TEC Dictionary Terms
optical Fourier transformThe optical Fourier transform is a mathematical operation applied to optical signals that involves transforming a spatial...
point spread functionThe point spread function (PSF) is a fundamental concept in imaging that describes the response of an imaging system to a...
beta-ray spectrometerAn instrument for the detection of the energy distribution of b-particles and secondary electrons.
radio astronomyThe detection and analysis of naturally formed extraterrestrial electromagnetic radiation within the radio frequency range...
ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopyA technique for measuring the energy spectrum of electrons emitted during the absorption of ultraviolet radiation. This...
optical coatingsOptical coatings are thin layers of materials applied to optical components, such as lenses, mirrors, filters, and prisms,...
linear image sensorA linear image sensor is a type of solid-state electronic device used to capture and convert light into electrical signals....
immunofluorescenceThe technique that uses light to detect and analyze the antibodies produced by a specimen stained with an organic dye.
laser sinteringLaser sintering is an additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that involves using a laser to selectively fuse...
lead selenide cellA thin-film photoconductive cell that is sensitive to the infrared region. The photosensitive material of the cell is...
baselineThe smallest amount of photon energy to pass a detector window and be counted.
charge-injection deviceA charge-injection device (CID) refers to a class of devices that manipulate and detect electrical charge within a...
tomographyTechnique that defocuses activity from surrounding planes by means of the relative motions at the point of interest.
mask proximity correctionA technique used in photolithography of computer chips to compensate for errors caused by the proximity effect, which...
optogenetic defibrillationAn optogenetic technique that embeds genetically-engineered proteins to the heart to aid in terminating arrhythmias. After...
laser triangulationA technique that uses a solid-state laser and a detector to determine an object's relative distance to the system. The laser...
diamond turningDiamond turning, also known as diamond machining or diamond cutting, is a precision machining process used to produce...
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...
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...
liquid crystalLiquid crystals are a state of matter that exhibits properties intermediate between those of conventional liquids and solid...
TO packageHousing that resembles a small metal can for a semiconductor component, photodetector or similar device.
mass spectrometerA device used to measure the masses and relative concentrations of atoms and molecules. It utilizes the Lorentz force...
high-resolution visible sensorA satellite-borne remote sensing device capable of transmitting images at 10 and 20 m resolution from an altitude of 830 km,...
perimetryThe analysis of retinal zones in which different hues can be detected. Also called campimetry.
structural colorStructural color refers to coloration in materials that is not caused by pigments or dyes but is instead a result of the...
detector-Dewar assemblyA detector-Dewar assembly typically refers to a combination of a detector and a Dewar flask used in scientific instruments,...
ultraviolet reflectanceUltraviolet reflectance refers to the ability of a material or surface to reflect UV light. Ultraviolet light is...
GaN distributed feedback lasersGaN (gallium nitride) distributed feedback (DFB) lasers refer to a specific type of semiconductor laser based on Gallium...
holographic cinematographyA technique used to create a series of interrelated holographic images that give an appearance of motion when projected in...
ultrasonic detectorA mechanical, electrical, thermal or optical detector designed to identify and measure ultrasonic radiation.
optical camouflageThe use of retroreflective projection technology (RPT) to project a background image onto a masked object, such as a vehicle...
cold atomCold atoms refer to atoms that have been cooled to extremely low temperatures, typically in the microkelvin (µK) to...
high-speed motion cameraA high-speed motion camera, also known as a high-speed camera or slow-motion camera, is a specialized imaging device...
germicidal UVGermicidal ultraviolet (GUV) refers to a specific range of UV radiation that has disinfectant properties capable of killing...
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assayAn enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a laboratory technique used to detect and measure the presence of specific...
multispectral imagingMultispectral imaging is a technique that involves capturing and analyzing images at multiple discrete spectral bands within...
infrared light sourceAn infrared light source is a device that emits light in the infrared spectrum, which lies beyond the visible spectrum of...
Photoelastic equipment and suppliesPhotoelastic equipment and supplies refer to instruments and materials used in photoelasticity, a technique used to analyze...
dissectorIn optical character recognition, the mechanical or electronic transducer used to detect the level of illumination present...
optical headIn compact disc and CD-ROM technology, the portion of the drive that projects the laser light onto the surface of the media...
cameraA light-tight box that receives light from an object or scene and focuses it to form an image on a light-sensitive material...
monocoil sheathingA type of tubing used to protect optical fiber cables, consisting of a wire spiral of aluminum, galvanized steel or...
short wavelength infraredShort wavelength infrared (SWIR) refers to the portion of the infrared spectrum that encompasses wavelengths roughly between...
stacked optical memoryA memory system composed of a stack of holographic plates, a mode-locked laser and a rapid detector array. Ultrashort laser...
fall timeMeasurement of the interval during which a photodetector's signal and output current drops from 90 to 10 percent.
silicon photodiodeA silicon photodiode is a semiconductor device that converts light into an electrical current. It is a type of photodetector...
fluorescent proteinFluorescent proteins are proteins that exhibit the property of fluorescence, which is the ability to absorb light at a...
single-molecule spectroscopyAn advanced technique that allows the detection of one molecule within a crystal or a cell through optical excitation....
area scanArea scan, in the context of imaging and cameras, refers to a method of capturing an entire two-dimensional image in a...
microwave mappingThe pattern of microwave field intensity that can be obtained by detecting the minute expansion of a microwave absorber slab...
full width half maximumThe full width at half maximum (FWHM) is a measure used in various fields, particularly in spectroscopy, signal processing,...
cinematographyThe technique of making motion pictures.
synthetic interferometric imageAn imaging technique in which an object moving through an interference field formed in space scatters light and is spatially...
electro-optic modulatorAn electro-optic modulator (EOM) is a device used to modulate the amplitude, phase, or polarization of light waves using an...
integramA reflection hologram using multiple color lasers that integrates various graphical techniques to allow the display of...
spatial light modulatorA spatial light modulator (SLM) is an optical device that modulates or manipulates the amplitude, phase, or polarization of...
gyroscopeA gyroscope is a mechanical device consisting of a spinning disk or wheel mounted on a spinning axis in such a way that its...
chemical-mechanical polishingA technique for polishing silicon in which an alkaline suspension containing silicon dioxide particles creates a soft layer...
optical power spectrumAlso known as the Wiener spectrum or the noise power spectrum, the optical power spectrum is a fundamental quantity in...
sun-tracking concentratorControlled beam technology that introduces beams of sunlight through holes in a roof that are relayed throughout the...
absorption peakAn absorption peak refers to a sharp increase or spike in the absorption of electromagnetic radiation at a particular...
barcode scannerAn optical scanning device designed to read information printed in the form of bars of different size by detection and...
fluorescent screenA fluorescent screen refers to a phosphorescent or fluorescent-coated surface that emits visible light when exposed to other...
phageA phage, short for bacteriophage, is a type of virus that infects and replicates within bacteria. Phages are composed of...
optical flatA piece of glass, pyrex or quartz having one or both surfaces carefully ground and polished plano, generally flat to less...
horizon detectorAn infrared device used in satellites and rockets to determine a heat horizon for the Earth at altitudes (above 200 miles)...
single molecule localization microscopySingle molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) is a group of super-resolution microscopy techniques that surpass the...
fiber optic transceiverA fiber optic transceiver, often simply referred to as an "optical transceiver," is a device used in fiber optic...
photoconductive detectorA device for detecting visual and infrared radiation using a photoconductor as the principle sensing element.
mid-wave infraredMWIR stands for mid-wave infrared, referring to a specific range of wavelengths within the infrared spectrum. Infrared...
photon drag effectThe induction of an electric field in a semiconductor by an incident laser beam. The technique has rapid response time at...
beam matrix1. A geometrical arrangement of two or more light beams for use in laser shows, object detection or other applications...
pulse counter detectorA device designed to detect frequency-modulated signals by forming a unidirectional pulse from each sine wave. The direct...
differential absorption lidarA lidar (light detection and ranging) technique used in pollution monitoring. Two light beams are emitted simultaneously,...
laser detectorDevice that operates by interaction of incident radiation with semiconductor based material in order to produce an...
sputtering targetA sputtering target is a solid material used in the process of physical vapor deposition (PVD), specifically sputtering....
infrared scannerAn optical system used to collect infrared energy from a scene using scanning optics with a point or line detector, as...
electro-optic detectorA device that detects radiation by utilizing the influence of light in forming an electrical signal. It may be a phototube;...
quantum photodetector
nanotechnologyThe use of atoms, molecules and molecular-scale structures to enhance existing technology and develop new materials and...
optical filterAn optical filter is a device that selectively transmits or blocks specific wavelengths, or colors, of light. Optical...
raster image processorIn imaging technology, a device that converts raster or line-scan data to pixel form for further processing.
photoluminescencePhotoluminescence is a phenomenon in which a material absorbs photons (light) at one wavelength and then re-emits photons at...
stylus profilometerA measuring instrument used for surface profiling and quantifying the roughness of a material. The stylus is placed on the...
Golgi Staining TechniqueThe Golgi staining technique (also called the black reaction) makes it possible to look at the nervous system by rendering...
transverse offset methodA technique used to measure the mode-field diameter of an optical fiber by scanning one fiber past another at a distance of...
photoelectric readerAn input device for a computer that detects and reads the data, in the form of punched holes in cards, by light that is...
optical emission spectroscopyIn dry etching, a method of characterizing the composition of solid materials such as metal. Atoms in the OES technique are...
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...
direct detectionIn a fiber optic transmission system, the conversion of received optical pulses directly to an electrical signal.
photoelectric fluorometerA filter fluorometer that uses a photomultiplier tube to detect the fluorescence of a sample.
effective aperture1. That portion of the aperture that functions to collect energy and deliver it to the final system detector. 2. For an...
Poynting vectorIn remote sensing technology, this represents the intensity of energy flow in the direction of wave propagation.
micro-roboticsMicro-robotics refers to the field of robotics that involves the design, development, and application of miniature robotic...
sol-gelA gelatinous fluid that can be used as a porous thin-film coating for optical components, including laser beam collimators,...
glass dosimeterA device that detects and measures the quantity of exposure to nuclear radiation. It uses a special glass rod that...
lensless microscopyLensless microscopy, also known as computational or holographic microscopy, is an imaging technique that captures and...
convolutionAn image-enhancement technique in which each pixel is subjected to a mathematical operation that groups it with its nearest...
photoelectron holographyA technique proposed for studying the atomic structure of crystals by measuring the interference pattern generated when the...
laser speckleSparkling granular pattern that is observed when an object diffusely reflects coincident laser light. Speckle appears as an...
geometric phase shiftingA technique used to create an achromatic phase shift based on the principle of geometric phase. The phase shift is...
nonlinear optical materialsNonlinear optical materials are substances that exhibit optical properties that are not linearly proportional to the...
replicated opticsOptical components, usually reflectors, produced using proprietary techniques that transfer the precision of a master to a...
coherent optical adaptive techniqueThe use of phase conjugation or other methods to increase the power density of a laser beam under adverse atmospheric...
radiation detectorAny of the many devices used to detect the presence of radiation from a specific region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
3D laser triangulation3D Laser Triangulation - A technology that allows sensors to probe the surroundings. Laser triangulation systems have an...
reagentA reagent is a substance or compound that is used in a chemical reaction to bring about a specific transformation or to...
brightfieldBrightfield refers to a type of microscopy and imaging technique in which the specimen is illuminated with a white light...
2D profile sensorA 2D profile sensor is a type of sensor used in various industrial and technological applications to measure and capture...
local injection detection systemA device used to evaluate the quality of fiber optic splices made in the field by injecting light into the cladding of the...
photonics contract manufacturingPhotonics contract manufacturing refers to the outsourcing of the production of photonics-related components, devices, or...
optical switchingOptical switching refers to the process of controlling the routing or transmission of optical signals within a network using...
time constantThe amount of time needed for a detector signal or electronic circuit to reach 63 percent of its final value after a fixed...
magnetic force microscopeA variation of the atomic force microscope that operates by scanning a tiny ferromagnetic probe (or a magnetized tip) over a...
pyroelectric infrared detectorUnlike the thermocouple or bolometer, the pyroelectric infrared detector is a current source with an output proportional to...
local oscillator laserIn coherent optical communications systems, a laser used at the receiving end to produce a steady wave that is combined with...
mask spectrometerInstrument that uses absorption spectroscopy to detect gases in planetary atmospheres. Dispersed incoming radiation is...
optical artifactsOptical artifacts refer to undesired or unintended effects that can occur in optical systems, such as microscopes, cameras,...
dark-field photomicrographyA photomicrographic recording technique that utilizes dark-field illumination to render an image of an object having a...
intrinsic detectorA photodetector composed of a photoconductive material that, when exposed to radiation, conducts without the aid of added...
photoplethysmographyPhotoplethysmography (PPG) is a non-invasive optical technique used to detect changes in blood volume in tissues. It...
spectral signatureA spectral signature, in the context of remote sensing and spectroscopy, refers to the unique pattern or characteristic...
optical correlatorA device incorporating a spatial light modulator and a reference filter; used for matching an input optical waveform or...
three-photon microscopyThree-photon microscopy is an advanced imaging technique that belongs to the family of multi-photon microscopy methods. It...
modulatorA modulator is a device or component that modifies a carrier signal in order to encode information for transmission over a...
reactive evaporationReactive evaporation refers to a process in thin-film deposition where a material is deposited onto a substrate through...
fiber optic cable assemblyA fiber optic cable assembly refers to a complete unit consisting of optical fibers, connectors, protective jackets, and...
flash photolysisA spectroscopic technique used in the detection of free radicals by virtue of their electronic spectra. In this method, an...
