to detect radioactive materials: alpha particles or helium nuclei; beta particles or free electrons; and...
helium-neon laserA helium-neon (HeNe) laser is a type of gas laser that emits visible red light at a wavelength of 632.8 nm. It operates...
relative equilibriumThe steady state of temperature exhibited by a material that has absorbed and emitted radiation equally.
photoluminescenceThe state of optically excited luminescence. Luminescence refers to the light emitted by excited atoms or ions as they decay...
histochemical stainingHistochemical staining is a laboratory technique used in biology and medicine to visualize specific chemical components...
luminanceLuminous flux emitted from a surface per unit solid angle per unit of area, projected onto a plane normal to the direction...
field patternIntensity of emission as a function of direction in a given plane.
cold cathodeA cathode that emits electrons, not with the influence of heat radiation, but by means of a high-voltage gradient at its...
opticsOptics is the branch of physics that studies the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter...
phosphorA chemical substance that exhibits fluorescence when excited by ultraviolet radiation, x-rays or an electron beam. The...
Kerr effectThe Kerr effect, named after the physicist John Kerr who first observed it in 1875, is a nonlinear optical phenomenon where...
continuous waveContinuous wave (CW) refers to a type of signal or transmission where the signal is constant and does not vary with time. In...
single-photon-decay spectroscopyA technique for observing the decay of light emissions from sources following their pulsed excitations, based on recording...
radiation angleHalf the vertex angle of the cone of light emitted by a fiber.
photochemical detectorAn instrument used to detect and measure radiant energy by the formation of a chemical reaction.
Planck's (radiation) lawThe formula describing the spectral radiant emittance of a perfect blackbody as a function of its temperature and the...
electron storage ringAn advanced magnetic device used in x-ray lithography to beam x-rays onto the surface of silicon wafers used for...
fused quartz and silicaFused quartz and silica are closely related materials, both composed primarily of silicon dioxide (SiO2), but they are...
grown-junction photocellA photodiode that has been designed so that the bar of semiconductor material has a PN junction perpendicular to its length...
Cerenkov counterAn instrument that detects high-energy charged particles by analysis of the Cerenkov radiation that they emit.
direct laser interference patterningAlso called DLIP, a high-speed, high-resolution processing technique that uses high-power, pulsed laser systems to directly...
ultrafast laserAn ultrafast laser is a type of laser that emits extremely short pulses of light with durations typically on the order of...
unijunction transistorA three-terminal semiconductor having only one PN junction and a stable, open-circuit, negative-resistance property.
interference spectrumThe spectrum produced by the interference of light provided that the source used to create the interference has a broad...
CCD cameraA CCD camera, or charge-coupled device camera, is a type of digital camera that utilizes a CCD image sensor to capture and...
circular dichroismCircular dichroism (CD) is a spectroscopic technique used to study the structural characteristics of chiral (asymmetric)...
spin-flip Raman laserA semiconductor laser that operates in the infrared and that is pumped with strong pulses of radiation from a second laser....
polyethyleneA material used to jacket fiber optic cables. It is chemical- and moisture-resistant, but not fire-resistant.
diffuse illuminationLight emitted by one or more sources and characterized by a high degree of scatter.
germaniumA crystalline semiconductor material that transmits in the infrared.
cathodoluminescenceLight produced when a metal is bombarded with high-velocity electrons causing small amounts of the metal to vaporize and...
backscatterBackscatter refers to the phenomenon in which radiation or waves are scattered backward, opposite to the direction of the...
differential absorption lidarA lidar (light detection and ranging) technique used in pollution monitoring. Two light beams are emitted simultaneously,...
incandescenceThe emission of light by thermal radiation of a temperature high enough to render the source of radiation visible.
infrared astronomyThe study and the interpretation of the infrared emittances of celestial bodies and phenomena.
photographic thermometryThe photographic recording of the heat radiation emitted from various points on the object as corresponding density...
hydrophobicHydrophobic is a term used to describe substances or materials that repel or do not readily interact with water. The word...
fluorescent light sourceA tube containing mercury vapor and lined with a phosphor. When current is passed through the vapor the strong ultraviolet...
luminous paintA mixture of phosphor with a trace of a radioactive element that emits faint light continually. It is used on watch dials...
zonal constantA factor that, when multiplied by the average candlepower emitted by a light source in a specified angular zone, reveals the...
kron cameraAstronomical detector consisting of a photocathode isolated from the target by a coin value from which electrons are focused...
metrologyMetrology is the science and practice of measurement. It encompasses the theoretical and practical aspects of measurement,...
monochromatic filterA filter that transmits a single spectral line emitted by a line source.
wavelength shifterA photofluorescent compound that, when used with a scintillating substance, absorbs photons and emits related photons having...
