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Zurich Instruments AG - Lock-In Amplifiers 4/24 LB
design Dictionary Terms

antireflection coating
An antireflection coating (AR coating) is a thin film or coating applied to optical surfaces, such as lenses or windows, to...
fiber optic imaging bundle
A fiber optic imaging bundle is a specialized optical device composed of multiple optical fibers bundled together. Each...
aplanatic points
Aplanatic points refer to specific points in an optical system where certain aberrations, such as spherical aberration or...
topological photonics
Topological photonics is a branch of physics and optics that explores the application of topological concepts to the...
sky filter
A filter designed to decrease the luminosity of the sky without decreasing that of the landscape in the foreground. A filter...
film thickness gauge
An interferometer spectrometer designed to measure thicknesses of thin films or layers by recording the interferogram and by...
space pattern
On a test chart, the pattern designed to direct and measure geometric distortion.
exciton
An exciton is a quasiparticle that represents the bound state of an electron and a hole in a solid-state material, typically...
Wehnelt cylinder
Also known as cathode-ray tube grid or shield. A cylindrically shaped electrode that, containing the cathode of a...
micro-LED
Micro-LED (micro-light-emitting diode) refers to a technology that involves the use of very small light-emitting diodes to...
laser cavity
A laser cavity, also known as an optical cavity or resonator, is a fundamental component of a laser system. It is a confined...
reflective
The term reflective is an adjective that describes the ability of a surface or material to reflect light or other forms of...
gastroscope
An optical instrument designed for the visual examination of the inside of the stomach.
diffraction efficiency
Diffraction efficiency is a measure of how effectively a diffractive optical element (DOE) or diffraction grating directs...
image jump
In optics, the term image jump refers to a displacement or shift in the apparent position of an image when a change occurs...
process camera
A photographic camera designed to produce reproduction film of visual information (pictures, line drawings, graphs) for...
laser resistor trimming
In hybrid or monolithic integrated circuits, the laser ablation of a portion of resistor material to achieve the design...
GigE
GigE, short for gigabit Ethernet, refers to a standard for high-speed Ethernet communication, capable of transmitting data...
nonlinear optical detector
A type of radiation detector designed to recognize nonlinear optical effects, such as the Raman effect, by means of a...
microwave phototube
A device designed to detect microwave modulation and to mix modulated and unmodulated laser beams. It consists of a...
film platen
A mechanism in a camera designed to position the film in the focal plane for exposure.
chromatic aberration
Chromatic aberration is an optical phenomenon that occurs when different wavelengths (colors) of light are refracted by a...
laser designator
A laser device used to establish a location or target usually for detection by an impact source e.g. missiles and guided...
optical testing instrument
An optical testing instrument is a device or system used to evaluate and measure the performance, quality, and...
frequency domain
The frequency domain is a concept used in signal processing and analysis to represent signals and data in terms of their...
eye-safe laser operation
Wavelengths between 400 and 1400 nm (VIS to NIR) are focused onto the retina by the cornea. Because the retina is sensitive...
optical combiner
An optical combiner, in the context of optics and display technologies, refers to a device or component that combines...
neuromorphic
Neuromorphic refers to the design and development of computing systems or devices that are inspired by the structure and...
breakout cable
A breakout cable, also known as a fan-out cable or breakout assembly, is a type of cable that combines multiple individual...
computer-generated hologram
A computer-generated hologram (CGH) is a holographic image produced using computational methods and algorithms, rather than...
linear receive optics
Linear receive optics typically refers to the optical components and systems used in the reception (detection) of linearly...
Pirani gauge
A vacuum gauge designed to measure very high degrees of vacuum by thermal conduction.
molded lens
A molded lens is an optical lens manufactured using a molding process, typically involving the shaping of a material, such...
hydroscopic
Designed to observe objects below the surface of water. Not to be confused with hygroscopic.
substrate
A substrate refers to a material or surface upon which another material or process is applied or deposited. In various...
detector-Dewar assembly
A detector-Dewar assembly typically refers to a combination of a detector and a Dewar flask used in scientific instruments,...
actinic glass
Glass designed to absorb most infrared and ultraviolet radiation while transmitting most of the visible region.
fiber-coupled photoconductive antenna
A fiber-coupled photoconductive antenna (FCPA) is a type of optoelectronic device that combines a photoconductive antenna...
mid-infrared camera
A mid-infrared camera is a type of imaging device designed to capture images in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral range,...
wide-angle lens
A wide-angle lens is a type of camera lens that has a shorter focal length than a standard or normal lens, allowing it to...
broadband dielectric mirrors
Broadband dielectric mirrors, also known as broadband mirrors, are optical coatings designed to efficiently reflect or...
photonic integrated circuit
A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is a compact and integrated device that incorporates multiple photonic components and...
ultrasonic detector
A mechanical, electrical, thermal or optical detector designed to identify and measure ultrasonic radiation.
network interface card
A network interface card (NIC), also known as a network adapter or LAN adapter, is a hardware component that allows...