CMOS image sensorA CMOS image sensor, short for complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor image sensor, is a type of semiconductor device used...
densitometryThe detection and analysis of the transmission and reflection properties of objects and photographic images.
laser tweezersA technique based on the principles of laser trapping and used to manipulate the position of small particles by gradually...
pulse video thermographyA noncontact, nondestructive method of measuring defects in thin composite materials, using a xenon flashtube to generate...
multichannel spectral analyzerA spectrometric instrument that detects radiation simultaneously in multiple channels, sorts it spectrally from the deep...
vector correlationA machine vision technique of image correlation whereby the correlation kernel (template of the desired image) is...
detectivityA measure of the sensitivity of a detector; the reciprocal of noise equivalent power (NEP). See D*.
optical leverA device used to detect and measure small amounts of rotation. The rotating object contains a reflecting surface from which...
radiation dosimetryThe detection and measurement of nuclear and x-ray radiation.
phase contrast microscopyPhase contrast microscopy is an optical microscopy technique that enhances the contrast of transparent and colorless...
perovskiteThe term perovskite refers to a specific crystal structure commonly found in various materials. Perovskite structures have a...
multimodality imagingA technique that combines two or more imaging processes in order to minimize the disadvantages within each of the...
magnetic enhancementPlasma-enriched deposition or planar magnetic sputtering that offers increased deposition rates in optical thin-film...
fluorophoreA fluorophore is a molecule or a portion of a molecule that has the ability to emit light upon excitation by an external...
custom lapping and polishing servicesCustom lapping and polishing services involve specialized processes used to improve the surface finish and dimensional...
optical assemblyAn optical assembly refers to a collection of optical components that are carefully arranged and aligned to perform a...
near-infrared spectroscopyNear-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive analytical technique that uses the near-infrared region of the...
high dynamic rangeHigh dynamic range (HDR) refers to a technology that allows for a broader and more dynamic range of luminosity in visual...
equidensitometry1. The use of an electronic microdensitometer to measure points of equal density on a photographic deposit. 2. A technique...
internet of thingsThe internet of things (IoT) refers to a network of interconnected physical devices, vehicles, appliances, and other objects...
spectral flow cytometrySpectral flow cytometry is an advanced flow cytometry technique that expands the capabilities of traditional flow cytometry...
thermal detector
deep learningDeep learning is a subset of machine learning that involves the use of artificial neural networks to model and solve complex...
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...
image correlationA machine vision technique that compares a template of the desired image (the correlation kernel) with the actual camera...
gainAlso known as amplification. 1. The increase in a signal that is transmitted from one point to another through an amplifier....
surface-enhanced Raman scatteringSurface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful analytical technique that enhances the Raman scattering signal of...
monitor currentIn a laser diode, the photocurrent produced by a photodiode that detects the emission from the rear facet of the...
coaxial gasA jet of inert gas along a laser welding beam's axis that cools, protects or cleans the work surface.
indium phosphideIndium phosphide (InP) is a compound semiconductor material composed of indium (In) and phosphorus (P). It belongs to the...
metascopeA sensing or image-forming detector that serves to convert infrared rays into visible signals for communication purposes....
metalensA metalens, short for "metasurface lens," is a type of optical lens that uses nanostructured materials to manipulate light...
fiber optic spectrometerA fiber optic spectrometer is a device used for measuring the spectral content of light. It utilizes optical fibers to...
electron-beam lithography systemAn electron-beam lithography (EBL) system is a sophisticated nanofabrication tool used in the semiconductor industry and...
ambient lightLight present in the environment around a detecting or interpreting device, especially a machine vision system, and...
spatial resolutionSpatial resolution refers to the level of detail or granularity in an image or a spatial dataset. It is a measure of the...
superresolutionSuperresolution refers to the enhancement or improvement of the spatial resolution beyond the conventional limits imposed by...
infrared signal generatorA device that combines electronic and optical techniques to form a monitored infrared signal between 1 and 14 µm. It...
light-emitting diodeAn LED, or light emitting diode, is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs...
Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensorThe Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor is an optical device used for measuring the wavefront aberrations of an optical system....
pulse shapingThe use of variations in the power supplied to a laser to change the shape of the output pulse. The technique is used in...
index dipThe decrease in the refractive index at the center of a fiber's core, caused by certain fabrication techniques. Also called...
single-photon avalanche diodeA single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) is a specialized type of photodetector designed to detect extremely weak optical...
multiple instruction/multiple dataA computer architecture used in parallel processing whereby all the processing elements are operating under their own local...
atomic clockAn atomic clock is a highly precise timekeeping device that uses the vibrations or oscillations of atoms as a reference for...
germanium crystalGermanium crystal refers to a crystalline form of the element germanium (Ge), which is a metalloid and semiconductor...
azimuthal polarizationAzimuthal polarization refers to a specific polarization state of light where the electric field vector of the...
laser microscopyTechnique using functional optical microscope with the addition of a coherent source collinear with the image path. The...
volumetric imagingVolumetric imaging refers to the capture, visualization, and analysis of three-dimensional (3D) information from a volume of...
drift curveA technique used in astronomy that requires a radio telescope to be directed at a point in the sky west of the object under...
optical combinerAn optical combiner, in the context of optics and display technologies, refers to a device or component that combines...
dopingIn the context of materials science and semiconductor physics, doping refers to the intentional introduction of impurities...
electroholographyA technology that uses electrically activated holograms stored within specially developed crystals to route information in...
centerburstIn an interferogram, an intense portion of the recording that corresponds in size to the amount of infrared radiation...
lateral effects detectorA set of photodiodes with no gaps between them that can sense the displacement of a spot of light anywhere on the sensing...
binary on-offSignal used in optical transmission systems to generate currents in a detector that are decoded with reference to a...
gravimeterAn instrument capable of precise measurements of the Earth's gravity. This permits the detection of small changes in local...
blue diode laserA blue diode laser is a type of semiconductor laser that emits light in the blue wavelength range of the electromagnetic...
ring-laser gyroscopeA ring laser gyroscope (RLG) is a type of gyroscope that uses laser light to detect and measure changes in orientation. It...
optical strain sensorsOptical strain sensors are devices that utilize optical principles to measure the deformation or strain experienced by a...
microlithographyA technique for producing micron-size structures on surfaces by using short-wavelength light or electron beams.
smart skinStructural surfaces that incorporate an embedded sensor network capable of detecting flaws within the structure.
excess noise factorA factor, F, indicating the increase in shot noise in an avalanche photodiode as compared with the ideal multiplier, which...
hydrogelA hydrogel is a three-dimensional network of polymer chains that are hydrophilic, meaning they have a strong affinity for...
wedge ring detectorA diffraction pattern sampling unit composed of a 32-element monolithic silicon photodiode array and a readout unit. The...
single-photon emission computed tomographyA medical imaging method in which gamma camera heads rotate about the patient to detect radionuclides, enabling physicians...
atomic absorption spectrometerAn atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) is an analytical instrument used to determine the concentration of specific chemical...
photoelectric colorimeterA system having a photoelectric detector for the measurement of three quantities related by linear combination to...
Fourier transform spectrometerAn instrument using a Michelson interferometer, a beamsplitter, two plane mirrors and a detector to give Fourier analysis of...
photoelectric pyrometerAn instrument used to measure the temperature of a source through the use of photoelectric cells to detect and measure the...
end-fire couplingEnd-fire coupling refers to a method of coupling energy into or out of a waveguide, transmission line, or antenna, where the...
communicator bandwidthThe maximum rate at which temporally disjunct optical signals can be produced or detected.
simultaneous location and mappingTechnology that uses data from an array of sensors, one of which is commonly lidar, to solve the problem of creating a map...
fiber optic gyroscopeA fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) is a type of gyroscope that uses the interference of light waves to detect changes in...
ultraviolet fiber opticsUltraviolet (UV) fiber optics refers to optical fibers that are designed and optimized for the transmission of ultraviolet...
fiber optic preformA fiber optic preform is a cylindrical glass rod or tube used as the starting material for manufacturing optical fibers. It...
photogrammetryPhotogrammetry is a technique used to obtain accurate three-dimensional measurements of objects and environments through the...
nanopositioningNanopositioning refers to the precise and controlled movement or manipulation of objects or components at the nanometer...
orange peelIn the context of imaging, particularly digital imaging and printing, "orange peel" refers to a texture or visual distortion...
correlated double samplingA technique for removing thermal noise and drift from focal plane assemblies by sampling the system output between views of...
photodetectorA photodetector, also known as a photosensor or photodiode, is a device that detects and converts light into an electrical...
fiber optic sensorA fiber optic sensor is a device that uses optical fibers to detect and measure physical, chemical, biological, or...
two-photon polymerizationTwo-photon polymerization (TPP) is a technique used in additive manufacturing, specifically in the field of 3D printing. It...
gas filter correlationA technique for measuring the concentration of any gases. Identical infrared beams are alternately chopped, one passing...
direct laser interference patterningAlso called DLIP, a high-speed, high-resolution processing technique that uses high-power, pulsed laser systems to directly...
intensified charge-coupled device cameraAn intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) camera is an advanced imaging device that combines the capabilities of both an...
spectral pyrheliometerAny pyrheliometer that has a filter placed over its sensor to limit the range of solar radiation it will detect; used to...
nonlinear polarizationNonlinear polarization refers to the phenomenon where the polarization of a material responds nonlinearly to an applied...
quartz spectrographA spectrograph used to detect radiation in the range of the ultraviolet in the electromagnetic spectrum. It is made up of...
reflectiveThe term reflective is an adjective that describes the ability of a surface or material to reflect light or other forms of...
APD detectorAn APD detector, or avalanche photodiode detector, is a type of photodetector used to detect light or optical signals by...
lab-on-a-chipA lab-on-a-chip (LOC) is a miniaturized device that integrates various laboratory functions and capabilities onto a single,...
line scanLine scan refers to a method of capturing images or data by scanning a single line at a time, as opposed to capturing the...
cooled infrared detectorAn infrared detector that achieves a specified sensitivity through the application of certain cryogenic temperatures.
silicon carbide light-emitting diodesSilicon carbide (SiC) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor devices that emit light when an electric current is...
scanning moire topographyA contour mapping technique that uses electronic scanning and sampling techniques instead of a reference grating (see moire...
Laplacian edge enhancementEdge enhancement technique that accentuates all edge details in an image without discriminating as to spatial orientation.
coherent anti-Stokes Raman scatteringA technique whereby two laser beams, one at an excitation wavelength and the second at a wavelength that produces Stokes...
minimum resolvable temperatureIn a thermal imaging system, the smallest change in blackbody equivalent temperature that can be detected clearly by the...
nitric oxide detectorA pollution-measuring device used to detect the presence of nitric oxide regardless of other gases present. It utilizes the...
depletion regionThe region at the PN junction in a semiconductor radiation detector where the potential energies of the two materials create...
infrared jammingA countermeasure used against heat seeking missiles to reduce their effectiveness. Normally it involves the emittance of...
nuclear quadrupole resonance spectroscopyA chemical detection technique used to measure molecules that have a magnetic dipole moment. The analysis is directed to...
triangulationA method of measuring distance by recording a single scene from two points of perspective. Surveying instruments can be...
phototheranosticsPhototheranostics, a portmanteau of "photo" (light), "therapy," and "diagnostics," refers to an emerging field that combines...
dichroic coatingA dichroic coating, also known as a dichroic filter or dichroic mirror, is an optical coating designed to selectively...
extreme ultravioletExtreme ultraviolet (EUV) refers to a specific range of electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum....
fluctuation spectroscopyA technique developed to measure the molecular weight of macromolecules by analyzing the spontaneous fluctuations that occur...
quantumThe term quantum refers to the fundamental unit or discrete amount of a physical quantity involved in interactions at the...
photoelectric spectrophotometerA system that consists of a spectrophotometer with a photoelectric detector for measurement of radiant energy.
isotopically selected laser spectroscopyA spectroscopic technique in which an excitation band absorbs laser energy resulting in an electronic transition. The...
PockelsIn optics, the Pockels effect refers to the phenomenon where the refractive index of a material changes in response to an...
flow channelIn various fields such as fluid dynamics, microfluidics, and biotechnology, a flow channel refers to a defined pathway...
microdisplayA microdisplay is a miniature electronic display technology that is designed to project visual information onto a small...
thermographThe instrument used to collect thermal radiation information on an object by scanning. It consists basically of a detector,...
electron probe microanalysisAn analytical technique used to determine the nature of extremely small samples by forming the x-ray spectrum of the samples...
photodiodeA two-electrode, radiation-sensitive junction formed in a semiconductor material in which the reverse current varies with...
data compressionA method of storing digital data using techniques that consume less memory space than basic methods do. See differential...
wide-angle lensA wide-angle lens is a type of camera lens that has a shorter focal length than a standard or normal lens, allowing it to...
electronic windowingIn target tracking, a technique for speeding up the image processing by removing bunches of pixels that are outside the area...
open-dish methodA measurement method for reflectance by gas ionization in which light passes through a vapor before and after reflection....
spectroscopySpectroscopy is a technique used in the study of interactions between matter and electromagnetic radiation. It involves...
photovoltaic cellA photovoltaic cell, commonly known as a solar cell, is a semiconductor device that directly converts light energy into...
intravital microscopyIntravital microscopy is an imaging technique used to visualize biological processes within living organisms, typically in...
light fieldThe term light field refers to the spatial distribution of light rays traveling in all directions through a given space. It...
fluorescenceFluorescence is a type of luminescence, which is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other...
crystal counterAn instrument that is used to detect high-energy particles by the pulse of the current formed when a particle passes through...
optoelectronicsOptoelectronics is a branch of electronics that focuses on the study and application of devices and systems that use light...
spectrographAn optical instrument for forming the spectrum of a light source and recording it on a film. The dispersing medium may be a...
spectral responseMeasure of a detector's signal during exposure to radiation of a constant power level and varying wavelength.
virtual histologyVirtual histology refers to the use of digital technology and computational methods to simulate or recreate histological...
error correcting codeThe addition to the information signal in communications of redundant bits that enable the originally encoded message to be...
bracketingIn photography, the technique of taking multiple pictures of the same subject at different exposures to compensate for...
frequency combA frequency comb is a precise and regular series of equally spaced spectral lines, or frequencies, that are generated with...