GaAlAs laserA GaAlAs laser is a type of semiconductor laser diode that emits light in the near-infrared region of the electromagnetic...
clear apertureThe limited light-gathering area of an optical system. The area is normally restricted to an edge or outer surface of an...
symmetry operationAny systemic process that ultimately reassembles all the system's components into their initial alignment, or an arrangement...
thermistorA solid-state semiconducting structure (basically one of the bolometers) that changes electrical resistance with...
conduction bandA partially filled or empty energy band through which electrons can move easily. The material can therefore carry an...
thermal radiationThe emission of radiant energy in which the energy emitted originates in the thermal motion of the atoms or molecules of the...
quantum confinementQuantum confinement refers to the phenomenon in quantum mechanics where the motion of charge carriers, such as electrons or...
radiacAn acronym for radioactive detection, identification and computation. The term refers to the detection and measurement of...
fluorescence decay systemA device, also called a fluorescence lifetime instrument, that measures decay curves of fluorescing samples. It generally...
polarizationPolarization refers to the orientation of oscillations in a transverse wave, such as light waves, radio waves, or other...
chiralityChirality is a property of certain molecules and objects in which they are non-superimposable on their mirror images. In...
continuous-wave laserA laser that emits radiation continuously rather than in short bursts, as in a pulsed laser.
anisophotic sourceA light source that emits an uneven distribution of radiant energy through the visible range.
noble gasA monatomic, chemically inert gas such as argon, neon, krypton and xenon.
arc flashAn arc flash is a sudden release of electrical energy due to an electric arc — a continuous, high-current discharge of...
direct-line fluorescenceWith respect to atomic fluorescence spectroscopy, the fluorescence that is emitted by an atom at a spectral line of a...
color center laserCertain color centers in the alkali halides have been optically pumped to produce efficient tunable pulsed and...
electrodeless discharge tubeA device consisting of an airtight quartz tube that holds the material to be analyzed. When a high-frequency electrostatic...
photoemissive tube photometerA photometer that uses a photoemissive tube to detect and measure light. See photoelectric photometry.
delay timeThe interval between direction of signal to a light-emitting diode and attainment of 10 percent output current in the...
semitransparent photocathodeA photocathode that receives radiation from one side and emits a photoelectric current from the opposite side.
field emission microscopeAn image-forming instrument in which a strong electrostatic field causes cold emission of electrons from a sharply rounded...
microfluoroscopeA fluoroscope equipped with a magnified, fine-grained fluorescent screen to determine the fluorescence emitted by a...
monitor currentIn a laser diode, the photocurrent produced by a photodiode that detects the emission from the rear facet of the...
amplified spontaneous emissionBroadband radiation emitted by a laser that does not transmit through the optical element. It can be removed by filtering.
Kirchhoff's lawFor any point on a thermal radiator, at thermal equilibrium and for each wavelength, the emissivity in any direction is...
plasmonicsPlasmonics is a field of science and technology that focuses on the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and free...
MSM photodiodeA metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodiode is a type of photodetector that consists of metal electrodes on a semiconductor...
laser-induced cut and patchA process used in the design, repair and customization of integrated circuits. A low-power laser etches a silicon wafer...
telluriumThe material favored for study of interaction of high-acoustic intensities with free carriers. Tellurium is the...
peak spectral emissionThe wavelength at which a lamp radiates its highest intensity.
bench photometerA device used to compare the luminous intensities of two sources by locating a point between the two light sources where the...
scintillation phosphorA phosphor that has the ability to convert into light emission a portion of energy lost by ionization when a charged...
microring resonatorA microring resonator is a compact optical device that utilizes the resonant behavior of light within a small ring-shaped...
laser crystalA laser crystal, also known as an active medium or gain medium, is a solid-state material used in the construction of...
nitrogen vacancyA nitrogen vacancy (NV) refers to a specific type of defect or impurity in a crystal lattice where a nitrogen atom replaces...
Van der WaalsVan der Waals forces refer to the attractive or repulsive forces between molecules (or parts of molecules) that arise from...
chemical laserA laser that relies on chemical activity instead of electrical energy to produce the pumping action necessary to form pulses...
epitaxial equipmentEpitaxial equipment refers to a set of specialized tools and systems used in the process of epitaxy, which is the growth of...
plasma laserOperates with light collectively emitted by the recombination of free electrons and ions in the plasma state.
channel electron multiplierA photoelectric detector consisting of a glass tube internally coated with a low conductance material. Voltage applied along...
vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopyA method of spectral analysis using wavelengths between 100 and 300 nm that utilizes both emission and absorption techniques.
spectroradiometerA spectroradiometer is a device used to measure the intensity of light at different wavelengths across the electromagnetic...
fluorescence microscopyFluorescence microscopy is a specialized optical imaging technique used in biology, chemistry, and materials science to...
diffraction gratingA diffraction grating is an optical component consisting of a surface with a periodic structure of equally spaced, parallel...
bipolarRefers to transistors in which the working current flows through two types of semiconductor material: N- and P-type. In...
photoemissive detectorAn electronic tube instrument in which the anode current varies with the intensity of light incident on the cathode.
radiant emittanceRadiant power emitted into a full sphere (4p steradians) by a unit area of a source; expressed in watts per square meter.
diode-pumped solid-state laserA diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) is a type of laser system that uses semiconductor diode lasers to pump energy into...
photonic cavityA photonic cavity, also known as an optical cavity, is a structure that confines electromagnetic radiation within a certain...
bioluminescenceHeatless light emissions from living organisms caused by the combination of oxygen and pigments such as luciferin.
infraredInfrared (IR) refers to the region of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths longer than those of visible light, but...
photovoltaic cellA photovoltaic cell, commonly known as a solar cell, is a semiconductor device that directly converts light energy into...
light penA handheld, light-sensitive device that is used with a display console to directly change, measure or erase the visual...
phototubeAn electron tube having a photocathode for the emission of a photoelectric current.
radiographic amplifier screenA solid-state panel of the photoconductor-electroluminescent type. The photoconductive layer, sensitive to x-rays, is coated...
indium antimonideA semiconductor material that is used as an infrared detector for light up to 5 µm in wavelength.
emittanceSee emissivity; exitance.