Cassegrain lens system
A two-mirror lens design used in astronomical telescopes, the primary being a parabola, the secondary a smaller hyperbola....
bandgap
In semiconductor physics, the term bandgap refers to the energy range in a material where no electronic states are allowed....
diffuse-cutting filter
A color filter that is designed to gradually increase or decrease its absorption with wavelength.
laser texturing
Laser texturing is a manufacturing process that involves using a laser beam to selectively modify the surface of a material,...
photodynamic inactivation
Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is a therapeutic approach that utilizes the combination of light, a photosensitizer, and...
orange peel
In the context of imaging, particularly digital imaging and printing, "orange peel" refers to a texture or visual distortion...
radial distortion
An alteration in magnification from the center of the field to any point in the field, measured in a radial direction from...
fiber optic preform
A fiber optic preform is a cylindrical glass rod or tube used as the starting material for manufacturing optical fibers. It...
etalon
An etalon is an optical device that consists of two parallel reflecting surfaces separated by a precise and known distance....
panoramic camera
A camera designed to form a continuous record of an expansive section of the horizon. The typical panoramic camera is...
spectral flow cytometry
Spectral flow cytometry is an advanced flow cytometry technique that expands the capabilities of traditional flow cytometry...
high-speed movie camera
A camera designed to record at rates exceeding 50 fps. For frame rates up to about 500 fps, an ordinary pull-down mechanism...
infrared light source
An infrared light source is a device that emits light in the infrared spectrum, which lies beyond the visible spectrum of...
edge-emitting LED
An edge-emitting light-emitting diode is a type of LED structure where light emission occurs primarily along the edge of the...
long-pass filter
A long-pass filter is an optical filter that allows longer wavelengths of light to pass through while blocking or...
long-wave infrared
Long-wave infrared (LWIR) refers to a specific range of the infrared spectrum. Infrared radiation is divided into three main...
GaN distributed feedback lasers
GaN (Gallium Nitride) distributed feedback (DFB) lasers refer to a specific type of semiconductor laser based on Gallium...
line-scan camera
A line-scan camera, also known as a line-scan image sensor or linear array camera, is a type of digital camera designed to...
low-light-level instrumentation
Instrumentation designed to permit the perception, recording or measurement of scenes under conditions of low incident...
machine vision system
A machine vision system is an integrated combination of hardware and software components designed to capture, process, and...
CubeSat
A CubeSat is a type of miniaturized satellite characterized by its standardized size and modular design. CubeSats are...
optometer
An instrument designed to measure the refractive power and range of accommodation of the eye. See ophthalmic instruments.
vacuum gauge
A gauge designed to measure the degree of vacuum in an evacuated vessel. A simple U-tube containing mercury is adequate for...
well plate
A well plate, also known as a microplate or microtiter plate, is a flat plate with multiple small wells or depressions...
fluoroscopic image intensifier
A form of image intensifier designed to amplify a weak fluoroscopic image. The image is received at an input phosphor...
modulated grating hologram
A computer-generated, phase-and-amplitude, off-axis hologram made by a multi-exposure technique that uses three computer...
thin lens relationships
Formulas designating the relationships between image distance, object distance, focal length, refractive index, etc., of a...
Lenard tube
An electron-beam tube designed so that the beam can be carried through a portion of the wall of an evacuated enclosure.
microprojector
A miniature projecting device designed to enhance and reproduce the image generated by a smaller image-forming instrument....
infrared light-emitting diode
An infrared light-emitting diode (IR LED) is a semiconductor device that emits infrared light when an electric current...
dispersion-shifted fiber
A dispersion-shifted fiber (DSF) refers to a type of optical fiber designed to minimize the effects of chromatic dispersion,...
hydrophobic
Hydrophobic is a term used to describe substances or materials that repel or do not readily interact with water. The word...
piezoresistance
Piezoresistance is a phenomenon in materials science and physics where the electrical resistance of a material changes in...
view camera
A camera that permits adjustments in the perspective of an image; this is accomplished by the camera design, which permits...
gradient-index profile
The term gradient-index profile refers to a specific type of refractive index distribution within an optical material. In...
retroreflection
Retroreflection is a phenomenon in optics where light is reflected back toward its source, typically in a direction nearly...
chromaticity coordinates
Proportions of standard primaries (tristimulus values) required for a color match; ratios of each tristimulus value of a...