Schlieren opticsAn optical system that records inhomogeneities within a medium by detecting the energy refracted by that portion of the...
overcoatA layer of material applied to a coated surface to protect it from physical or chemical action.
ultraviolet densitometryA technique, involving spectrophotometry in the ultraviolet, that is designed to determine the colors of thin-layer...
hero experimentsLaboratory experiments that focus on demonstrating new capabilities of a certain technology or device, usually without...
dosimeterA device used to detect and measure the quantity of exposure to nuclear or x-ray radiation, and dependent on the fact that...
recombinase polymerase amplificationRecombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) is a molecular biology technique used to rapidly amplify specific DNA or RNA...
diamondlike carbon filmA very hard, highly transparent coating based on forms of carbon, used to protect optical components from abrasion and...
lidarLidar, short for light detection and ranging, is a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances and...
medical lasersMedical lasers are devices that produce intense beams of light with specific characteristics and properties, which are used...
spectrometerA kind of spectrograph in which some form of detector, other than a photographic film, is used to measure the distribution...
Brillouin scatteringBrillouin scattering is a phenomenon in physics where an incident electromagnetic wave (usually light) interacts with...
modulated transmission ellipsometryA method used to detect internal or residual microstresses in a material by using a laser beam to locate changes in...
PIN photodiodeA PIN photodiode is a type of photodetector or semiconductor device used to convert light signals into electrical signals....
holographic nondestructive testingThe application of coherent wavefront techniques to the determination of the physical state of a system without appreciably...
infrared lensAn infrared lens is an optical component specifically designed and optimized for transmitting, focusing, or manipulating...
narcissusA defect in infrared systems that appears as a dark circular area on a displayed image, caused by radiation reflecting into...
automated optical inspectionAutomated optical inspection (AOI) is a technology used in manufacturing processes, particularly in electronics, to...
detector arrayA detector array refers to a collection of individual detector elements arranged in a two-dimensional grid or matrix format....
free-space opticsFree-space optics (FSO), also known as optical wireless communication or optical wireless networking, refers to the...
optical clockAn optical clock is a highly precise and advanced timekeeping device that relies on the oscillations of electromagnetic...
beam-addressable technologyThe application of reversible writing with a laser beam on particular storage materials. In one method, an amorphous film is...
photoelectric photometryThe use of photoelectric sensors to detect and measure the intensity of a light source. This application, as compared to...
fluoroscopeAn instrument used to detect the fluorescence emitted by a source in comparison with a reference.
particle image velocimetryA whole-flow-field technique providing instantaneous velocity vector measurements in a cross-section of a flow that is...
Casimir forceThe Casimir force is a quantum phenomenon that results in an attractive force between two closely spaced uncharged...
Josephson effectCharacteristic of radiation detectors that produce energy that is similar to the energy of superconductive gaps when...
radiacAn acronym for radioactive detection, identification and computation. The term refers to the detection and measurement of...
gallium arsenide phosphideGallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) is a semiconductor alloy composed of gallium (Ga), arsenic (As), and phosphorus (P). It...
rare earth dopantsRare earth dopants refer to elements from the lanthanide series, also known as rare earth elements, that are intentionally...
Schottky-barrier IRCCDA form of infrared CCD that utilizes internal photoemission as a photodetection mechanism.
radiation thermocoupleA thermocouple that is used in infrared spectroscopy to detect a sample's infrared emittance. See thermocouple.
tracking1. The process of following an object's movement; accomplished by focusing a radar beam on the reticle of an optical system...
coherent fiber bundleA coherent fiber bundle (CFB), also known as a coherent fiber optic bundle, is an assembly of multiple optical fibers...
stochastic optical reconstruction microscopyStochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) is a superresolution microscopy technique that enables imaging of...
coherent communicationsA fiber optic communications system that works on the principles of homodyning or heterodyning. The transmitting laser...
modified chemical vapor depositionModified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) is a technique used in the fabrication of optical fibers. It is a specialized form...
resonatorA resonator is a device or system that exhibits resonance, which is a phenomenon that occurs when an external force or...
quantum key distributionQuantum key distribution (QKD) is a method of secure communication that utilizes principles from quantum mechanics to...
radiation pyrometerAlso known as radiation thermometer. A pyrometer in which the radiant intensity from the source to be measured is used to...
laser diode moduleA laser diode module is a compact device that incorporates a laser diode, optics, and often other components into a single...
very long baseline interferometryConsists of a pair of radio telescopes concentrated on a single celestial object. This technique creates a single radio...
photonicsThe technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. The...
nonlinear optical detectorA type of radiation detector designed to recognize nonlinear optical effects, such as the Raman effect, by means of a...
flying spot microscopeA microscope that uses a flying spot scanner, directed through the eyepiece, as a light source to determine the features of...
hyperspectral imagingHyperspectral imaging is an advanced imaging technique that captures and processes information from across the...
petrographic specimen preparationThe grinding and polishing of rock samples, to a thickness of less than 0.05 mm, for study with petrographic microscopes....
mode beatingIn optics, "mode beating" refers to an interference phenomenon that can occur in laser systems with multiple longitudinal...
otoscopeAn otoscope is a medical device used by healthcare professionals, particularly ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists,...
optical transform image modulationA technique for detecting and measuring atmospheric pollution, in which an oscillating mirror directs half the incoming...
holographic microscopyThe holographic recording of a microscopic specimen whereby magnification is achieved by alteration in a wavelength or...
photofabricationThe use of photoetching techniques to produce small tools, parts and dies from sheet metal.
FMCW lidarFMCW lidar stands for frequency-modulated continuous wave lidar. It is a type of lidar (light detection and ranging)...
technicolorThe color process that is used to form positive color cine films by dye transfer or imbibition, based on the use of separate...
infrared spectrophotometerA spectrophotometer having a prism or, more frequently, a grating for the study and recording of infrared spectra. It...
scintillation crystalA scintillation crystal, also known simply as a scintillator, is a material that emits light when it interacts with ionizing...
metallographic polishing machineA small optical polishing machine intended for polishing the surface of a metal specimen before etching for examination...
radioactivity detectorAn instrument used to detect radioactive materials: alpha particles or helium nuclei; beta particles or free electrons; and...
ZerodurSchott Glass Technologies' trade name for a glass-ceramic material with a very low coefficient of thermal expansion.
parallel scanningParallel scanning refers to a method of acquiring data or images simultaneously from multiple sources or in parallel, rather...
linear positioning stageA linear positioning stage, also known as a linear stage or translation stage, is a precision mechanical device used to...
latticeIn photonics, a lattice refers to a periodic arrangement of optical elements or structures, often on a microscopic or...
laserA laser, which stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation," is a device that produces coherent and...
optical stainingWith respect to microscopy, also called dispersive staining, optical staining the projection of colors through areas of a...
chemical actinometerA light-sensitive detector having a chemical compound that reacts when exposed to light. It is used in photochemistry and...
nanoparticle photonic resonator absorption microscopyNanoparticle photonic resonator absorption microscopy is a microscopy technique that combines the principles of photonic...
Joule-Thomson coolerA detector cooling device in which a gas under high pressure escapes through an expansion valve in the tank; as the escaped...
phase distrortionPhase distortion refers to a change in the phase relationships between different frequency components of a signal. In the...
carrier-to-noise ratioThe ratio of the power of the carrier wave to that of unwanted signal distortions, or noise, before any nonlinear signal...
magnetic rotation spectroscopyTechnique in which the polarization rotation of light, and its relationship to the magnetic field strength can be analyzed...
phaseIn optics and photonics, "phase" refers to a property of electromagnetic waves, such as light, that describes the position...
laser lithotripsyLaser lithotripsy is a medical procedure that uses laser energy to break down or fragment stones in various parts of the...
charge-coupled deviceA charge-coupled device (CCD) is a type of electronic image sensor used in various imaging devices, including digital...
laser active elementsLaser active elements typically refers to the substances or materials within a laser system that play a critical role in the...
nonlinear optical phase conjugationThe coupling of laser or light beams via nonlinear optical techniques such as four-wave mixing to achieve spatial variation...
embedded visionEmbedded vision refers to the integration of computer vision technologies into various embedded systems, devices, or...
Bragg method of crystal analysisA technique in which a beam of x-rays is directed against a crystal, the atoms of which, because of their lattice...
channel electron multiplierA photoelectric detector consisting of a glass tube internally coated with a low conductance material. Voltage applied along...
polarimeterA polariscope with a half-shade device and an angular scale generally attached to the analyzer. It is used to measure the...
infrared photodetector arrayAn impurity-doped silicon detector array sensitive to long infrared wavelengths, installed in optical collecting systems...
burn-throughA detector's ability to sense an object on the opposite side of a thin but opaque barrier such as cardboard.
excimer laser coronary angioplastyExcimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) refers to a medical procedure used in the treatment of coronary artery disease....
magneto-opticsMagneto-optics refers to the study and manipulation of the interaction between magnetic fields and light (electromagnetic...
detector noise-limited operationIn optical communication systems, operations in which the amplitude of the pulses, as opposed to their width, determines the...
lithographyLithography is a key process used in microfabrication and semiconductor manufacturing to create intricate patterns on the...
delay timeThe interval between direction of signal to a light-emitting diode and attainment of 10 percent output current in the...
freeform opticsFreeform optics refers to the design and fabrication of optical surfaces that do not follow traditional symmetric shapes,...
scintillation detectorA scintillation detector is a radiation detection device that utilizes scintillation crystals to detect and measure ionizing...
chemical vapor deposition equipmentChemical vapor deposition (CVD) equipment refers to a class of specialized apparatus used in the process of chemical vapor...
3D printing3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), is a manufacturing process that builds three-dimensional objects...
vacuum ultraviolet detectorA device that serves to detect the presence of vacuum ultraviolet radiation. It may be photographic film, a thermopile, ion...
CD/IA technical specification for a consumer product drawn up by Sony and Philips. CD/I combines audio, video and text recorded...
splice closureA container which secures multiple splice trays and protects the trays and their contents from damage.
optical coherence tomographyOptical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique used in medical and scientific fields to capture...
holographic cameraA holographic camera, also known as a holographic imaging system or holographic recorder, is a specialized device used to...
ionization gaugeA type of radiation detector that depends on the ionization produced in a gas by the passage of a charged particle through...
receiverA detector and signal demodulator used in optical communications systems to receive a signal and often to translate it into...
adaptive opticsAdaptive optics (AO) is a technology used to improve the performance of optical systems by reducing the effects of...
transmission electron microscopeA transmission electron microscope (TEM) is a powerful microscopy technique that uses a beam of electrons to create...
microphotonicsThe technology of manipulating light on a micro scale. In optical communications, this is usually accomplished using two or...
optical phase distortionOptical phase distortion refers to a phenomenon where the phase of an optical wavefront is altered as it propagates through...
whole slide imagingWhole slide imaging (WSI), also known as virtual slide microscopy or digital pathology, is a technology that involves the...
etaloningEtaloning is an optical phenomenon that occurs in imaging systems, particularly in devices such as spectrometers,...
x-ray spectrometerAn instrument designed to produce an x-ray spectrum of a material as an aid in identifying it. This technique is...
slicing and cutting machines - for crystals, quartz, glass, etc.A crystal, glass, or quartz slicing and cutting machine is a specialized piece of equipment used in the manufacturing...
phase maskIn optics and photolithography, a phase mask refers to a device that modifies the phase of light waves passing through it....
sapphire crystalSapphire crystal refers to a transparent, single-crystal form of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) known as corundum. It is one of the...
luminescenceLuminescence is the emission of light that occurs without the involved substance undergoing a significant increase in...
pneumatic detectorA device used to detect radiant energy by means of the thermal expansion of gas.
threshold1. In visual perception, the minimum value of stimulus that can be perceived on the average. 2. In optical detection...
crystal diodeA diode with a semiconducting material, such as germanium or silicon, for one electrode, and a fine wire "whisker''...
immunohistochemistryImmunohistochemistry (IHC) is a method for detecting antigens or haptens in cells of a tissue section by using labeled...
false colorIn imaging technology, assigning color to black and white images to differentiate features or convey information. Also...
reflectance confocal microscopyReflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a non-invasive imaging technique that allows for high-resolution, in vivo imaging...
gateableIn detectors, the ability to switch on and off electronically, thus producing the effect of a mechanical shutter.
functional near-infrared spectroscopyFunctional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that measures changes in hemoglobin...
topological photonicsTopological photonics is a branch of physics and optics that explores the application of topological concepts to the...
flowmeterA flowmeter is a device used to measure the flow rate or quantity of a fluid passing through a particular point in a system....
narrow-angle dark-field illuminationAn imaging system designed to highlight small deviations in a planar reflective object such as a mirror. The system can be...
liquid crystal on siliconLiquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) is a display technology that combines liquid crystal materials with silicon-based...
multianode microchannel array detectorA photon-counting instrument for use in both space-borne and ground-based photometric and spectroscopic instrumentation....
ondoscopeA glow discharge tube placed on an insulating rod to detect the presence of high-frequency radiation in the vicinity of a...
reflective spectroscopyReflectance spectroscopy is a technique used to analyze the reflective properties of materials across various wavelengths of...
image intensifierAn image intensifier, also known as an image intensification tube or image intensification device, is a specialized...
micro-LEDMicro-LED (micro-light-emitting diode) refers to a technology that involves the use of very small light-emitting diodes to...
high-voltage electron microscopeAn imaging device whose technology contributes three specific advantages: ability to study large solid specimens that...
photochemical detectorAn instrument used to detect and measure radiant energy by the formation of a chemical reaction.
light-beating spectroscopyThe spectroscopic analysis of optical line shapes and frequency shifts, using the technique of light beating; i.e., the...