Mossbauer effect spectroscopySpectroscopy characterized by the Mossbauer effect - recoilless emission and absorption of nuclear gamma radiation- which...
x-ray streak cameraA diagnostic instrument that uses a photocathode design to see a broad range of x-ray radiation by streaking the...
developerA chemical solution that changes the silver salts (latent image) of exposed photographic film into black metallic silver...
electronicsThat branch of science involved in the study and utilization of the motion, emissions and behaviors of currents of...
computer-generated hologramA computer-generated hologram (CGH) is a holographic image produced using computational methods and algorithms, rather than...
transistorAn electronic device consisting of a semiconductor material, generally germanium or silicon, and used for rectification,...
halogenAny of the five elements astatine, chlorine, fluorine, bromine and iodine, grouped because their chemical properties are...
integration timeIntegration time, in the context of optics, imaging systems, and sensor technology, refers to the duration over which a...
excimer laserAn excimer laser is a type of ultraviolet laser that emits short pulses of light in the ultraviolet spectrum. The term...
infrared light sourceAn infrared light source is a device that emits light in the infrared spectrum, which lies beyond the visible spectrum of...
covered grooveA technique used in integrated optics where a groove is cut on a substrate surface and covered by a thin film to facilitate...
optoelectronicsOptoelectronics is a branch of electronics that focuses on the study and application of devices and systems that use light...
spectrographic electrodeThe hollow electrode used in emission spectroscopy to hold the material to be examined and, using an arc or spark source, to...
PN junctionThe transition boundary between P-type and N-type materials in a semiconductor.
band-to-band photoluminescenceThe emission of a photon by the return of an excited carrier from the conduction band to the valence band of a semiconductor...
resonanceResonance can be defined in various contexts, including physics, chemistry, and music. Here are definitions for resonance in...
linear arrayA solid-state video detector consisting of a single row of light-sensitive semiconductor devices, used in linear-array...
atomic absorption spectrometerAn atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) is an analytical instrument used to determine the concentration of specific chemical...
ellipsometryEllipsometry is an optical technique used to characterize the properties of thin films and surfaces. It is based on the...
multispectral scannerAn instrument used to record the emittance or reflectance of an object by scanning with discrete spectral resolution over a...
optoelectronic integrated circuitA monolithic device containing both photonic and electronic sources, detectors, modulators, etc., on a single semiconductor...
target1. The anode or anticathode of an x-ray tube that emits x-rays when bombarded by electrons. 2. The screen in a television...
atomic fluorescence spectroscopyThe analysis of fluorescence emitted by discrete atoms, in flames, that have absorbed radiation from an external source. It...
phase maskIn optics and photolithography, a phase mask refers to a device that modifies the phase of light waves passing through it....
airglowDiffuse light emitted by the atmosphere due to the excitation of particles of atmospheric gas. These excited particles...
x-ray tube targetAlso known as an anticathode. An electrode or electrode section that is focused upon by an electron beam and that emits...
N-type conductivityIn a semiconductor, the state created by the addition of a dopant that provides excess electrons.
Zener diodeA type of semiconductor diode used in voltage-limiting circuits; when voltage reaches a certain value, the device becomes a...
phosphorescence spectroscopyThe spectroscopic study of the radiation emitted by the lifetime of phosphorescence.
near-field scanning optical microscopeA scanning probe microscope that analyzes the surface of a specimen by recording the intensity of light as it is focused...
cold atomCold atoms refer to atoms that have been cooled to extremely low temperatures, typically in the microkelvin (µK) to...
photoelectric cathodeA cathode principally designed to emit a photoelectric current.
proximity-focused image tubeA planar photocathode and a planar phosphor screen mounted in a close-spaced parallel configuration in an evacuated...
laser driftLaser drift typically refers to a phenomenon where the frequency or wavelength of a laser source gradually changes over...
Wien's displacement lawThe formula that gives the wavelength of maximum spectral radiant emittance of a perfect blackbody: λmax =...
plasma chemical vapor depositionThe use of a plasma to induce the formation of oxides in the production of graded-index optical fibers.
linarCelestial point sources that emit specific wavelengths of radiation that appear on spectral charts as narrow lines. The term...
ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopyA technique for measuring the energy spectrum of electrons emitted during the absorption of ultraviolet radiation. This...
laser isotope separationA process of isolation of various atom vapor ions by means of tuning a laser source. For example, laser enrichment is...
enclosed arc lampAn arc lamp whose carbon electrodes are enclosed in a transparent chamber, resulting in an arc that is steadier, lasts...
photonic crystal surface-emitting laserPCSEL stands for "photonic crystal surface-emitting laser." It refers to a type of laser diode that emits light from its...
fiber-based confocal luminescence microscopeA microscope in which laser light is delivered through single-mode fibers that replace the pinhole usually used in confocal...
lensless microscopyLensless microscopy, also known as computational or holographic microscopy, is an imaging technique that captures and...
daylight lampAn incandescent or fluorescent lamp whose emittance spectrum resembles that of daylight.
stick machineA polishing machine with a lens mounted on a wooden stick, allowing a very wide sweep. It is used to polish hemispherical or...
cameraA light-tight box that receives light from an object or scene and focuses it to form an image on a light-sensitive material...
epitaxialEpitaxial refers to the growth of a crystalline layer on a crystalline substrate in such a way that the orientation of the...
sondeA ruggedized scintillation counter used in oil well logging. The cylindrical housing contains a gamma ray source, a...
active layerThat layer in a semiconductor injection laser or light-emitting diode that provides optical gain.
thermophotovoltaicThermophotovoltaic (TPV) refers to a technology that converts heat energy into electricity using the principles of...
infrared cameraAn infrared camera, also known as a thermal imaging camera or IR camera, is a device that captures and visualizes the...
diamondlike carbon filmA very hard, highly transparent coating based on forms of carbon, used to protect optical components from abrasion and...
laserA laser, which stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation," is a device that produces coherent and...
wedge ring detectorA diffraction pattern sampling unit composed of a 32-element monolithic silicon photodiode array and a readout unit. The...
alpha particleA positively charged particle emitted from the nucleus of an unstable isotope, characterized by two protons and two...
time-correlated single photon countingTime-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) is a technique used in photon counting applications, particularly in the...
reflection x-ray microscopyA means of high resolution study through the application of soft and hard x-rays onto a sample surface in order to obtain...
magnetic resonance spectroscopyA method of studying the chemical and physical properties of atoms and molecules (typically living tissue and chemical...
optical emission spectroscopyIn dry etching, a method of characterizing the composition of solid materials such as metal. Atoms in the OES technique are...
electric lampAny lamp whose emission of radiant energy is dependent upon the passage of an electrical current through the emissive medium.
medical lasersMedical lasers are devices that produce intense beams of light with specific characteristics and properties, which are used...
semitransparent and p-phase annular apertureAn aperture consisting of a semitransparent central region whose amplitude transmittance only is varied, and the relative...
photolithographyPhotolithography is a key process in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices, integrated circuits, and...
fluorescence lifetime imagingFluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) is an advanced imaging technique that provides information about the lifetime of...
bandgapIn semiconductor physics, the term bandgap refers to the energy range in a material where no electronic states are allowed....
vibrational transitionA vibrational transition refers to a change in the vibrational energy of a molecule. Molecules consist of atoms that are...
iconoscopeA camera tube that employs a high-velocity electron beam to scan a photoemissive mosaic and to store electrical charge...
photochemicalThe term photochemical pertains to chemical processes or reactions that are initiated or influenced by the absorption of...
cascade showerA shower of cosmic rays whereby a high-energy electron produces one or more photons that convert into electron pairs, the...
liquid crystal on siliconLiquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) is a display technology that combines liquid crystal materials with silicon-based...
gas laserOne of the first lasers to find practical application. Generally, the pumping mechanism is an electric discharge, although...
vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser
superluminescent light-emitting diodeAn emitter based on stimulated emission with amplification but insufficient feedback for oscillation to build up.
microheterogeneous systemsExtremely small organic and inorganic systems of molecules within a substance. In general, systems are colloidal size in...
fluoroscopeAn instrument used to detect the fluorescence emitted by a source in comparison with a reference.
CCD image sensorA CCD image sensor, or charge-coupled device image sensor, is a type of electronic device used to convert optical images...
outgassingThe emission of gas or de-aeration due to thermal variations and often occurring in a vacuum. In a cleanroom, contamination...
surface-enhanced Raman scatteringSurface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful analytical technique that enhances the Raman scattering signal of...
functional near-infrared spectroscopyFunctional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that measures changes in hemoglobin...
compound semiconductorA semiconductor made up of two or more elements, in contrast to those composed of a single element such as germanium or...
fluorescent proteinFluorescent proteins are proteins that exhibit the property of fluorescence, which is the ability to absorb light at a...
cold shieldThat part of an infrared detector-Dewar assembly that limits the solid angle viewed by the sensor; it is maintained at a...
alexandrite lasersAn alexandrite laser is a solid-state laser that utilizes a synthetic crystal made from the rare earth element alexandrite...
holographyHolography is a technique used to capture and reconstruct three-dimensional images using the principles of interference and...
charge-coupled deviceA charge-coupled device (CCD) is a type of electronic image sensor used in various imaging devices, including digital...
laser annealingLaser annealing is a process that involves using a laser beam to heat and modify the microstructure of a material, typically...
line sourceIn the spectral sense, an optical source that emits one or more spectrally narrow lines as opposed to a continuous spectrum....
incandescent lampA lamp that emits light when an electric current passes through a resistant metallic wire situated in a vacuum tube.
fluorescence spectroscopyThe spectroscopic study of radiation emitted by the process of fluorescence.
chemisorptionThe binding of gas to a surface or in matter by chemical activity.