optical link
Any optical transmission channel used in telecommunications designed to connect two end terminals or to be connected in...
baffle
An opaque shielding device designed to reduce the effect of stray light on an optical system.
photoconductive antenna
Photoconductive antenna (PCA) is a semiconductor element that generates or detects high-frequency electromagnetic signals....
laser diode module
A laser diode module is a compact device that incorporates a laser diode, optics, and often other components into a single...
barcode scanner
An optical scanning device designed to read information printed in the form of bars of different size by detection and...
neon indicator tube
A cold-cathode tube containing neon and designed to visually determine a potential difference or field.
laser powder bed fusion
Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a type of additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that uses a high-power...
event-based sensor
An event-based image sensor, also known as a dynamic vision sensor (DVS), is a type of digital imaging device designed to...
astronomical observatory
A facility designed for the observation and recording of astronomical phenomena.
electron multiplication charge-coupled device camera
An EMCCD (electron-multiplying charge-coupled device) camera is a type of scientific camera specifically designed for...
ultraviolet reflectance
Ultraviolet reflectance refers to the ability of a material or surface to reflect UV light. Ultraviolet light is...
laser pattern generation
Production of a repeated image of a transmitted beam through a diffractive optical element such as a holographic card or...
flexible display
A flexible display refers to a type of electronic visual display that is designed to be bendable, foldable, or rollable,...
monochromator
A monochromator is an optical instrument used to isolate and select a narrow range of wavelengths from a broader spectrum of...
helium-neon laser
A helium-neon (HeNe) laser is a type of gas laser that emits visible red light at a wavelength of 632.8 nm. It operates...
lamp housing
A device designed to concentrate and direct a light source by enclosing the source in it and using a concave reflector to...
selective laser melting
Selective laser melting (SLM) is an additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that belongs to the powder bed...
lab-on-a-chip
A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) is a miniaturized device that integrates various laboratory functions and capabilities onto a single,...
radio telescope
An instrument designed to collect naturally formed extraterrestrial electromagnetic radiation within the radio frequency...
Jamin refractometer
An instrument designed to measure the index of refraction of a gas by the interference patterns formed by two beams, one of...
infrared optic
Infrared optics refer to optical components and systems designed to manipulate and control infrared (IR) light, which lies...
diffuser
An optical diffuser is an optical component or material designed to scatter or diffuse light that passes through it. It is...
lumen
A lumen is a unit of measurement used to quantify the amount of luminous flux, which is the perceived power of light. In...
distributed feedback laser
A distributed feedback laser (DFB laser) is a type of semiconductor laser diode designed to emit coherent, narrow-bandwidth...
phase matching
Phase matching is a crucial concept in the field of optics, particularly in nonlinear optics and the generation of coherent...
optical noise
Optical noise refers to undesirable fluctuations or disturbances in an optical signal that can affect the quality or...
concave
Concave is an adjective used to describe a surface or shape that curves inward or has a hollow or recessed appearance. In...
bandwidth
The range of frequencies over which a particular instrument is designed to function within specified limits. See also fiber...
heat lamp
A lamp designed to emit a large amount of infrared radiation; used in applications requiring heat.
spherical aberration
Spherical aberration is an optical aberration that occurs when light rays passing through a lens or curved optical surface...
luxmeter
An illuminometer designed to measure illumination in terms of luxes.
chromascope
An instrument designed to analyze the optical effects of color.
apertometer
An instrument designed to measure the numerical aperture of an objective.
GaN-based LEDs
Gallium nitride-based light-emitting diodes (GaN-based LEDs) are semiconductor devices that emit light when an electric...
focus lamp
An incandescent or carbon arc lamp designed with a stable and compact arc or filament that permits it to be used as a light...
microscope stage
The component of a microscope on which the sample or slide to be examined is placed. Depending on the design of the...
fluorographic lens
A lens having an extremely high aperture and used in the recording of x-ray fluorescent screen images. It often is specially...
aberration sensor (wavefront sensor)
Designed for the function of optical wavefront analysis. Shack-Hartmann camera aberration sensors use a lens array to image...
acousto-optic deflector
A system designed with a laser as a light source and a means for producing sound waves extending beyond 100 MHz to deflect...
germicidal UV
Germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) refers to a specific range of UV radiation that has disinfectant properties capable of killing...
pulse slicer
An instrument designed for laser technology that is used to extract single pulses from the laser and transmit a portion of...
surface plate
A large table with an accurately designed plane surface used to test other surfaces, or to provide a true surface for...
plasmonics
Plasmonics is a field of science and technology that focuses on the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and free...