Felgett advantageThe signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) obtained with a Fourier transform spectrometer when detector noise prevails, which exceeds...
image centroidOften referred to as the geometric center of a given image or image plane, the centroid of an image is a fixed point located...
optical design and engineering servicesOptical design and engineering services involve the development, customization, and optimization of optical systems and...
machine vision systemA machine vision system is an integrated combination of hardware and software components designed to capture, process, and...
light fidelityLiFi, short for light fidelity, is a wireless communication technology that utilizes visible light or infrared light to...
burst pressureThe measure used in vacuum technology to quantify the total pressure capacity of the ferrofluidic seal before it fails.
phase shiftingA technique used to generate a phase shift between reference and sample light beams. The phase shift can be performed...
laser-excited Shpol'skii spectroscopyA type of fluorescence spectroscopy in which an excimer laser, a dye laser and a frequency-doubling device are used to...
ultrashort-pulse laserA laser capable of generating light pulses that last only a few femtoseconds. This can be achieved by nonlinear filtering to...
extrinsic detectorA photodetector composed of a semiconductor material whose responsive properties can be altered by the addition of...
aversion responseEye blink or head movement in response to bright light. Aversion responses such as blinking are sufficient protection from...
laser-mediated gene transferLaser-mediated gene transfer refers to a technique in molecular biology and genetic engineering that utilizes lasers to...
multi-axis alignmentMulti-axis alignment refers to the process of aligning or adjusting components or systems in multiple spatial dimensions or...
electrophoretic displayAn electrophoretic display, often referred to as an electronic paper display or e-paper display, is a type of electronic...
quantum sensingQuantum sensing refers to a class of sensing technologies that leverage principles from quantum mechanics to enhance the...
photoelectric effectThe emission of an electron from a surface that occurs when a photon impinges upon the surface and is absorbed. This effect...
dark noiseThe noise produced in a photodetector when the photocathode is shielded from all external optical radiation and operating...
quantum detectorA photodetector in which an electrical charge is produced when incident photons change electrons within the detecting...
optofluidicsOptofluidics is an interdisciplinary field that combines principles from optics and fluidics to create devices and systems...
laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopyA pump-probe technique whereby a single wavelength source may be used in order to excite a given sample to determine...
cutoff wavelength1. In detector technology, the long wavelength at which detector response falls to a set percentage (usually 20 or 50...
light-powered telephoneTechnology that relies on a highly efficient photodetector that can detect incoming light signals at one frequency and...
holographyHolography is a technique used to capture and reconstruct three-dimensional images using the principles of interference and...
active opticsTechnology that corrects the shape of reflective optics; primarily applied in large telescope systems, in order to...
fluoro-immunosensorA fiber optic device that uses a HeNe laser, beamsplitter, monochromator and photomultiplier to detect trace levels of...
hyperspectral imaging cameraA hyperspectral imaging camera is a sophisticated imaging device capable of capturing and processing data across a wide...
Bose-Einstein condensateA Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) is a state of matter that forms at temperatures close to absolute zero. It is named after...
optical encoderA device designed to measure linear or rotary motion by detection of the movement of markings on a transparent medium past a...
remote inspectionRemote inspection refers to the process of inspecting, evaluating, or monitoring assets, equipment, infrastructure, or...
quantum dotsA quantum dot is a nanoscale semiconductor structure, typically composed of materials like cadmium selenide or indium...
photovoltaic detector
thermal noise-limited operationOperation in which the minimum detectable signal has its limits set by the thermal noise of the detector, the load...
optical pyrometryThe determination of the temperature of a source by the detection of its incandescent brightness.
phototelegraphyA document-transmitting process that uses a cylinder that rotates the document to be scanned and detected by a photoelectric...
integration timeIntegration time, in the context of optics, imaging systems, and sensor technology, refers to the duration over which a...
analyzerAn optical device, such as a Nicol prism, capable of producing plane-polarized light, and used for detecting the effect of...
synchronous pumpingThe technique of generating ultrashort -- down to subpicosecond -- pulses by pumping a dye laser with mode-locked laser...
photographic dosimetryThe use of photographic emulsions to detect and determine the amounts of ionizing radiation, such as x-rays and gamma rays,...
MSM photodiodeA metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodiode is a type of photodetector that consists of metal electrodes on a semiconductor...
CID cameraCID, or charge injection device, camera refers to a type of imaging device that utilizes a specific kind of solid-state...
detector1. A device designed to convert the energy of incident radiation into another form for the determination of the presence of...
focused laser scatteringA single-particle scattering technique in which an incident laser beam is tightly focused by means of lenses to yield a...
selective laser meltingSelective laser melting (SLM) is an additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that belongs to the powder bed...
roentgenologyThe study of x-rays, their biological effects and technology. Named for W.C. Roentgen, who discovered x-rays in 1895.
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...
optical glassOptical glass refers to a type of glass specifically engineered and manufactured for use in optical components and systems,...
accelerometerAn accelerometer is a sensor or transducer that measures the rate of change of velocity of an object, or in simpler terms,...
armorA protective jacket added to an optical fiber to facilitate use in harsh environments. Armor usually consists of steel or...
laser texturingLaser texturing is a manufacturing process that involves using a laser beam to selectively modify the surface of a material,...
lambda servicesTerm for service offered by a vendor who leases a particular wavelength to a customer through DWDM technology. Lambda...
kron cameraAstronomical detector consisting of a photocathode isolated from the target by a coin value from which electrons are focused...
ray tracingRay tracing is a rendering technique used in computer graphics to simulate the way light interacts with objects in a scene....
plane densitometerAn instrument designed to give precise and rapid detection of changes in tumor growth as well as the location of small...
laser driftLaser drift typically refers to a phenomenon where the frequency or wavelength of a laser source gradually changes over...
multiple-beam laserA laser having a Q-switching method that allows separate parallel volumes of the lasing material to act independently of...
gauze techniqueThe masking of all openings of an optical transform -- except the hole at the symmetrical center -- with a thin wire gauze...
capnometerAn instrument incorporating an infrared detector assembly, used to analyze carbon dioxide gases and in medical applications...
binocular thresholdThe absolute luminance threshold for detection by the two eyes.
view cameraA camera that permits adjustments in the perspective of an image; this is accomplished by the camera design, which permits...
ellipsometryEllipsometry is an optical technique used to characterize the properties of thin films and surfaces. It is based on the...
sensor1. A generic term for detector. 2. A complete optical/mechanical/electronic system that contains some form of radiation...
photoelectric receiverAn instrument that uses a photocell to detect and measure the intensity of incident light.
optical materialsOptical materials refer to substances or compounds specifically chosen for their optical properties and used in the...
scanning electron microscopyScanning electron microscopy (SEM) is an advanced imaging technique used in microscopy to obtain high-resolution,...
gravitational lensThe effect of a powerful gravitational field on light traveling through the field. This effect is detectable in astronomical...
photoemissive tube photometerA photometer that uses a photoemissive tube to detect and measure light. See photoelectric photometry.
organic light-emitting diodeAn organic light-emitting diode (OLED) is a type of light-emitting diode (LED) technology that utilizes organic compounds to...
machine visionMachine vision, also known as computer vision or computer sight, refers to the technology that enables machines, typically...
photolithographyPhotolithography is a key process in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices, integrated circuits, and...
auto-iris lensA device for automatic exposure control in which a motor-driven diaphragm adjusts the aperture in response to a signal from...
integrating sphereA hollow sphere coated internally with a white diffusing material and provided with openings for incident beam, specimen and...
fiber Bragg gratingA fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is a type of optical filter that is inscribed or "written" into the core of an optical fiber. It...
platinum silicideA semiconductor material used in photodetectors, sensitive in the infrared up to 5 µm.
power modulationPower modulation refers to the intentional variation of power levels in a signal, often in the context of electronic...
infrared thermal detectorUsed to detect radiation from the infrared region. The functional process includes absorption of infrared radiation, which...
electrosensitive recordingA technique that uses the passage of an electrical current through a recording medium to produce a permanent image on that...
intensity interferometerAn interferometer that functions by first detecting the light striking each aperture and then combining the two detector...
germanium detectorA type of photoconductive detector in which germanium, usually doped with boron, gallium and indium, serves as a...
cryogenicsThe science and technology applied to the creation of low temperatures (i.e., approaching absolute zero).
optoacousticOptoacoustic, or photoacoustic, refers to a phenomenon and related techniques that involve the generation of acoustic waves...
piezoresistancePiezoresistance is a phenomenon in materials science and physics where the electrical resistance of a material changes in...
Czochralski techniquePopular process for silicon and polycrystalline production that consists of an alteration of the original state of a...
isolatorIn the context of electronics and optics, an isolator refers to a device that allows the transmission of signals in one...
photoemissive detectorAn electronic tube instrument in which the anode current varies with the intensity of light incident on the cathode.
photon drag detectorAn infrared detector in which radiation passes through a doped germanium crystal, creating a voltage drop that can be...
rare-earth elementsRare-earth elements (REEs) are a group of seventeen chemical elements found in the Earth's crust, characterized by their...
pointing interferometerA device attached to the end of an alignment telescope that detects and calculates a plane mirror's rotation axis that is...
pyroelectric pulse detectorA current-source thermal detector used to detect and study the pulses obtained from particular lasers.
axial gradient technologyA method of designing lasers whereby the laser rod is cut into elliptical discs and cooled by running water over the disc...
mosaic detector arrayA group of photosensors arranged in a grid-like pattern covering the entire field of view, enabling them to record it all at...
Z-scanA technique for determining the nonlinear optical properties of a sample material by moving the sample through a focused...
photocathodesPhotocathodes are specialized materials or surfaces that exhibit the photoelectric effect, wherein the absorption of photons...
conical scan sensorA device used to determine the location and attitude with respect to the Earth of orbiting spacecraft by detecting the...
dark-field microscopyA technique whereby the sample is illuminated by a hollow cone of light larger than the acceptance angle of the objective,...
sky noiseVariations in signal detected on a bolometer that are caused by instabilities in the temperature of the sky.
resistorA device having electrical resistance and used in an electric current for purposes of protection, operation or control of...
stripe laserIn rudimentary form, this technology consists of diffusion of a PN junction through a mask of silica, over which a contact...
eutecticThe material that has the lowest possible constant melting point of any possible combination of the same components.
laser markingLaser marking is a process in which a laser beam is used to mark or engrave a surface by altering its properties or...
image photocounting distributionPhoton flow created by imaging of light into a detector array; IPD is the electrical signal used by the image processor in a...
smart pixel arrayAn array of active optical devices (modulators, laser diodes and/or detectors), each of whose electrical inputs or outputs...
D*A value used to designate the relative sensitivity of a detector. The higher the D* value, the better the detector.
scatterometryA measurement technique used for the rapid quantitative evaluation of surface quality based on the detection and analysis of...
gravitational imagingA process used to detect minute gravitational fields and to display images from objects by means of radiated gravitational...
lightElectromagnetic radiation detectable by the eye, ranging in wavelength from about 400 to 750 nm. In photonic applications...
coded discA reticle carrying patterns of various forms that can be rotated in an optical beam to cause variations in the intensity of...
nominal hazard zoneZone of laser operation in which the direct, reflected or scattered light exceeds the laser's MPE and (by ANSI standards)...
GigEGigE, short for gigabit Ethernet, refers to a standard for high-speed Ethernet communication, capable of transmitting data...
Raman spectroscopyRaman spectroscopy is a technique used in analytical chemistry and physics to study vibrational, rotational, and other...
label-freeLabel-free refers to a technique or method that does not require the use of additional labels, tags, or markers to detect or...
gain-switchingGain-switching is a technique used in lasers to generate short pulses of light by modulating the gain of the laser medium....
Förster resonance energy transferFörster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a mechanism describing the transfer of energy between two closely spaced...
optical design softwareOptical design software refers to specialized computer programs used by optical engineers, physicists, and designers to...
beam profilingBeam profiling is a technique used to characterize and analyze the spatial intensity distribution of a laser beam. It...
wide-field fluorescence microscopyWide-field fluorescence microscopy uses either naturally occurring structures or staining with fluorescent tags that are...
laser trappingA technique for confining atoms, molecules or small particles within one or more laser beams. This can be accomplished...
attenuated total reflectance spectroscopyAttenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy is a technique used in analytical chemistry to obtain IR spectra of samples....
magnetic resonance imagingAn imaging technique used in radiology that is based on the principles of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to produce...
diasporometerIn an optical rangefinder, the system of wedges that rotate in opposite directions to aid in the detection of deviation in...
optical fiber optic switchesOptical fiber optic switches are devices used in optical fiber communication systems to selectively route optical signals...