III-V materialIn semiconductor physics and materials science, the term "III-V materials" refers to compounds composed of elements from...
quantum cascade laserA quantum cascade laser (QCL) is a type of semiconductor laser that operates based on the principles of quantum mechanics....
lasing mediumThe material that produces stimulated emission from within a laser oscillator. Laser gain media may vary from...
Peltier coolerA Peltier cooler, also known as a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) or thermoelectric module, is a solid-state device that uses...
infrared photographyThe photographic recording of images on a medium sensitive to infrared radiation, using a source capable of emitting in the...
sapphireSapphire can refer to either a gemstone or a specific type of crystalline material commonly used in various industrial...
tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopyA spectroscopic technique that combines the high chemical specificity of Raman scattering and signal sensitivity provided by...
cell1. A single unit in a device for changing radiant energy to electrical energy or for controlling current flow in a circuit....
monochromatorA monochromator is an optical instrument used to isolate and select a narrow range of wavelengths from a broader spectrum of...
flame photometerAny of a number of instruments that uses a flame to vaporize a solution of the chemical being analyzed so that light may be...
power efficiencyThe ratio of emitted power to input power.
atomic absorption spectroscopyThe analysis of the atomic structure of a sample by means of a source radiation that is absorbed and emitted by the sample...
laser diode arrayA group of single emitter laser diodes, usually arranged vertically or horizontally with respect to each other. The power...
emissivity correction matrixA computer-generated routine for achieving true-temperature readings in thermal infrared imaging systems.
transitionThe process whereby a quantum mechanical system alters from one energy level to another. During this process, energy is...
optical coherence tomography imaging systemOptical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging technique used in medical diagnostics and biomedical research to obtain...
electroluminescenceThe nonthermal conversion of electrical energy into light in a liquid or solid substance. The photon emission resulting from...
Q machineDevice in which contact ionization of atomic particles and thermionic electron emission are used to produce magnetically...
flying spotThe moving spot of light emitted by a source, generally a cathode-ray tube, to illuminate specific points of an area...
infrared thermistorA thermistor that uses a semiconductor that is sensitive to infrared radiation to measure the radiation's intensity.
emission microscopeA type of electron microscope in which the specimen also serves as the cathode source.
laser diode moduleA laser diode module is a compact device that incorporates a laser diode, optics, and often other components into a single...
nonselective radiatorAlso known as a gray body; a nonselective radiator is a thermal radiator that has a constant spectral emissivity with...
automated optical inspectionAutomated optical inspection (AOI) is a technology used in manufacturing processes, particularly in electronics, to...
gamma radiographyRadiography using the emission of gamma rays to form an image of the structure penetrated by the radiation.
free-electron laserA free-electron laser (FEL) is a type of laser that generates coherent, high-intensity electromagnetic radiation by using a...
microdisplayA microdisplay is a miniature electronic display technology that is designed to project visual information onto a small...
fiber optic cable assemblyA fiber optic cable assembly refers to a complete unit consisting of optical fibers, connectors, protective jackets, and...
ionization chamberA closed vessel with electrodes of different potentials that is used to determine how much ionization took place in a gas...
blue diode laserA blue diode laser is a type of semiconductor laser that emits light in the blue wavelength range of the electromagnetic...
vacuum ultraviolet sourceAny source that emits radiation of wavelengths between 100 and 300 nm. Instruments used to study these sources must be...
radius toolA metal device of convex or concave curvature to which lens castings or semifinished lenses are cemented with only their...
diffuse sensing modeUse of a photoelectric receiver to sense an object's presence by detecting a small amount of the emitter's light that is...
ruby laserThe optically pumped, solid-state laser that uses sapphire as the host lattice and chromium as the active ion. The emission...
thin filmA thin layer of a substance deposited on an insulating base in a vacuum by a microelectronic process. Thin films are most...
infrared photodetector arrayAn impurity-doped silicon detector array sensitive to long infrared wavelengths, installed in optical collecting systems...
CMOS cameraA CMOS camera refers to an imaging device that employs a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor to...
chirped-pulse amplificationChirped pulse amplification (CPA) is a technique used in laser physics to amplify ultrashort laser pulses to high energies...
cathode-ray tubeA vacuum tube with an electron gun at one end and a fluorescent screen at the other. Electrons emitted from a heated...
electron beamA stream of electrons emitted by a single source that move in the same direction and at the same speed.
edge-emitting LEDAn edge-emitting light-emitting diode is a type of LED structure where light emission occurs primarily along the edge of the...
luminous intensityLuminous flux emitted by a source in a given range of directions; the unit of measure is the lumen/steradian, now known as...
electron-beam lithography systemAn electron-beam lithography (EBL) system is a sophisticated nanofabrication tool used in the semiconductor industry and...
phototoxicityPhototoxicity refers to the harmful effects caused by exposure to light, particularly intense or ultraviolet (UV) light, on...
excitation1. The process by which an atom acquires energy sufficient to raise it to a quantum state higher than its ground state. 2....
phototherapyPhototherapy is a medical treatment that involves the use of light to treat various conditions, particularly those related...
heat treatingThe process of subjecting glass to temperature cycling to produce physico-chemical reactions that alter its properties....
nuclear magnetic resonanceA phenomenon, exploited for medical imaging, in which the nuclei of material placed in a strong magnetic field will absorb...