lateral shearing interferometer
A lateral shearing interferometer is an optical device used in interferometry to measure phase differences between two beams...
infrared lens
An infrared lens is an optical component specifically designed and optimized for transmitting, focusing, or manipulating...
attenuation
Attenuation refers to the gradual loss or reduction of intensity, force, or magnitude of a particular property as it...
pointer eyepiece
A Huygenian eyepiece containing a pointer at its focal plane that is used -- when viewing an object through the eyepiece --...
point light source
1. With respect to angular subtense, a source of light, such as a star, that is very small. In a lab, a point source may be...
beam expander
A system of optical components designed to increase the diameter of a radiation beam. Usually an afocal system.
apochromat
An apochromat, often referred to as an apochromatic lens or apochromatic objective, is a type of optical system designed to...
light modulator
A device that is designed to modulate a beam of light, usually from a laser source, by acting upon the beam directly. The...
computer-calculated diffraction pattern
The use of computer analysis in the calculation of diffraction patterns for information on the design of optical systems. In...
digital camera
A digital camera is a device that captures and records still images or video in digital format. Unlike traditional film...
electro-optic transistor
A transistor designed to respond to either light or electrical signals.
neutral density coating
A coating applied to a neutral density glass that is designed to reduce the amount of light evenly across the transmitted...
contrast filter
A filter designed to improve contrast in an imaging system. For visual and black and white photosystems, a yellow filter is...
second-order nonlinear optical properties
Second-order nonlinear optical properties refer to a class of phenomena exhibited by certain materials in response to...
phase mask
In optics and photolithography, a phase mask refers to a device that modifies the phase of light waves passing through it....
embedded laser
The term "embedded laser" typically refers to a laser device that is integrated or embedded into a larger system or...
aiming circle
An instrument designed to measure angles in azimuth; used in general topographic work and military gunnery.
static beam shaping
A technique for creating optimal performance in a system by producing a specific beam irradiance distribution, usually...
nanoimprint lithography
Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) is a nanolithography technique used for fabricating nanoscale patterns on a substrate. It is a...
quantum cascade laser
A quantum cascade laser (QCL) is a type of semiconductor laser that operates based on the principles of quantum mechanics....
spectrobolometer
A combination spectrometer and bolometer that is designed to measure a narrow band of radiation from a star.
high-speed motion camera
A high-speed motion camera, also known as a high-speed camera or slow-motion camera, is a specialized imaging device...
beam attenuator
A device designed to decrease flux density or power per unit area of a light beam through absorption and scattering of the...
astronomical telescope
An astronomical telescope is a type of optical instrument designed to gather and magnify light from distant celestial...
Rockwell hardness
Rockwell hardness (Rc) refers to a method for measuring the hardness of a material, primarily metals, using an indentation...
notch filter
Also referred to as a band-stop or band rejection filter; a notch filter is a filter that is designed to screen out a very...
recombinase polymerase amplification
Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) is a molecular biology technique used to rapidly amplify specific DNA or RNA...
riez photodiode
A photodiode having a conducting grid that covers the surface of the photodiode junction and intercepts and wastes some of...
Gaussian optics
1. That branch of optics that illustrates the theory in which q is substituted for sin q in Snell's law. Effective results...
scattered light filter
A specific type of filter designed to reduce the amount of light scattered by reflections from the edges of optical...
solar furnace
An optical system that is designed to produce a high temperature in a specified area by the optical direction and...
pulse counter detector
A device designed to detect frequency-modulated signals by forming a unidirectional pulse from each sine wave. The direct...
centered curve
The surface curvature designed to reduce the marginal error found in the periphery of a spectacle lens.
underwater television system
A television system designed to obtain pictures of objects or scenes beneath the surface of the water. Generally, a...
quantum efficiency
Quantum efficiency (QE) is a measure of the effectiveness with which a device or system, typically in the context of...
betatron
An instrument designed to produce very hard x-rays by the acceleration of electrons in a varying magnetic field.
diode
A two-electrode device with an anode and a cathode that passes current in only one direction. It may be designed as an...
Geometrical optics
The area of optics in which the propagation of light is described by geometrical lines (or rays) governed by Fermat's...
regenerative repeater
A repeater that is designed for digital transmission. Also called a regenerator.
Fresnel reflection
Fresnel reflection refers to the reflection of light at the interface between two different media with different refractive...