Bridgman techniqueCrystal growth method that resembles static freeze, but that induces growth by removing the ampoule from the furnace so that...
mode 1 (and mode 2)In compact disc systems, the two principal frame formats for data storage. Mode 1 devotes 2048 bytes to user data, reserving...
ultraviolet microscopyThe study and photographing of microscope specimens in ultraviolet light; using an optical microscope containing fluorite...
instantaneous field of viewInstantaneous field of view (iFOV) is a term commonly used in the context of remote sensing, imaging systems, and optical...
quantum-limited operationOperation in which the minimum detectable signal is set because of variations in the average signal current; e.g., quantum...
noise equivalent irradianceThe amount of spatial noise detected equivalent to the output emission location of the giving source.
Poisson shot noiseA stationary noise that occurs for visible light photodetection when a steady light source, such as a heterodyne reference...
harmonic generationHarmonic generation refers to a nonlinear optical process in which incoming photons interact with a material and produce new...
electron-beam film scanningThe method by which photographic film is scanned by an electron beam. One technique uses the uniform light of a television...
electrowetting displayAn electrowetting display (EWD) is a type of electronic display technology that utilizes the principles of electrowetting to...
moiré topographyContour mapping technique that involves positioning a grating close to an object and observing its shadow on the object...
galvanometerAn instrument for detecting or measuring small electric currents.
pixel pitchPixel pitch refers to the distance between the centers of two adjacent pixels on a display screen or imaging sensor. It is...
ratiometryRatiometry is a technique used in various scientific fields, particularly in analytical chemistry and biochemistry, to...
photomaskA photomask, also known simply as a mask or reticle, is a key component in the photolithography process used in...
spectrometric oil analysisAn analytical technique used to determine, identify and localize impending malfunctions. It is based upon quantitative and...
optical coherence tomography imaging systemOptical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging technique used in medical diagnostics and biomedical research to obtain...
pulsed laser depositionA technique for depositing a material coating on metal, ceramic, semiconductor or polymer substrates. The interaction of...
sensitivityIn a radiation detector, the ratio of the output to the input signal.
broken edgeA chamfer or protective bevel.
claddingThe low-refractive-index material that surrounds the core of an optical fiber to contain core light while protecting against...
turbidityTurbidity is a measure of the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by the presence of suspended particles. These...
coverslipA coverslip, also known as a cover glass or cover slip, is a thin and flat piece of transparent material typically made of...
terahertzTerahertz (THz) refers to a unit of frequency in the electromagnetic spectrum, denoting waves with frequencies between 0.1...
emissometryThe use of a material's emissivity to measure absorption. It is useful as an absorption loss measurement technique, since at...
angular spectrum approachThe angular spectrum approach is a mathematical and computational technique used in the field of optics to analyze and...
birefringenceBirefringence is an optical property of certain materials that causes them to exhibit different refractive indices for light...
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...
CMOS cameraA CMOS camera refers to an imaging device that employs a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor to...
metrologyMetrology is the science and practice of measurement. It encompasses the theoretical and practical aspects of measurement,...
computer-generated hologramA computer-generated hologram (CGH) is a holographic image produced using computational methods and algorithms, rather than...
helium leak detectorA small mass spectrometer used to find leaks in a vacuum system by detecting the presence of helium. Using a magnetic...
attosecond photonics sourcesAttosecond photonics sources refer to devices or systems that generate extremely short pulses of light on the order of...
ultramicroscopeA dark-field microscope used to view extremely small objects. These objects are suspended in a gas or liquid in an enclosure...
eye-safe laser operationWavelengths between 400 and 1400 nm (VIS to NIR) are focused onto the retina by the cornea. Because the retina is sensitive...
laser damage thresholdThe laser damage threshold refers to the maximum level of laser intensity that a material can withstand without experiencing...
nonlinear opticsNonlinear optics is a branch of optics that studies the optical phenomena that occur when intense light interacts with a...
laser powder bed fusionLaser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a type of additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that uses a high-power...
bolometerA thermometric instrument used for the detection and measurement of radiant energy. Its essential component is a short...
quantum-ehanced metrologyQuantum-enhanced metrology refers to the use of quantum mechanics principles and techniques to enhance the precision and...
light frameThe term for an image captured by a detector and from which a dark frame, bias frame and/or flat-field frame can be...
magnetron sputteringA variation from standard physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating techniques, magnetron sputtering is a plasma coating...
calcium indicatorA calcium indicator is a molecule that is sensitive to changes in calcium ion (Ca2+) concentrations in biological systems....
ultrasonic imagingThe formation and display of three-dimensional images by ultrasonic energy. In one technique, the energy pulses from an...
Geiger counterAlso called Geiger-Müller counter. An instrument designed to detect and measure radioactivity through the use of a...
speckle metrologyRefers to the variety of techniques that use the interference pattern produced by laser light diffusely reflected by an...
magnetometerA magnetometer is a scientific instrument used to measure the strength and/or direction of a magnetic field. It can detect...
mass spectrometryAn instrumental technique that utilizes the mass-to-charge ratio of charged particles as recorded from a mass spectrometer...
off-axis paraboloid and ellipsoid mirrorOff-axis paraboloid and ellipsoid mirrors are specialized optical components used in various optical systems, particularly...
network interface cardA network interface card (NIC), also known as a network adapter or LAN adapter, is a hardware component that allows...
antialiasingIn image processing, methods of reducing image defects that result from false data. Techniques include sampling, linear...
molded lensA molded lens is an optical lens manufactured using a molding process, typically involving the shaping of a material, such...
laser rangefinderA laser rangefinder is a device that uses laser technology to measure the distance between the device and a target. It...
advanced driver assistance systemsAdvanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) refers to a set of safety features and technologies designed to assist drivers in...
waveguideA waveguide is a physical structure or device that is designed to confine and guide electromagnetic waves, such as radio...
field effect transistor photodetectorA photodetector employing photoregeneration of carriers in the channel region of an FET structure to provide photodetection...
laser ablationLaser ablation is a process that involves the removal or erosion of material from a target surface using laser energy. This...
volume Bragg gratingsVolume Bragg gratings (VBGs) are specialized optical elements that consist of periodic variations in refractive index...
FTIR spectrometerFTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectrometer is a powerful analytical instrument used to obtain an infrared spectrum of...
time-averaged holographyAlthough low in sensitivity (approximately 10-7 m for helium-neon lasers), this holographic technique permits quantitative...
polymerase chain reactionThe polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a widely used molecular biology technique used to amplify a specific segment of DNA...
thermographyThermography is a technique that involves the use of an infrared imaging device, called a thermal camera or infrared camera,...
powder radiographyA technique used in radiography to determine a crystal's structure by obtaining radiographs of it in powder form, normally...
autofluorescenceAutofluorescence refers to the natural emission of fluorescence exhibited by certain biological structures or molecules when...
near-infrared cameraA near-infrared (NIR) camera is an imaging device designed to capture images in the near-infrared region of the...
cold shieldThat part of an infrared detector-Dewar assembly that limits the solid angle viewed by the sensor; it is maintained at a...
interphako interference microscopyMeasures the refractive indices axially from the fiber profile. Microscopy technique provides an interferogram with high...
GaN-based LEDsGallium nitride-based light-emitting diodes (GaN-based LEDs) are semiconductor devices that emit light when an electric...
photobleachingPhotobleaching is a phenomenon in which the fluorescence of a fluorophore (a fluorescent molecule or dye) is permanently...
proximal scanningTechnique using a fiber optic assembly to illuminate an opaque object and transmit an image back from it without a lens...
second-harmonic generationSecond-harmonic generation (SHG) is a nonlinear optical process that occurs when two photons with the same frequency combine...
phase-modulated sensorA phase-modulated sensor is a type of sensor that uses modulation of the phase of a signal to measure changes in a physical...
read-write capabilityIn an optical data storage system, denoting the optical head's ability both to record information and to detect it for...
quantum cascade laserA quantum cascade laser (QCL) is a type of semiconductor laser that operates based on the principles of quantum mechanics....
peripheral responseIn a charge-coupled device, the detection of charge collected by the transport register rather than by the image-sensing...
digital twinA digital twin refers to a virtual representation or digital counterpart of a physical object, system, or process. This...
variable-speed scanningA scanning technique in which the optical density of the film being scanned controls the speed of deflection of the scanning...
flame spectrophotometryThe study of the reflection or transmission properties of specimens as a function of wavelength after they have been excited...
cesium oxide cellA photoemissive detector sensitive to wavelengths up to 1 µm. It has one sharp maximum of sensitivity at 350 nm and a...
mode hoppingMode hopping in the context of lasers refers to a phenomenon where a laser system abruptly switches from one longitudinal...
microlens arrayA microlens array is a grid-like structure composed of numerous small lenses, typically arranged in a regular pattern. Each...
ion-assisted depositionA technique for improving the structure density of thin-film coatings by bombarding the growing film with accelerated ions...
infrared instrumentAny of the photoelectric and thermal detectors, spectrographs and monochromators, thermographs, scanners, amplifier tubes,...
dichroic mirrorA dichroic mirror, also known as a dichroic beamsplitter or interference filter beamsplitter, is an optical device that...
ospinOpsins are a group of light-sensitive proteins found primarily in the retinas of vertebrate and invertebrate eyes, as well...
laser annealingLaser annealing is a process that involves using a laser beam to heat and modify the microstructure of a material, typically...
Seidel aberrationsSeidel aberrations refer to a set of monochromatic aberrations in optical systems, named after the German mathematician and...
comparator1. An eyepiece or magnifier with a scale at its image plane. That scale is placed in contact with an object, permitting...
linear opticsLinear optics refers to the study and manipulation of light in a linear and deterministic manner, where the response of...
system on chipAbbreviated SoC. A single chip containing all the electronic circuits required for a complete, working product. SoCs are...
optical barcode readerAn optical barcode reader, commonly known as a barcode scanner, is a device that uses optical technology to capture and...
averaged threshold receiverA receiver for optical communications systems consisting of a symmetric binary, pulse-code-modulated transmitter, a...
flicker photometerA bench photometer that depends on the inability of the eye to distinguish color in brief flashes of light. Any difference...
windowingA technique for reducing data processing requirements by electronically defining only a small portion of the image to be...
near-infrared spectroscopy cerebral oximetryA monitoring technique used to measure the oxygen saturation levels in the brains of patients, commonly in operating room...
microbubble resonatorA microbubble resonator is a device used in photonics and optical physics for the precise manipulation of light waves. It...
optical noiseOptical noise refers to undesirable fluctuations or disturbances in an optical signal that can affect the quality or...
amplitude-modulated sensorA type of fiber optic sensor that detects alteration in position, distance, pressure, liquid level or temperature by...
projection moire topographyA contour mapping technique that involves projection of a grating onto an object to produce a shadow grating that is...
polaritonA polariton is a quasiparticle resulting from the strong coupling between photons (light particles) and certain types of...
fluorescence lifetime imagingFluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) is an advanced imaging technique that provides information about the lifetime of...
vacuum spectrographyThe technique of producing spectrograms in wavelengths beyond 120 nm by the use of a diffraction grating and a Schumann...
metaverseThe term "metaverse" refers to a collective virtual shared space, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical...
infraredInfrared (IR) refers to the region of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths longer than those of visible light, but...
spectrophotometric analysisThe detection and measurement of spectral reflectance, spectral transmittance or relative spectral emittance, relative to...
deuterated triglycine sulfateA type of pyroelectric detector with favorable qualities of linearity, sensitivity and spectral responsivity used in FTIR...
endoscopeAn endoscope is a medical device used for visualizing and examining the interior of hollow organs, body cavities, or...
lateral shearing interferometerA lateral shearing interferometer is an optical device used in interferometry to measure phase differences between two beams...
chromoendoscopyA technique of using dyes during endoscopy to improve tissue differentiation. Dyes such as methylene blue, Toluidine blue...
plastic opticsPlastic optics refers to optical components or systems that are made from transparent plastic materials, as opposed to...
lateral offset lossA power loss caused by transverse or lateral deviation from optimum alignment of source to optical waveguide, waveguide to...
optical coherence tomography angiographyAlso known as OCT-A, optical coherence tomography angiography is an imaging technique that uses light waves to measure...
computer polarization holographyA technique used to store wavefront information on thin polarization information-recordable materials by controlling the...
silicon monoxideA material used as a protective layer on an aluminized or silvered mirror. It is evaporated on the mirror as a thin layer,...
holographic tomographyHolographic tomography is an advanced imaging technique that combines holography and tomography to provide three-dimensional...
biometricsBiometrics refers to the automated recognition of individuals based on their physiological or behavioral characteristics....
spliceA permanent joint whose purpose is to couple optical power among two or more ports. Also, a device whose purpose is to...
diffractive opticsOptical elements that use diffraction to control wavefronts. Diffractive optical elements include diffraction gratings,...
carbon filmIn analysis, the carbon layer that is evaporation-deposited on a specimen to protect and ready it for study by electron...
infrared alarm systemA system that uses infrared detectors and related instrumentation to determine when abnormal amounts of infrared radiation,...
laser designatorA laser device used to establish a location or target usually for detection by an impact source e.g. missiles and guided...