micro-LEDMicro-LED (micro-light-emitting diode) refers to a technology that involves the use of very small light-emitting diodes to...
quencher moleculeIn the dye laser, the molecule that takes out energy from the triplet state during collisions between the dye and quencher...
color comparator1. A device used in chemistry to compare the colors of solutions held in flat-bottomed tubes and viewed along the length of...
luminescenceLuminescence is the emission of light that occurs without the involved substance undergoing a significant increase in...
quenchingThe inhibition or elimination of one process by another process. The stimulated emission of a laser oscillator can be...
cathode radiant sensitivityCathode radiant sensitivity refers to the ability of a photocathode to convert incident radiant energy, typically in the...
silicon photodiodeA silicon photodiode is a semiconductor device that converts light into an electrical current. It is a type of photodetector...
synchrotron radiationRadiation emitted by electrons when they travel in circular orbits at speeds close to that of light. Synchrotron radiation...
split lensA close-up lens, semicircular in shape, that is mounted in front of a conventional lens focused at infinity. The result is...
probe cardA probe card is a testing device used in the semiconductor manufacturing industry to evaluate and test the electrical...
fiber-coupled LEDA fiber-coupled LED (light-emitting diode) refers to an LED device that is optically coupled to an optical fiber for the...
optical cements and adhesiveOptical cements and adhesives are specialized materials used in the assembly and bonding of optical components in optical...
latent imageThe pattern of physical or chemical changes that has taken place in a photographic emulsion, by its exposure to light, that...
Bunsen-Roscoe lawThe law stating that the amount of chemical change produced is proportional to the amount of light absorbed. Actually, the...
infrared lensAn infrared lens is an optical component specifically designed and optimized for transmitting, focusing, or manipulating...
chemiluminescenceA chemical reaction involving the production of light. The reaction of ethylene with ozone is chemiluminescent.
confocal resonatorA confocal resonator, also known as a confocal cavity or confocal laser resonator, is a type of optical resonator...
holmium laserHolmium lasers are a type of medical laser that utilizes holmium-doped crystals as the gain medium. The term holmium laser...
photon counterA device used to evaluate the luminance of a surface by determining the number of photons emitted from a sample surface area.
lens testing equipmentLens testing equipment refers to a range of specialized tools and instruments used to evaluate the optical performance,...
scintillation crystalA special crystal that emits flashes of light when struck by alpha particles.
triacA semiconductor device that functions as an electrically controlled switch for AC loads.
lithographyLithography is a key process used in microfabrication and semiconductor manufacturing to create intricate patterns on the...
photoemissive cell
cosine emission law
gallium arsenide phosphideGallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) is a semiconductor alloy composed of gallium (Ga), arsenic (As), and phosphorus (P). It...
dichroic mirrorA dichroic mirror, also known as a dichroic beamsplitter or interference filter beamsplitter, is an optical device that...
extraterrestrial radiationRadiation that is emitted by a source outside the Earth and its atmosphere.
electron-beam gun1. A device generally used in a cathode-ray or camera tube to emit a stream of electrons moving at uniform velocity in a...
atomic emission spectrometrySpectrometric analysis of the distinct and characteristic spectra of atoms of elements. The atoms are energized to emit...
Laurent polarimeterA Laurent polarimeter is an instrument used in optics for measuring the rotation of plane-polarized light caused by...
single-photon avalanche diodeA single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) is a specialized type of photodetector designed to detect extremely weak optical...
reflective spectroscopyReflectance spectroscopy is a technique used to analyze the reflective properties of materials across various wavelengths of...
positron emission tomographyA medical imaging device that uses a ring of crystal/photomultiplier tube assemblies encircling the patient to detect gamma...
iodine cycleA development aimed at extending the life of a tungsten filament. The iodine vapor in the lamp envelope combines with the...
thermionic emissionThe emission of free electrons by a rise in temperature of the cathode alone.
source correlationThe relationship between different wavelengths of light generated by a source, which may affect the spectral distribution of...
x-ray sourceA material or system that emits x-rays.
thyristorA family of semiconductor switching devices of which the silicon-controlled rectifier and the triac are most commonly used....
active mediumA material that produces stimulated emission during the process of amplification with a laser system.
optical instrument domeA dome-shaped structure used for some optical instruments in place of a flat window. The transparent material should be of...
gallium antimonideA binary semiconductor compound used as a substrate or active layer for diode lasers.
laser ceilometerA device used for measuring the height of clouds from a position on the ground. Measurement technique uses a vertically...
polaritonA polariton is a quasiparticle resulting from the strong coupling between photons (light particles) and certain types of...
stochastic optical reconstruction microscopyStochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) is a superresolution microscopy technique that enables imaging of...
solid-state imaging systemAn imaging system that uses a mosaic of tiny light-sensitive semiconductors (phototransistors) to produce individual outputs...
noise equivalent irradianceThe amount of spatial noise detected equivalent to the output emission location of the giving source.
axial vapor-phase depositionA vapor-phase oxidation process for fabricating graded-index optical fibers. It differs from outside vapor phase deposition...
lab-on-a-chipA lab-on-a-chip (LOC) is a miniaturized device that integrates various laboratory functions and capabilities onto a single,...