Camera Link HS
Camera Link HS (high speed) is a standard developed for high-speed digital data transmission in machine vision and...
colorimeter
A colorimeter is a device used to measure and quantify the color characteristics of an object or a light source. It provides...
flat machine
A polishing machine designed to permit adjustment of the polisher speed and motion for the control of flat surfaces.
functional material
Functional materials refer to materials that possess specific properties or functionalities that make them suitable for...
aptamer
An aptamer is a short, single-stranded DNA or RNA molecule that can bind to a specific target molecule with high affinity...
mercury arc
An electric arc that is formed in mercury vapor through which an electric current flows. The intensity of the illumination...
fundamental mode
The lowest order mode of a waveguide. In fibers, the mode designated LP01 or HE11.
flight path deviation indicator
An instrument designed to give a visual indication to the pilot when the plane has strayed from a specific flight path.
calorimetry
Calorimetry is a branch of science that involves the measurement of heat flow in physical or chemical processes. It...
optofluidics
Optofluidics is an interdisciplinary field that combines principles from optics and fluidics to create devices and systems...
four-wave mixing
A phenomenon that occurs in WDM and DWDM systems when three closely spaced signal wavelengths near the zero-dispersion...
optical glass
Optical glass refers to a type of glass specifically engineered and manufactured for use in optical components and systems,...
accelerometer
An accelerometer is a sensor or transducer that measures the rate of change of velocity of an object, or in simpler terms,...
mid-wave infrared
MWIR stands for mid-wave infrared, referring to a specific range of wavelengths within the infrared spectrum. Infrared...
scintillation counter
An instrument designed to measure radiation indirectly through the use of several phosphors and a photomultiplier tube. The...
biocular
A term pertaining to devices (generally optical) designed for use with both eyes viewing through a single exit pupil. The...
total radiation pyrometer
Also known as a pyrradiometer. An instrument that is designed to measure heat radiation nonselectively; e.g., the...
crystal spectrometer
A device designed to measure crystal properties by analysis of crystal diffraction.
grating beamsplitter
A grating beamsplitter is an optical device that utilizes the principles of diffraction to split a beam of light into...
contour projector
An inspection device in which the profile of a mechanical part is projected onto a ground-glass screen at a precisely known...
excimer laser coronary angioplasty
Excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) refers to a medical procedure used in the treatment of coronary artery disease....
computer numerically controlled grinding
Computer numerically controlled (CNC) grinding is a manufacturing process that utilizes computerized controls and precision...
GRIN lens
A GRIN (gradient index) lens is a type of optical lens that utilizes a gradient in refractive index across its volume rather...
interference inverter
A device, consisting of a diode activated by an interference pulse, that is designed to minimize the white spots on a...
isophotometer
A direct recording photometer that is designed to scan a photographic negative to determine its points of isodensity.
mixed signal oscilloscope
A mixed-signal oscilloscope (MSO) is a type of electronic test instrument that combines the capabilities of both a...
red, green, blue
RGB stands for red, green, blue, which are the primary colors of light used in additive color mixing. The RGB color model is...
confocal scanning microscope
A microscope design that involves apertures inserted in conjugate plane positions inside the microscope, with one aperture...
light sheet fluorescence microscopy
Also known as single plane illumination microscopy (SPIM), this process was designed for imaging of sensitive samples and...
detector array
A detector array refers to a collection of individual detector elements arranged in a two-dimensional grid or matrix format....
binocular
Designating any instrument in which both eyes can be used to view the image to achieve a stereoscopic effect, or merely to...
proof-of-concept system
An assembly of prototype instruments, equipment and/or software designed to perform all the functions of a concept or idea...
Sonnar lens
A photographic objective that uses the thick meniscus principle to obtain its power. It is designed to photograph small...
Fabry-Perot etalon
A nonabsorbing, multireflecting device, similar in design to the Fabry-Perot interferometer, that serves as a multilayer,...
field of view
The field of view (FOV) refers to the extent of the observable world or the visible area that can be seen at any given...
astronomical camera
A camera designed to record astronomical objects (e.g., stars, planets, nebulae, galaxies) and their spectra.
spatial filter
1. Generally, an emulsion mask having a clean annular region in an otherwise opaque region. It is designed to eliminate...
Risley prism
A Risley prism, also known as a Risley prism pair or Risley rotating prism, is an optical device used for controlling the...
aerial camera
Camera designed for the imaging of the earth's surface in order to obtain high quality aerial images
bronchoscope
An optical instrument designed to permit the visual examination of the interior of the bronchi.
x-ray spectrometer
An instrument designed to produce an x-ray spectrum of a material as an aid in identifying it. This technique is...
immersion refractometer
A type of refractometer designed to measure the refractive indices of liquids. A section of the instrument is immersed into...