Golay cellA thermal radiation detector consisting of a small cell with a blackened plastic front face that bulges slightly when heat...
photoconductive antennaPhotoconductive antenna (PCA) is a semiconductor element that generates or detects high-frequency electromagnetic signals....
vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopyA method of spectral analysis using wavelengths between 100 and 300 nm that utilizes both emission and absorption techniques.
digital holographic microscopyDigital holographic microscopy (DHM) is an advanced imaging technique that combines holography and digital image processing...
pulse slicerAn instrument designed for laser technology that is used to extract single pulses from the laser and transmit a portion of...
laser ceilometerA device used for measuring the height of clouds from a position on the ground. Measurement technique uses a vertically...
photon-richPhoton-rich typically refers to an environment or situation where there is an abundance of photons present. In the context...
opaque projectorAn opaque projector is a device used for enlarging and projecting images from opaque objects such as printed pages,...
tight bufferProtective material surrounding the cladding of an optical fiber that allows the fiber no play within it.
lock-in amplifierA lock-in amplifier is a specialized electronic instrument used to extract and measure small signals embedded in noise or...
quantum entanglementQuantum entanglement is a phenomenon in quantum mechanics where two or more particles become correlated to such an extent...
electron multiplication charge-coupled device cameraAn EMCCD (electron-multiplying charge-coupled device) camera is a type of scientific camera specifically designed for...
hybrid focal plane arrayA device where each pixel in the detector array is mated with a preamplifier on a single silicon chip, providing sensing and...
Sagnac interferometerA type of interferometer in which two coils of optical fiber are arranged so that light from a single source travels...
integrated opticsA thin-film device containing miniature optical components connected via optical waveguides on a transparent dielectric...
laser cell sortingA moving group of fluid-suspended biological species directed through separate channels by which the population is isolated....
image comparisonA method used in imaging to detect subtle differences between two apparently similar pictures. It can be achieved by...
frequency summingA technique used in holography that involves the mixing of lasers of different wavelengths to produce a beam of shorter...
fluorochromeThe combination of the organic dye in a stained specimen and the antibodies produced that is detected by exposure to light.
circular dichroismCircular dichroism (CD) is a spectroscopic technique used to study the structural characteristics of chiral (asymmetric)...
diffuse reflectance spectroscopyDiffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) is a nondestructive analytical technique used to investigate the optical properties...
cross-correlationA signal-averaging technique that improves signal-to-noise ratio by comparing a sampled signal with a reference signal...
backscatterBackscatter refers to the phenomenon in which radiation or waves are scattered backward, opposite to the direction of the...
masks for evaporation/depositionIn the context of thin film deposition processes such as evaporation or sputtering, masks are used to selectively deposit...
damped least squaresAn organizational method used in optical design computer programs. The technique produces one number (merit function) to...
point cloudA point cloud is a set of data points in a three-dimensional coordinate system, where each point represents a specific...
flash radiographyA technique used in radiography to obtain an unblurred image of a moving object by the use of very short x-ray exposures,...
swept-source laserA swept-source laser, also known as a wavelength-swept laser, is a type of laser that rapidly and continuously changes its...
near-infrared spectrometerA near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer is an analytical instrument used to measure the absorption, transmission, or reflection...
nanostructured glassA unique glass made up of nano-structured materials to create millimeter sized monolithic glass space-variant polarization...
photoacoustic imagingAbbreviated PAI. An imaging modality with a hybrid technique based on the acoustic detection of optical absorption from...
boxcar averagerAn instrument for detecting and analyzing repetitive signals. Using a fixed time delay or "gate," the input signal...
fixed-pattern noiseFixed-pattern noise is the measure of the static (nontemporal) differences between pixels when the detector is evenly...
additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a manufacturing process that involves creating three-dimensional...
time-correlated single photon countingTime-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) is a technique used in photon counting applications, particularly in the...
ultrasonicUltrasonic refers to sound waves with frequencies higher than the upper audible limit of human hearing, typically above...
moving aperture techniqueMethod for reducing laser speckle in which the object field comes from a real diffuse object or the reconstructed object...
infrared cameraAn infrared camera, also known as a thermal imaging camera or IR camera, is a device that captures and visualizes the...
binary thresholdingAn imaging technique that labels all gray pixels as either black or white before processing begins.
positioningPositioning generally refers to the determination or identification of the location or placement of an object, person, or...
static beam shapingA technique for creating optimal performance in a system by producing a specific beam irradiance distribution, usually...
nuclear magnetic resonanceA phenomenon, exploited for medical imaging, in which the nuclei of material placed in a strong magnetic field will absorb...
photoluminescence mappingA technique used for noncontact inspection of semiconductor wafers. The material is illuminated by an excitation source that...
scanning acoustic microscopeAlso called scanning laser acoustic microscope. A device that uses high-frequency ultrasound waves to penetrate surfaces. A...
Weissenberg methodThe Weissenberg method, named after the German physicist Karl Weissenberg, is a technique used in x-ray crystallography for...
machine vision lightingMachine vision lighting refers to the use of specific lighting techniques and equipment in the field of machine vision,...
nanophotonicsNanophotonics is a branch of science and technology that explores the behavior of light on the nanometer scale, typically at...
Kerr effectThe Kerr effect, named after the physicist John Kerr who first observed it in 1875, is a nonlinear optical phenomenon where...
quantitative phase imagingQuantitative phase imaging (QPI) is an advanced imaging technique used in microscopy to measure and analyze the optical...
multiline laser systemA multiline laser system refers to a type of laser that is capable of emitting multiple discrete wavelengths or spectral...
null processCommonly performed in spectroscopy, the optical null process is a method for radiation detection whereby physical detectors...
functional materialFunctional materials refer to materials that possess specific properties or functionalities that make them suitable for...
dwell timeFor a detector, the amount of time alotted for the observation of one location.
noise equivalent powerAt a given modulation frequency, wavelength, and for a given effective noise bandwidth, the radiant power that produces a...
attosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopyAttosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopy (APAP) is an advanced technique in ultrafast spectroscopy that allows...
laser absorption spectroscopyAn experimental research technique by which absorbed or unabsorbed radiation is analyzed in order to characterize and...
diffuserAn optical diffuser is an optical component or material designed to scatter or diffuse light that passes through it. It is...
thermal dissociationA technique for detecting free radicals by their electronic spectra. The material to be studied is placed in a...
arc flashAn arc flash is a sudden release of electrical energy due to an electric arc — a continuous, high-current discharge of...
refracted ray methodThe technique for measuring the index profile of an optical fiber by scanning the entrance face with the vertex of a high...
electron speckle pattern interferometryA method for detecting vibration amplitudes analogous to image holography, except that the film emulsion is replaced by a...
epitaxial depositionEpitaxial deposition is a process used in semiconductor manufacturing and materials science to grow a thin crystalline...
laser velocimeter signal detectionThe variation of the electronically detected signal with respect to the scaled version of the classical optical signal...
mid-infrared cameraA mid-infrared camera is a type of imaging device designed to capture images in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral range,...
GRIN lensA GRIN (gradient index) lens is a type of optical lens that utilizes a gradient in refractive index across its volume rather...
light sectioningTechnique for measuring the volume bulk of materials as they move along a conveyor with an accuracy of better than 1...
single instruction/multiple dataA computer architecture used in parallel processing whereby the processing elements are directed by a single, central...
microwave phototubeA device designed to detect microwave modulation and to mix modulated and unmodulated laser beams. It consists of a...
detemA device in which the functions of optical detector and emitter are combined.
ultraviolet-visible spectrometerAlso known as UV-VIS spectrometer, a device that measures the absorbance, reflectance or transmittance of light in the...
optical tweezersOptical tweezers refer to a scientific instrument that uses the pressure of laser light to trap and manipulate microscopic...
microcircuit manufacturingThe formation of transistors, diodes, capacitors, resistors and other electronic elements directly on a flake of silicon by...
microdensitometerThe fundamental tool of microdensitometry, the microdensitometer is an instrument used for the precise measurement of...
optical manufacturing tools and machineryOptical manufacturing tools and machinery encompass a wide range of equipment, instruments, and systems used in the...
x-ray analysisThe series of processes used to identify and evaluate crystal structure by using crystalline solids to diffract x-rays. In...
mirror testingThe observation and measurement of the flatness of a mirror surface by contacting an optical flat with the mirror. The...
ultraviolet lensA microscope used either to detect selective absorption of various wavelengths by the specimen or to achieve increased...
thermophotovoltaicThermophotovoltaic (TPV) refers to a technology that converts heat energy into electricity using the principles of...
umbilicalA connection, typically made up of one or more cables, between a laser head and a separate power supply. Flexible pipes or...
electron metallurgyThat branch of metallurgy that uses electron microscopic techniques in the examination of the nature of metals.
overilluminationA hologram facet illumination technique in which the illuminating beam is twice the size of the hologram facet so that full...
light sheet fluorescence microscopyAlso known as single plane illumination microscopy (SPIM), this process was designed for imaging of sensitive samples and...
epifluorescence microscopyFluorescence imaging technique in which the excitation light from the objective is directed into the sample producing...
second-harmonic generation microscopyA nonlinear label-free imaging technique commonly used during surgical procedures for the visualization of collagen fibers...
cathode radiant sensitivityCathode radiant sensitivity refers to the ability of a photocathode to convert incident radiant energy, typically in the...
atom opticsThe area of optics in which the wave nature of a particle is exploited to carry out very accurate interferometry and other...
RTSP protocolRTSP, or real-time streaming protocol, is a network control protocol designed for controlling streaming media servers. It is...
edge detectionIn image processing, the location of edges by employing templates that respond to the first or second derivative of...
micro-ring resonatorA micro-ring resonator is a compact optical device that utilizes the resonant behavior of light within a small ring-shaped...
Er:YAG laserAn Er:YAG laser is a type of solid-state laser that uses a crystal made of erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet...
custom opticA custom optic refers to an optical component that is designed, manufactured, and tailored to meet specific requirements or...
photorefractive keratectomyA surgical procedure for correcting vision by reshaping the outer surface of the cornea through the use of a laser system.
immersed detectorA radiation detector with its active medium mounted within a lens that focuses the radiation signal. The improvement in...
Faraday rotationThe effect discovered by Faraday in 1845 whereby nonoptically active materials or substances become capable of rotating the...
infrared bolometerA superconducting bolometer, operating at very low temperatures, that is used to detect infrared radiation.
microreciprocal degreeAn approximated measure of the smallest change in color temperature detectable by the human eye, defined as the reciprocal...
optical memory1. The direct storage of data as bits in memory using optical systems and properties. The memory makes use of a laser beam...
high-speed photographyPhotography involving the recording of events that occur too fast to be perceived by the human eye or recorded by...
interferometric modulator displayInterferometric modulator display (IMOD) is a type of display technology used in electronic devices, known for its energy...
absorption meterA measuring device that uses a light-sensitive cell or detector to determine the amount of light transmitted by a substance.
transducerA transducer is a device or component that converts one form of energy into another. It is commonly used in various fields,...
detective quantum efficiencyThe square of the ratio of the measured detectivity to the theoretical maximum detectivity.
photomultiplier tubeA photomultiplier tube (PMT) is a highly sensitive vacuum tube that detects and amplifies low levels of light. It is widely...
suprathermal ion detectorA mass spectrometer used to detect ions formed by photo- and charge-exchange ionization of gases, such as those in the lunar...
sondeA ruggedized scintillation counter used in oil well logging. The cylindrical housing contains a gamma ray source, a...
ophthalmic photographyThe methods and techniques used to obtain medical photographs of the human eye. To photograph the exterior of the eye,...
design and engineering consulting servicesDesign and engineering consulting services refer to professional services provided by specialized firms or individuals to...
packing density1. In a photonic interconnect, the number of detectors in a given area. Detectors spaced too closely may give rise to...
differential pulse code modulationA method of coding image data by storing in memory only differences in brightness of each pixel from that of its nearest...
infrared mappingThe process of mapping the infrared emittance of an area through the use of an infrared detector and related scanning...
addressabilityIn display technology, an expression of resolution given by the number of pixels in both the horizontal and the vertical...
coated opticsOptical elements that have been coated with one or more layers of dielectric, or metallic material. These coatings serve to...
differential interference contrast microscopyDifferential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy, also known as Nomarski interference contrast microscopy, is an optical...
continuous waveContinuous wave (CW) refers to a type of signal or transmission where the signal is constant and does not vary with time. In...
x-ray detectionThe collection and detection of x-rays by virtue of their ionizing properties. The ionization may be perceived directly by a...
Destriau effectObserved electroluminescence of zinc sulfide phosphors when excited by an electric field. This effect is the basis for the...
conjugate autofocus systemA system that determines whether an image is in or out of focus by means of a source of illumination at the conjugate focal...