microbubble resonatorA microbubble resonator is a device used in photonics and optical physics for the precise manipulation of light waves. It...
beta radiationThe high-speed electrons and positrons emitted by radioactive materials.
color centerA color center, in the context of materials science and condensed matter physics, refers to a specific type of...
gallium aluminum arsenideA crystalline semiconductor alloy used as the light confinement layer in both single- and double-heterostructure diode...
incomplete radiatorA thermal source that emits less radiation than a blackbody under identical temperature conditions.
excitonAn exciton is a quasiparticle that represents the bound state of an electron and a hole in a solid-state material, typically...
coupler1. In color development, the chemical that combines with certain by-products of the development procedure to form a dye. 2....
linear positioning stageA linear positioning stage, also known as a linear stage or translation stage, is a precision mechanical device used to...
nonradiative transitionA nonradiative transition refers to a process in which an electron or an atom undergoes a change in its energy state without...
secondary x-raysX-rays emitted by a substance that formerly has been exposed to x-rays. The properties of the substance determine the...
actinismThe creation of a chemical reaction in a substance when radiation is directed to it.
remote active spectrometerA device employed to identify toxic agents lingering on the ground or in the air from up to three miles away, by using laser...
organometallic chemical vapor deposition
unipolarRefers to the transistors in which the working current flows through only one type of semiconductor material, either P-type...
saturation1. The decrease of the absorption (or gain) coefficient of a medium near some transition frequency when the power of the...
subscriber loopThat portion of the telecommunications network that runs from a local central telephone to the subscriber premises.
indiumMetal used in components of the crystalline semiconductor alloys indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs), indium gallium arsenide...
thin-film solar cellA solar cell that is lightweight and flexible because of its construction by vacuum deposition of a semiconductor material...
far-field diffraction patternThe diffraction pattern of a source such as a light-emitting diode, injection laser diode or the output end of an optical...
photobleachingPhotobleaching is a phenomenon in which the fluorescence of a fluorophore (a fluorescent molecule or dye) is permanently...
platinum silicideA semiconductor material used in photodetectors, sensitive in the infrared up to 5 µm.
APD detectorAn APD detector, or avalanche photodiode detector, is a type of photodetector used to detect light or optical signals by...
P-type conductivityIn a semiconductor, the state created by the addition of a dopant that creates excess holes.
gamma rayThe spontaneous emittance of electromagnetic radiation by the nucleus of certain radioactive elements during their quantum...
single-walled carbon nanotubesReferred to as SWCNTs, these cylindrical nanostructures composed of a folded sheet of graphene can be used as near-infrared...
actinic focusThat point in the electromagnetic spectrum at which an optical system focuses the most chemically effective rays.
photodynamic inactivationPhotodynamic inactivation (PDI) is a therapeutic approach that utilizes the combination of light, a photosensitizer, and...
x-ray image intensifierAn image intensifier that consists of an evacuated tube with a large input phosphor screen at one end. The phosphor screen...
heterojunctionA junction between semiconductors that differ in their doping level conductivities, and also in their atomic or alloy...
active transportThe transport of molecules in a cell which requires the use of a cell's internal energy. The energy used in the cell may be...
dilutionIn chemistry, the addition of an inert substance to reduce the concentration of a species. In colorimetry, addition of white...
solid-state laserA solid-state laser is a type of laser that uses a solid gain medium (as opposed to a liquid or gas) to produce coherent...
P-type materialA semiconductor material in which the dopants create holes as the majority charge carrier. It is formed by doping with...
nanoLEDAn LED (light-emitting diode) is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs...
surface-emitting laser diodeA semiconductor laser diode that emits light perpendicular to the active region. The output radiation is taken through the...
laser anemometryThe process by which laser emission is used in measuring fluid velocity and, more specifically, the detection of air and...
flame spectrumThe emission spectrum formed by the radiation from a sample that has been evaporated by a nonluminous flame.
excimer laser coronary angioplastyExcimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) refers to a medical procedure used in the treatment of coronary artery disease....
emission of skyThermal emission caused by the unity in absorption bands that must be discriminated when calculating radiation intensity of...
microprobeAn instrument that produces an intense, tightly focused beam of ions to stimulate emissions from a minute section of a...
fluoroscopic image intensifierA form of image intensifier designed to amplify a weak fluoroscopic image. The image is received at an input phosphor...
phosphorographyA process used in pyrometry and photothermometry to create a photographic record of a surface's temperature gradients....
back-wall photovoltaic cellA photovoltaic cell designed so that light travels through the front electrode and a semiconductor before it comes to the...
gallium nitrideGallium nitride (GaN) is a compound made up of gallium (Ga) and nitrogen (N). It is a wide-bandgap semiconductor material...
spectrofluorometerAn automatic scanning instrument that is used to study a substance's fluorescence over a wide range of wavelengths. It...
fluorescent screenA fluorescent screen refers to a phosphorescent or fluorescent-coated surface that emits visible light when exposed to other...
photoelectron microscopySurface analysis by means of photon induced electron emission. PEM methods provide high lateral resolution of the observed...