Geiger counter
Also called Geiger-Müller counter. An instrument designed to detect and measure radioactivity through the use of a...
double-clad fiber
Double-clad fiber (DCF) is a specialized optical fiber that features two concentric cladding layers surrounding a core. The...
angular spectrum approach
The angular spectrum approach is a mathematical and computational technique used in the field of optics to analyze and...
single-photon avalanche diode
A single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) is a specialized type of photodetector designed to detect extremely weak optical...
optical character recognition
Optical character recognition (OCR) is a technology that is used to convert printed or handwritten text into...
freeform optics
Freeform optics refers to the design and fabrication of optical surfaces that do not follow traditional symmetric shapes,...
time-to-amplitude converter
A time-to-amplitude converter (TAC) is an electronic circuit that converts a time interval between two events into an...
anisotropic
Anisotropic is a term used to describe a material or substance that exhibits different properties or behaviors in different...
aspheric lens
An aspheric lens is a type of lens whose surface profiles deviate from the traditional spherical shape. Unlike spherical...
image intensifier
An image intensifier, also known as an image intensification tube or image intensification device, is a specialized...
fiber-coupled LED
A fiber-coupled LED (light-emitting diode) refers to an LED device that is optically coupled to an optical fiber for the...
metalens
A metalens, short for "metasurface lens," is a type of optical lens that uses nanostructured materials to manipulate light...
optical tooling target
Sets of paired lines carefully designed to give the most accurate pointing possible for various lengths of sight.
additive manufacturing
Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a manufacturing process that involves creating three-dimensional...
silicon photodiode
A silicon photodiode is a semiconductor device that converts light into an electrical current. It is a type of photodetector...
corrector plate
An optical element designed to correct each zone of a reflector or refractor for spherical aberration.
complementary metal-oxide semiconductor
Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) refers to a technology used in the fabrication of integrated circuits,...
pseudo-second-derivative
A method used to approximate the values of the homogeneous second derivatives at each iteration in the course of lens design...
photon sieve
A photon sieve is an optical device used in the field of optics and imaging. It's designed to focus and shape light,...
air-to-ground phototransmission system
A category of systems designed to communicate a photo taken from the air (e.g., aircraft, balloon, satellite) to a ground...
process lens
A lens that is symmetrical and designed to work between 1:1 and about 4:1. It covers a field of about ±20° at f/8...
holographic grating
A holographic grating is a type of diffraction grating that is produced using holographic recording techniques. It consists...
heliograph
An instrument designed to record the duration and intensity of solar radiation.
photonic crystals
Photonic crystals are artificial structures or materials designed to manipulate and control the flow of light in a manner...
fluorophore
A fluorophore is a molecule or a portion of a molecule that has the ability to emit light upon excitation by an external...
high-content screening
Also known as HCS, an analytical method designed to collect statistically relevant amounts of quantitative data on many...
Casimir force
The Casimir force is a quantum phenomenon that results in an attractive force between two closely spaced uncharged...
optical cements and adhesive
Optical cements and adhesives are specialized materials used in the assembly and bonding of optical components in optical...
mode hopping
Mode hopping in the context of lasers refers to a phenomenon where a laser system abruptly switches from one longitudinal...
Geissler tube
A specific gas-filled tube designed to illustrate the luminous effects of discharges through rarefied gases.
RTSP protocol
RTSP, or real-time streaming protocol, is a network control protocol designed for controlling streaming media servers. It is...
filament transformer
A transformer that is designed to regulate the amount of current that passes through an electron tube's filament.
optical encoder
A device designed to measure linear or rotary motion by detection of the movement of markings on a transparent medium past a...
photomask
A photomask, also known simply as a mask or reticle, is a key component in the photolithography process used in...
array processor
In image processing, a specially designed programmable computer peripheral that attaches to the host system for the purpose...
compensating eyepiece
A microscope eyepiece designed for use with apochromatic objectives. Since apochromatic objectives are undercorrected for...
Seidel aberrations
Seidel aberrations refer to a set of monochromatic aberrations in optical systems, named after the German mathematician and...
entrance slit
The entrance slit, also known simply as the slit, is an essential component in optical instruments such as spectrometers and...
detector
1. A device designed to convert the energy of incident radiation into another form for the determination of the presence of...
freeform mirrors
Freeform mirrors refer to reflective optical components that deviate from traditional symmetric or rotationally symmetric...
micro-optics
Micro-optics refers to the design, fabrication, and application of optical components and systems at a microscale level....
anisotropy
Anisotropy refers to the property of exhibiting different values or characteristics when measured in different directions....
linear image sensor
A linear image sensor is a type of solid-state electronic device used to capture and convert light into electrical signals....