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...
second-order nonlinear optical propertiesSecond-order nonlinear optical properties refer to a class of phenomena exhibited by certain materials in response to...
microfluidicsMicrofluidics is a multidisciplinary field that involves the manipulation and control of very small fluid volumes, typically...
pyramid errorPyramid error in optics refers to an aberration in the shape of an optical surface, particularly in the context of mirrors....
halogen lampA halogen lamp, also known as a tungsten halogen, quartz-halogen, or quartz iodine lamp, is an incandescent lamp that uses a...
solar simulatorA solar simulator is a device used to replicate the spectrum and intensity of sunlight in a controlled environment for...
spatial light interference microscopySpatial light interference microscopy (SLIM) is an optical microscopy technique that belongs to the category of quantitative...
grapheneGraphene is a two-dimensional allotrope of carbon consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal...
thin-film coatingThin-film coatings are layers of material applied to the surface of an object or substrate, typically to modify its optical,...
card readerA system that generally uses a photodetector to decode punched cards for information, or for input to a computer, by sensing...
spectrofluorometerAn automatic scanning instrument that is used to study a substance's fluorescence over a wide range of wavelengths. It...
micro-opticsMicro-optics refers to the design, fabrication, and application of optical components and systems at a microscale level....
phase-contrast generationMicroscopy technique to convert the phase structure of the wave transmitted or reflected by the specimen into a...
scientific complementary metal-oxide semiconductorScientific complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (sCMOS) refers to a type of image sensor technology specifically designed...
scanning tunneling microscopeA high-resolution imaging instrument that can detect and measure the positions of individual atoms on the surface of a...
microchannel plateA microchannel plate (MCP) is a specialized electron multiplier device used in various applications such as particle...
stereomicrographyTechnique that provides two stereographic views of an object that are larger than the object itself, by means of mutually...
CMOS quantitative polymerase chain reaction systemThis type of miniaturized system, referred to as CMOS qPCR, combines microfluidic technology with an ultralow-light CMOS...
deep ultravioletDeep ultraviolet (DUV or deep-UV) refers to a specific range of ultraviolet light with shorter wavelengths than those in the...
two-photon fluorescenceThis results from the simultaneous absorption of two photons, each having half the energy needed for excitation and...
microscopyMicroscopy is a scientific technique that involves the use of microscopes to observe and study objects that are too small to...
phase-change optical discAn erasable data recording and storage medium that uses a laser to heat the crystalline surface of the disc to a certain...
piezo-optical transducerA structure consisting of a thin film of liquid crystal sandwiched between light-polarizing filters that have received a...
spectrophone techniqueGas detection measurement technique that uses a built-in capacitative microphone to calculate the amount of absorbed laser...
epitaxial equipmentEpitaxial equipment refers to a set of specialized tools and systems used in the process of epitaxy, which is the growth of...
jacketThe outer material that surrounds and protects the buffered and unbuffered fibers in an optical cable.
optogeneticsA discipline that combines optics and genetics to enable the use of light to stimulate and control cells in living tissue,...
infrared detectorAn infrared detector is a device that is used to detect and measure infrared radiation, which lies beyond the visible...
Peltier coolerA Peltier cooler, also known as a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) or thermoelectric module, is a solid-state device that uses...
neuromorphic vision sensorA neuromorphic vision sensor is a type of imaging device designed to mimic the structure and functioning of the human visual...
laser gyroscopeCounter propagating beams imaged along the same path in order to detect rotation. Precise rotation is measured through...
thin-film deposition equipmentThin-film deposition equipment refers to machinery and tools used in the process of depositing thin layers of material onto...
remote sensingRemote sensing is a method of data collection and observation where information about objects, areas, or phenomena on...
novelty filterA filtering device that detects what is new in a scene of interest. Often compared to that of a temporal high pass filter,...
optical data storageThe storage of information via optical means, primarily employing a low-power laser to inscribe data on a photosensitive...
quantum dot light-emitting diodeQuantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) is a display technology that utilizes quantum dots, which are semiconductor...
sapphireSapphire refers to a crystalline form of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) that is used in various optical and photonic applications...
dynamic stare sensorA type of mosaic detector array that combines features of scanning and staring sensors by using a small rapid scanning...
optical channel monitorAn optical channel monitor (OCM) is a device used in optical communication systems to monitor and analyze the performance of...
protective bevelThe removal of a sharp edge on an optical element by grinding, to prevent accidental chipping of that edge during subsequent...
optoelectronic integrated circuitA monolithic device containing both photonic and electronic sources, detectors, modulators, etc., on a single semiconductor...
q-switched operationQ-switched operation, or q-switching, is a technique used in lasers to produce short and intense pulses of light. The term...
direct scanningA scanning technique in which the object is illuminated the entire time, and in which picture elements of the object are...
relative detector responseA plot showing how the response (ability to detect a signal) varies with wavelength. D(l).
Polarization ImagingA subsurface imaging technique based upon the polarization of light reflected off an object. The polarization of reflected...
fiber-coupled LEDA fiber-coupled LED (light-emitting diode) refers to an LED device that is optically coupled to an optical fiber for the...
collection angleThe solid angle of a detector or system pupil as seen by the source.
common optoelectronics laser detection systemA laser warning and countermeasure system containing a sensor that indicates the direction of a laser beam, and analytical...
complementary metal-oxide semiconductorComplementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) refers to a technology used in the fabrication of integrated circuits,...
synchronous detectorA detector sensitive only to signals close to or at a particular frequency that is the same as the frequency of a control...
optical testing instrumentAn optical testing instrument is a device or system used to evaluate and measure the performance, quality, and...
cutback techniqueA technique for measuring fiber attenuation or distortion by performing two transmission measurements. One is at the output...
coupler1. In color development, the chemical that combines with certain by-products of the development procedure to form a dye. 2....
linear receive opticsLinear receive optics typically refers to the optical components and systems used in the reception (detection) of linearly...
CubeSatA CubeSat is a type of miniaturized satellite characterized by its standardized size and modular design. CubeSats are...
multimode distortionIn an optical waveguide,- typically a multimode fiber - the distortion resulting from differential mode delay, i.e. axial...
holographic crystal growth analysisThe study of crystal growth from the molten stage utilizing a holographic system wherein interferometric techniques record...
edge sensing, second derivativeTechnique for the precision evaluation of coincidence of a laser beam's center with the edge of the object under study and...
historadiographyTechniques used in biology to produce microradiographs of cells, tissues or small organisms.
photonic integrated circuitA photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is a compact and integrated device that incorporates multiple photonic components and...
angular misalignmentAngular deviation from the optimum alignment of source to optical waveguide, waveguide to waveguide, or waveguide to...
gamma-ray spectrometerAn instrument used to detect and measure the energy distribution of gamma rays. It has been used to chart the radioactivity...
near-field scanningA measurement technique used to determine the spatial distribution profile of an electrical or optical quantity of interest...
modulated grating hologramA computer-generated, phase-and-amplitude, off-axis hologram made by a multi-exposure technique that uses three computer...
monochromatorA monochromator is an optical instrument used to isolate and select a narrow range of wavelengths from a broader spectrum of...
digital image processingThe technique by which an analog image is converted by any of several means into a finite array of points, each represented...
autocollimationTechnique of projecting an illuminated target at infinity and receiving the target image after reflection from a flat mirror...
hyperspectral resolutionHyperspectral resolution refers to the level of detail or granularity in the spectral information captured by a...
CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory)An adaptation by Philips and Sony of their audio compact disc technology for optical disc data storage and retrieval....
blink comparatorAn optical system that rapidly alternates two similar pictures or scenes to permit the detection of small dissimilarities...
terahertz spectrometerA terahertz spectrometer is a scientific instrument used to measure and analyze the properties of materials in the terahertz...
polariscopeA combination of a polarizer and an analyzer that is used to detect birefringence or rotation of the plane of polarization...
Secondary Speckle PatternA self-interference effect that generates random patterns; secondary speckle pattern (SSP) typically occurs in diffuse...
Mach-Zehnder interferometerA Mach-Zehnder interferometer is an optical device used to measure the phase difference between two collimated beams of...
scanning electron microscopeA scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a powerful imaging instrument used in scientific research, materials...
fiber-coupled photoconductive antennaA fiber-coupled photoconductive antenna (FCPA) is a type of optoelectronic device that combines a photoconductive antenna...
laser velocimeterA system that uses a continuous-wave laser to measure the velocity of an object by focusing the laser beam on the object,...
swept source optical coherence tomographySwept-source optical coherence tomography is an imaging technique used in medical diagnostics, particularly in...
calorimetryCalorimetry is a branch of science that involves the measurement of heat flow in physical or chemical processes. It...
retroreflectorA retroreflector is an optical device or structure that reflects incident light or electromagnetic waves back to their...
test cubeA device used to detect elevation, pyramid and resolution errors in prisms and other components by bringing them into...
focal plane assemblyAn infrared imaging device composed of a detector array and readout electronics. It may include a cryogenic cooling system....
photodynamic inactivationPhotodynamic inactivation (PDI) is a therapeutic approach that utilizes the combination of light, a photosensitizer, and...
oblique illuminationA common technique in microscopy, oblique illumination is one in which the object is illuminated by a light source that is...
field of viewThe field of view (FOV) refers to the extent of the observable world or the visible area that can be seen at any given...
Langmuir-Blodgett techniqueA method of depositing crystalline films one molecular layer at a time, by dipping the substrate into water containing a...
cold fingerA cryogenically cooled component incorporated into the Dewar of an infrared detector assembly to maintain the sensing...
single-photon-decay spectroscopyA technique for observing the decay of light emissions from sources following their pulsed excitations, based on recording...
metasurfacesMetasurfaces are two-dimensional arrays of subwavelength-scale artificial structures, often referred to as meta-atoms or...
whispering gallery modeWhispering gallery mode (WGM) refers to a phenomenon in wave physics, particularly in optics, where waves, such as light or...
photodynamic therapyA medical technology that uses lasers or other light sources in combination with photosensitizing drugs to treat cancerous...
phase matchingPhase matching is a crucial concept in the field of optics, particularly in nonlinear optics and the generation of coherent...
metabolic imagingMetabolic imaging refers to the visualization and quantification of metabolic processes within living organisms, tissues, or...
paraboloidal mirrorA concave mirror that has the form of a paraboloid of revolution. The paraboloidal mirror may have only a portion of a...
femtosecond laserA femtosecond laser is a type of laser that emits ultrashort pulses of light with durations on the order of femtoseconds,...
orthonormalizationOptimization method used in optical design computer programs that employs a variable-by-variable approach to construct new...
attenuationAttenuation refers to the gradual loss or reduction of intensity, force, or magnitude of a particular property as it...
Nomarski microscopyAlso referred to as differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy; Nomarski microscopy is a unique form of microscopy...
native fluorescenceThe light emitted from tissues without the use of fluorescent dyes as markers. Because cancerous tissues and normal tissues...
nitrogen vacancyA nitrogen vacancy (NV) refers to a specific type of defect or impurity in a crystal lattice where a nitrogen atom replaces...
fluorescence lifetimeFluorescence lifetime refers to the average time it takes for a fluorophore, a molecule that absorbs light at one wavelength...
chirped-pulse amplificationChirped pulse amplification (CPA) is a technique used in laser physics to amplify ultrashort laser pulses to high energies...
directed energyDirected energy refers to a type of energy that is emitted and transferred in a controlled direction. The term is often...
fluorescence microscopyFluorescence microscopy is a specialized optical imaging technique used in biology, chemistry, and materials science to...
positron emission tomographyA medical imaging device that uses a ring of crystal/photomultiplier tube assemblies encircling the patient to detect gamma...
time-lapse optical coherence tomographyTime-lapse optical coherence tomography (OCT) refers to a medical imaging technique that captures a series of sequential OCT...
exciter lampA small incandescent lamp whose intense beam is focused on the optical soundtrack of a motion picture film. The soundtrack...
transient calorimetric techniqueA method of measuring total hemispherical emissivity of the plane surface of a solid that consists of thermally isolating a...
quantum efficiencyQuantum efficiency (QE) is a measure of the effectiveness with which a device or system, typically in the context of...
photonic crystalsPhotonic crystals are artificial structures or materials designed to manipulate and control the flow of light in a manner...
Laurent polarimeterA Laurent polarimeter is an instrument used in optics for measuring the rotation of plane-polarized light caused by...
rectificationA technique used in photogrammetry to ensure parallelism during projection printing. Failure to do this will change a...
speckle imagingA technique for obtaining improved resolution of images produced by large telescopes and distorted by the effects of...
polymerPolymers are large molecules composed of repeating structural units called monomers. These monomers are chemically bonded...
focal plane arrayA linear or two-dimensional matrix of individual detector elements, typically used at the focus of an imaging system.
ion-beam sputteringIon-beam sputtering (IBS) is a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique used for depositing thin films onto substrates. It...
optical tableAn optical table, also known as an optical bench or an optical breadboard, is a specialized platform used in optics...
virtual realityVirtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment or experience that can be...
pixel binningPixel binning, also known as pixel merging or pixel combining, is a technique used in digital imaging and camera technology....
nanoimprint lithographyNanoimprint lithography (NIL) is a nanolithography technique used for fabricating nanoscale patterns on a substrate. It is a...
magnetorheological finishingMagnetorheological finishing (MRF) is a precision optics polishing technique used for shaping and finishing optical surfaces...
indium gallium arsenide cameraAn InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide) camera is a type of imaging device that utilizes InGaAs sensors to capture images in the...
edge-emitting LEDAn edge-emitting light-emitting diode is a type of LED structure where light emission occurs primarily along the edge of the...
surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopySurface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an analytical technique that combines the principles of Raman spectroscopy...
infrared light-emitting diodeAn infrared light-emitting diode (IR LED) is a semiconductor device that emits infrared light when an electric current...
Nernst glowerA Nernst glower, also known simply as a Nernst lamp or Nernst filament, is a type of incandescent lamp or radiant heater...
photodischarge spectroscopyA spectroscopic process that detects and analyzes the discharge from an extrinsic surface with less than bandgap light. This...
computer numerically controlled grindingComputer numerically controlled (CNC) grinding is a manufacturing process that utilizes computerized controls and precision...