PN-junction luminescenceDischarge that results when a doped semiconductor crystal with a PN junction is charged with a low-voltage direct current....
chemosphereAlso known as mesosphere. A level of the atmosphere, extending from the stratosphere to the ionosphere, that is noted for...
laser cavityA laser cavity, also known as an optical cavity or resonator, is a fundamental component of a laser system. It is a confined...
photocathodeAn electrode used to release photoelectric emission when irradiated, making it then the irradiated negative electrode of a...
dimmerAn electric or electronic device that regulates the voltage going to a light source as a means of varying the intensity of...
xyleneFluid used to aid in examination of semifinished blanks.
heatseekerA guided missile that uses an infrared sensor to detect and home in on an enemy target. The missile is guided by the high...
photoelectromotive forceThe force that stimulates the emission of an electrical current when photovoltaic action creates a potential difference...
source efficiencyThe ratio of emitted optical power of a source to the input electrical power.
photocathode luminous sensitivityThe responsivity of a photocathode to luminous energy equal to the ratio of the photoelectric emission to the incident...
ion laserA laser in which the transition involved in stimulated emission of radiation takes place between two levels of an ionized...
micro-opticsMicro-optics refers to the design, fabrication, and application of optical components and systems at a microscale level....
dynodeThe auxiliary electrode in a photomultiplier that gives rise to secondary emission and amplification when bombarded by...
optical coatingsOptical coatings are thin layers of materials applied to optical components, such as lenses, mirrors, filters, and prisms,...
quantum dot light-emitting diodeQLED stands for quantum dot light-emitting diode. QLED is a display technology that utilizes quantum dots, which are...
semiconductorA semiconductor is a type of material that has electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator. In...
photoresistPhotoresist is a light-sensitive material used in photolithography processes, particularly in the fabrication of...
deep ultravioletDeep ultraviolet (DUV or deep-UV) refers to a specific range of ultraviolet light with shorter wavelengths than those in the...
short wavelength infraredShort wavelength infrared (SWIR) refers to the portion of the infrared spectrum that encompasses wavelengths roughly between...
solid-state lampAn electroluminescent semiconductor that emits low intensity radiation in the green or red regions. Used as an indicator...
absorbing wedgeA doped or absorbing transparent medium cut or molded into a wedge in order to measure the real and imaginary components of...
Raman effectWhen light is transmitted through matter, part of the light is scattered in random directions. A small part of the scattered...
threshold voltage1. Voltage at which a PN junction begins to pass a current. 2. In a solid-state lamp, the voltage at which light is first...
cinemicrographyCinematography performed with the use of a microscope to film the actions of microscopic specimens.
direct-view storage tubeA cathode-ray tube in which secondary emission electrons form a display of high intensity.
photoelectric currentThe electron stream emitted by a phototube when the cathode is exposed to light.
long-pass filterA long-pass filter is an optical filter that allows longer wavelengths of light to pass through while blocking or...
depletion regionThe region at the PN junction in a semiconductor radiation detector where the potential energies of the two materials create...
conjugate pointsThe two points on the principal axis of a mirror or lens so positioned that light emitted from either point will be focused...
superior mirageAn image of an object that appears above the object's true position as the result of abnormal refraction of the image rays...
catastrophic optical damageThe darkening of the laser facet of a semiconductor laser diode. It can be prevented by placing the component in a...
ultraviolet lampA type of lamp that emits a high quantity of ultraviolet radiation. This may be an arc lamp encased in a bulb of a glass...
acceptorImpurity in a semiconductor or any other electroluminescent device capable of inducing hole conduction and accepting a...
chromosphereA layer between the corona and the photosphere of the sun; its emission is overwhelmed by light emitted by the underlying,...
London equationsThe partial differential equations for the spatial and time dependence of electric and magnetic fields inside a...
atomic force microscopeAn atomic force microscope (AFM) is a high-resolution imaging and measurement instrument used in nanotechnology, materials...
metasurfacesMetasurfaces are two-dimensional arrays of subwavelength-scale artificial structures, often referred to as meta-atoms or...
flash spectroscopyThe study and interpretation of the spectra of substances after they have absorbed the radiant energy emitted by a brief,...
organic dye laserA laser having a lasing material that is a fluorescing organic dye. Depending on the dye used, it can produce emission in...
photoconductive antennaPhotoconductive antenna (PCA) is a semiconductor element that generates or detects high-frequency electromagnetic signals....
fiber optic preformA fiber optic preform is a cylindrical glass rod or tube used as the starting material for manufacturing optical fibers. It...
emitterA source of radiation.
functional materialFunctional materials refer to materials that possess specific properties or functionalities that make them suitable for...
nonlinear optical materialsNonlinear optical materials are substances that exhibit optical properties that are not linearly proportional to the...
fluorometryThe analysis and measurement of the fluorescence emitted by a source. Fluorometric processes are more sensitive than light...
photoelectric multiplierA phototube in which the primary photoemission current, before being extracted at the anode, is multiplied many times.
cathode streamAlso known as cathode rays. Formerly, this term described a stream of electrons emitted from the cathode of a gas-discharge...
zirconium arcA small bulb containing a conducting gas, an arc being formed between a metal ring and a tiny zirconium electrode near the...
monoscope cathode-ray tubeA character generation CRT that functions on the principle of secondary emission. The target holds a set of aluminum...
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