McLeod gauge
A gauge designed to measure high degrees of vacuum. It consists of a glass bulb attached to the vacuum vessel, the...
nanophotonics
Nanophotonics is a branch of science and technology that explores the behavior of light on the nanometer scale, typically at...
camera shutter
An apparatus, designed for use with a camera, that is used to rapidly open the path from lens to film, to maintain the...
motion controller
In optics, a motion controller refers to a device or system that precisely controls the movement of optical components, such...
infrared binoculars
An instrument, similar in design to regular binoculars, that can transmit and enlarge infrared images.
holographic camera
A holographic camera, also known as a holographic imaging system or holographic recorder, is a specialized device used to...
hill cloud lens
A fish-eye lens designed to photograph cloud formations over the entire visible sky.
acousto-optic modulators and deflectors
An acousto-optic modulator (AOM) is a device that utilizes the interaction between sound waves and light waves to modulate...
chemical vapor deposition equipment
Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) equipment refers to a class of specialized apparatus used in the process of chemical vapor...
MTF optimization
Computerized lens design algorithm that permits the lens MTF characteristic to be included and controlled during the...
chip-on-board lights
Chip-on-board (COB) lights refer to a type of LED lighting technology where multiple LED chips are directly mounted onto a...
parallelogram distortion
In a camera or cathode-ray tube, distortion that is designated by a lateral skewing of the reproduced image.
particle acceleration
Particle acceleration refers to the process by which charged particles, such as electrons or protons, gain kinetic energy...
optical grating
An optical grating, in the context of optics and physics, refers to a device with a periodic structure of closely spaced,...
HE11 mode
Designation for the fundamental mode of an optical fiber.
coherent fiber bundle
A coherent fiber bundle (CFB), also known as a coherent fiber optic bundle, is an assembly of multiple optical fibers...
multianode microchannel array detector
A photon-counting instrument for use in both space-borne and ground-based photometric and spectroscopic instrumentation....
photoelectric cathode
A cathode principally designed to emit a photoelectric current.
meta-optics
Meta-optics, also known as metasurface optics or flat optics, is a branch of optics that involves the design, fabrication,...
f-Theta lens
A family of lenses commonly used in scan systems for reading or printing documents. The lens must be designed such that the...
laser damage threshold
The laser damage threshold refers to the maximum level of laser intensity that a material can withstand without experiencing...
kinematic mount
A mount for an optic element or optics assembly, designed so that all six degrees of freedom are singly constrained. This...
femtosecond laser
A femtosecond laser is a type of laser that emits ultrashort pulses of light with durations on the order of femtoseconds,...
blaze height
Blaze height typically refers to a parameter in the context of diffraction gratings, which are optical devices consisting of...
classification duration
For a laser, the maximum exposure time that the laser design allows; 0.25 seconds for a Class 2 laser.
excitron
A single-anode mercury pool tube that is designed to maintain a continuous cathode spot.
endoscope
An endoscope is a medical device used for visualizing and examining the interior of hollow organs, body cavities, or...
linear positioning stage
A linear positioning stage, also known as a linear stage or translation stage, is a precision mechanical device used to...
fiber optic cable assembly
A fiber optic cable assembly refers to a complete unit consisting of optical fibers, connectors, protective jackets, and...
optical materials
Optical materials refer to substances or compounds specifically chosen for their optical properties and used in the...
spatial phase shift
The change in position of the image of a sine wave object from its ideal position. Usually measured in degrees with...
stereo projector
A projector designed to give each of the observer's eyes its own disparate image.
Schumann plate
A specific type of photographic plate designed with only a small amount of gelatin to function in the extreme ultraviolet...
mode
1. The characteristic of how light propagates through a waveguide that can be designated by a radiation pattern in a plane...
optical coatings
Optical coatings are thin layers of materials applied to optical components, such as lenses, mirrors, filters, and prisms,...
mesoscope
In the field of optics and imaging, a mesoscope refers to an optical instrument that is designed to observe and capture...
stereomicroscopy
The use of a specialized optical microscope designed to provide a more three-dimensional view of a sample. Stereomicroscopy...
light diffusion
Light diffusion refers to the process by which light is scattered or spread out in various directions as it interacts with a...
convolutional neural network
A powerful and flexible machine-learning approach that can be used in machine vision to help solve difficult problems....
phototherapy
Phototherapy is a medical treatment that involves the use of light to treat various conditions, particularly those related...
photovoltaic
Photovoltaic (PV) refers to a technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductors. The term...
piezoelectric motion systems
Piezoelectric motion systems are mechanical systems that utilize piezoelectric materials to generate controlled motion or...
cathode-ray tube lens
A high-quality, narrow-angle lens of high aperture designed for low magnification in the recording of cathode-ray tube...
microdisplay
A microdisplay is a miniature electronic display technology that is designed to project visual information onto a small...
film recorder
An instrument designed to place nongraphic information, usually generated by a computer, onto photographic film. The...
aerial film
Film designed especially for the needs and conditions encountered in aerial photography. It is produced in a variety of...