Doppler-spread imagingAn imaging process, similar to specific Doppler mapping radar techniques, that utilizes a laser, an optical imaging system,...
transputerA computer whose architecture contains several CPU chips arranged in parallel. Often used in image processing systems.
nanoLEDAn LED (light-emitting diode) is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs...
optical time-domain reflectometerAn optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) is a specialized instrument used in optical fiber communications to characterize...
III-V materialIn semiconductor physics and materials science, the term "III-V materials" refers to compounds composed of elements from...
tip-enhanced Raman scatteringTip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) is a powerful technique that combines Raman spectroscopy with the enhanced spatial...
automatic profilingIn fiber optics, the use of a detector to study the range of refractive indices achieved at various wavelengths. This...
tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopyA spectroscopic technique that combines the high chemical specificity of Raman scattering and signal sensitivity provided by...
rear facet monitorA photodetector mounted in the same package as a laser diode that is positioned to monitor the output from the rear facet of...
dynamic spectroscopyA spectroscopic technique used to display the intensity of an optical pulse as functions of time and frequency...
multiple wavelength interferometryA specific form of phase shifting interferometry - commonly referred to as multiple wavelength phase shifting interferometry...
histochemical stainingHistochemical staining is a laboratory technique used in biology and medicine to visualize specific chemical components...
color sensitometryThe detection and analysis of the relative response of a material to light over the range of wavelengths.
molecular motorA molecular motor refers to a nano-sized device composed of organic molecules or other small-scale components that can...
proximity-mode sensingA method of sensing by transmitting energy from the sensor and detecting the energy after it has been reflected by the...
freeform mirrorsFreeform mirrors refer to reflective optical components that deviate from traditional symmetric or rotationally symmetric...
plasma acceleratorA plasma accelerator is a type of particle accelerator that uses electric fields and magnetic fields to accelerate charged...
CCD image sensorA CCD image sensor, or charge-coupled device image sensor, is a type of electronic device used to convert optical images...
photodiode detectorA photodiode detector is a semiconductor device that converts light into an electrical current. It operates based on the...
plasmon ion-assisted depositionPlasmon ion-assisted deposition (PIAD) is a technique used in thin-film deposition processes, particularly in the production...
pulsed sandwich holographySeparation of incident laser pulses by several seconds so holographic plates can be changed and sandwiched between the...
random access multiphoton microscopyAlso known as RAMP microscopy, random access multiphoton microscopy is a microscopic technique that uses multiple...
nanotubeA nanotube, also known as a nanotubule or simply a tube-like structure, is a nanoscale cylindrical structure composed of...
STED microscopySTED microscopy, or stimulated emission depletion microscopy, is a superresolution imaging technique in fluorescence...
dewettingDewetting is a phenomenon in materials science and physics where a thin film or coating spontaneously undergoes a process of...
plastic jacketsThe direct cladding used for fused silica cores to create large numerical aperture fibers and used as overcoats to...
total internal reflection fluorescenceTotal internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy is an advanced fluorescence microscopy technique that leverages the...
YAG crystalA YAG crystal refers to a solid-state crystal made of yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), which is a synthetic crystalline...
divided slit scanA scanning technique in optical character recognition in which an array of photocells is used to scan each character to...
constant variant enhancementTechnique that uses high-pass filtering to reduce the local average to zero for all regions of the picture and then applies...
dark currentThe current that flows in a photodetector when there is no optical radiation incident on the detector and operating voltages...
piecewise interferometryAn interferometric technique for the generation of precision gratings that allows for sequential exposure of small segments...
photon burst detection of fluorescenceA type of laser spectroscopy used to measure short-lived isotopes by observing sudden bursts of fluorescence resulting from...
time-to-amplitude converterA time-to-amplitude converter (TAC) is an electronic circuit that converts a time interval between two events into an...
motion controllerIn optics, a motion controller refers to a device or system that precisely controls the movement of optical components, such...
moiré deflectometryAn optical interference technique widely utilized as a method of nondestructive testing when determining the ray deflection...
ion exchange techniqueA method of fabricating a graded-index optical waveguide by means of an ion exchange process.
telephotometryThe principles and techniques involved in the use of telephotometers to measure atmospheric extinction.
optical grating reflectance evaluatorA device for measuring diffraction grating efficiency at any angle of incidence, consisting of a reflectometer wherein the...
light diffusionLight diffusion refers to the process by which light is scattered or spread out in various directions as it interacts with a...
vernier interferometerA phase-shift interferometer used to detect the relative angular speeds or positions of two concentric rotors.
spectral repeatabilitySpectral repeatability refers to the consistency and reproducibility of spectral measurements across multiple trials or...
laser peeningLaser peening is a surface enhancement technique used to improve the mechanical properties of materials, particularly...
fiber photometryAn optical recording technique that uses light source(s), a beamsplitting cube, light detector(s) and an optical fiber...
plasmonicsPlasmonics is a field of science and technology that focuses on the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and free...
ophthalmologyOphthalmology is a branch of medicine that focuses on the anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the eyes and visual system....
electromagnonAn electromagnon is a quasiparticle excitation that combines aspects of both magnetism and electric polarization in a...
chalcogenideChalcogenide refers to a class of compounds containing elements from group 16 of the periodic table, which includes sulfur...
scoringThe cutting of pitch tooling surfaces by an optical technician to permit polishing compounds to flow across the surface of...
opticsOptics is the branch of physics that studies the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter...
flow cytometryFlow cytometry is a powerful technique used in biology and medicine for the quantitative analysis of the physical and...
gallium nitrideGallium nitride (GaN) is a compound made up of gallium (Ga) and nitrogen (N). It is a wide-bandgap semiconductor material...
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...
loose-tube bufferingIn fiber optic cable, containment of the fiber or fibers within an outer protective tube in which they can move to some...
covered grooveA technique used in integrated optics where a groove is cut on a substrate surface and covered by a thin film to facilitate...
MEMS fiber optic switchA MEMS fiber optic switch is a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device designed to selectively route optical signals...
Ti:sapphire laserA Ti:sapphire laser is a type of solid-state laser that utilizes a titanium-doped sapphire crystal as the gain medium. The...
after-imageThat image remaining on the detector after the primary stimulus has been removed. In the visual system, the after-image...
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...
optical character recognitionOptical character recognition (OCR) is a technology that is used to convert printed or handwritten text into...
surface-enhanced Raman optical data storageA technique of optical storage whereby information is encoded by molecular alterations in the interaction between the...
heatseekerA guided missile that uses an infrared sensor to detect and home in on an enemy target. The missile is guided by the high...
computer visionComputer vision enables computers to interpret and make decisions based on visual data, such as images and videos. It...
structured illumination microscopyStructured illumination microscopy (SIM) is an advanced optical imaging technique used in microscopy to enhance the...
atomic force microscopeAn atomic force microscope (AFM) is a high-resolution imaging and measurement instrument used in nanotechnology, materials...
infrared opticInfrared optics refer to optical components and systems designed to manipulate and control infrared (IR) light, which lies...
long-pass filterA long-pass filter is an optical filter that allows longer wavelengths of light to pass through while blocking or...
spatially offset Raman spectroscopySpatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) is a technique that extends traditional Raman spectroscopy by incorporating...
thermal recordingA term referring to various processes for forming visible images outside of a camera to be photographed on ordinary film....
photovoltaicPhotovoltaic (PV) refers to a technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductors. The term...
double-beam spectrophotometerA spectrophotometer in which the beam emitted by the radiation source is split into beams that travel through the sample and...
buffer1. In fiber optics, a protective material applied as an optical fiber cover that has no optical function. 2. In image...
liquid crystal light valveA liquid crystal light valve (LCLV), also known as a spatial light modulator (SLM), is an optical device that modulates the...
Cerenkov counterAn instrument that detects high-energy charged particles by analysis of the Cerenkov radiation that they emit.
microphotofabricationThe formation of microimages for microreduction. The technique is used, for example, in the production of precision reticles...
long-wave infraredLong-wave infrared (LWIR) refers to a specific range of the infrared spectrum. Infrared radiation is divided into three main...
fluenceFluence is a term used in various scientific and technical disciplines to describe the amount of something per unit area....
blown fiberA technique developed by British Telecom in which the viscous drag of air is used to install optical fibers in narrow...
single-molecule FRETSingle-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) is a specialized technique in biophysics and molecular...
responsive quantum efficiencyThe number of electrons emitted per photon incident upon a photodetector.
indium antimonideA semiconductor material that is used as an infrared detector for light up to 5 µm in wavelength.
linear arrayA solid-state video detector consisting of a single row of light-sensitive semiconductor devices, used in linear-array...
histologyHistology is the branch of biology and medicine that involves the study of the microscopic structure of tissues and organs...
integrated Dewar cooler assemblyAn infrared detector mounted directly on the cold finger of the Dewar cooler rather than at the interface of Dewar and...
InGaAs photodiodeAn InGaAs photodiode refers to a photodetector device that is constructed using a semiconductor material composed of a...
eye guardA shield of rubber, plastic or metal used to protect the eyes of the observer from stray light and wind, and to maintain the...
momentum transferIn physics, momentum transfer is the amount of momentum transferred from one particle to another during particle collision...
scientific CMOS cameraA scientific CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) camera is a type of digital camera specifically designed for...
panoramic cameraA camera designed to form a continuous record of an expansive section of the horizon. The typical panoramic camera is...
pushbroom scanningPushbroom scanning is a technique used in remote sensing and imaging systems, particularly in satellite and aerial sensors,...
mode-locked lasersMode-locking is a technique used in lasers to produce ultrashort pulses of light with durations on the order of picoseconds,...
Monte Carlo simulationSimulation of radiative transfer in which each photon is generated by a source and its path through the medium is...
microbend-modulated sensorA type of fiber optic sensor that detects changes in pressure, vibration, sound level or acceleration by monitoring the...
augmented realityAugmented reality (AR) is a technology that integrates digital information, typically in the form of computer-generated...
vortex phase plateA vortex phase plate is an optical device designed to impart a phase singularity, commonly referred to as a vortex or phase...
ground truthA term variously applied to remote sensing techniques that essentially refers to all parametric conditions that influence...
drift scanAn astronomical scanning technique for capturing images of stars without moving the sensor. To perform a drift scan, a CCD...
x-ray detectorOne of various types of fluorescent screens used to detect x-ray radiation. Photographic film is mildly sensitive to x-rays,...
flexible displayA flexible display refers to a type of electronic visual display that is designed to be bendable, foldable, or rollable,...
photochromicPhotochromic refers to a property exhibited by certain materials, typically organic compounds or dyes, which undergo...
ultrafast pulsed laserAn ultrafast pulsed laser is a type of laser that emits extremely short pulses of light with durations typically on the...
thermal-infrared cameraA thermal-infrared camera, often referred to simply as a thermal camera, is a type of imaging device that detects infrared...
service-mount deviceA surface-mount device (SMD) is an electronic component that is mounted directly onto the surface of a printed circuit board...
temporal Fourier hologramA technique used to suppress extreme noise amplification during digital image reconstruction that relies on smoothing and...
hot spotTerm applied to laser technology to denote an area of above-average intensity often attributable to atmospheric...
rhodamineRhodamine refers to a family of fluorescent organic dyes that are widely used in various fields, including biology,...
lensA lens is a transparent optical device that focuses or diverges light, allowing it to pass through and form an image. Lenses...
laser anemometryThe process by which laser emission is used in measuring fluid velocity and, more specifically, the detection of air and...
die bondingDie bonding is a critical process in semiconductor manufacturing and microelectronics assembly, where a semiconductor die or...
astronomical unitThe unit generally used to express distances within the solar system, and sometimes to measure interstellar distances....
flame emission spectroscopyA technique in photometry that uses an oxyhydrogen or oxyacetylene flame to optically excite a solution containing the...
holographic gratingA holographic grating is a type of diffraction grating that is produced using holographic recording techniques. It consists...
spectral domain optical coherence tomographySpectral domain optical coherence tomography is an imaging technique used in medical diagnostics, particularly in...
fill factorIn solar energy technology, the percent of usable land covered by collectors. The horizontal collector is the only design...
resonance ionization spectroscopyA type of ultrasensitive laser spectroscopy that can detect quantities as small as a single atom of some substances and that...
specific detectivity
digital signal processingDigital signal processing (DSP) refers to the manipulation and analysis of signals, which are representations of physical...
heterodyningIn optical communications, the translation of optical signals into radio signals, lowering their frequency in detection from...
micro-optical coherence tomographyMicro-optical coherence tomography (micro-OCT) is an imaging technique that is an adaptation of optical coherence tomography...
video detectorA device, such as a thermionic or crystal diode, that is introduced into the vision channel of a television receiver to...
integrated photonicsIntegrated photonics is a field of study and technology that involves the integration of optical components, such as lasers,...
epitaxyA well controlled thin films technique for growing films with good crystal structure in ultra high vacuum environments at...
confocal scanning microscopeA microscope design that involves apertures inserted in conjugate plane positions inside the microscope, with one aperture...
laser-induced fluorescenceLaser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is a spectroscopic technique that involves using a laser to excite molecules or atoms,...
biophotonicsThe technology that deals with the interaction of organic materials with light and other forms of radiant energy whose...
protective coatingA film applied to a coated or uncoated optical surface primarily for protecting this surface from mechanical abrasion, from...
(1,002 results found)