Ultraviolet-C
Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) refers to a specific range of ultraviolet radiation with shorter wavelengths than those of visible...
optical filter
An optical filter is a device that selectively transmits or blocks specific wavelengths, or colors, of light. Optical...
Senarmont prism
A polarizing beamsplitting prism similar in design to the Rochon prism. However, the Senarmont transmits the extraordinary...
fiber optic spectrometer
A fiber optic spectrometer is a device used for measuring the spectral content of light. It utilizes optical fibers to...
x-ray streak camera
A diagnostic instrument that uses a photocathode design to see a broad range of x-ray radiation by streaking the...
deep learning
Deep learning is a subset of machine learning that involves the use of artificial neural networks to model and solve complex...
infrared detector
An infrared detector is a device that is used to detect and measure infrared radiation, which lies beyond the visible...
optical fiber
Optical fiber is a thin, flexible, transparent strand or filament made of glass or plastic used for transmitting light...
achromat
An achromat, in the context of optics, refers to a type of lens or lens system designed to reduce chromatic aberration....
high-pressure cloud chamber
A cloud chamber designed to maintain the gas within it at a high pressure as a means of reducing the range of the...
laser optics
Laser optics refers to a broad category of optical components and systems designed for manipulating and controlling laser...
APD detector
An APD detector, or avalanche photodiode detector, is a type of photodetector used to detect light or optical signals by...
laser active elements
Laser active elements typically refers to the substances or materials within a laser system that play a critical role in the...
aplanatic surface
An aplanatic surface is an optical surface that is specifically designed or shaped to minimize spherical aberration and...
blur circle
A blur circle refers to the out-of-focus region in an image captured by an optical system. When an object in a scene is not...
fiber optic gyroscope
A fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) is a type of gyroscope that uses the interference of light waves to detect changes in...
Czerny-Turner design
A form of monochromator optical system consisting of two spherical concave mirrors used in conjunction with a movable...
neuromorphic vision sensor
A neuromorphic vision sensor is a type of imaging device designed to mimic the structure and functioning of the human visual...
interferometer
An instrument that employs the interference of lightwaves to measure the accuracy of optical surfaces; it can measure a...
surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an analytical technique that combines the principles of Raman spectroscopy...
multicolor hologram
A hologram formed by reconstruction of multicolor wavefronts. The system used to produce the hologram is designed to combine...
machine vision lens
A machine vision lens is a specialized optical lens designed for use in machine vision systems, which are used for automated...
spectroreflectometer
A spectrophotometer specially designed to measure spectral reflectance.
ultraviolet densitometry
A technique, involving spectrophotometry in the ultraviolet, that is designed to determine the colors of thin-layer...
iris diaphragm
A mechanical device designed to smoothly vary the effective diameter of a lens, thereby controlling the amount of light...
interchangeable lens
A lens that has a mount, usually bayonet or screw type in design, that can be used on a camera in place of lenses with the...
waveform analyzer
A device designed to measure the amplitude and frequency of the elements in a complex waveform.
perfect lens
A theoretical, ideal lens capable of producing perfect images. Used as a lens design and analysis tool to image collimated...
macro lens
A camera lens, used in macrophotography, that is designed and corrected to produce optimum definition of a nearby object...
convex
Convex is an adjective used to describe a surface or shape that curves outward, bulges, or has a rounded and outwardly...
laser-induced cut and patch
A process used in the design, repair and customization of integrated circuits. A low-power laser etches a silicon wafer...
indium gallium arsenide camera
An InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide) camera is a type of imaging device that utilizes InGaAs sensors to capture images in the...
machine vision lighting
Machine vision lighting refers to the use of specific lighting techniques and equipment in the field of machine vision,...
photomicrographic camera
A still or motion-picture camera designed to photograph through a microscope. Photomicrographic equipment usually contains a...
bayonet coupling
A coupling mechanism designed to quickly lock a connector into an adaptor or a lens into a lens mount. Typically coupling is...
off-axis paraboloid and ellipsoid mirror
Off-axis paraboloid and ellipsoid mirrors are specialized optical components used in various optical systems, particularly...
GaAlAs laser
A GaAlAs laser is a type of semiconductor laser diode that emits light in the near-infrared region of the electromagnetic...
transverse mode
In the context of optics and lasers, a transverse mode refers to a specific spatial pattern of the electric field within the...
Mach-Zehnder interferometer
A Mach-Zehnder interferometer is an optical device used to measure the phase difference between two collimated beams of...
structural color
Structural color refers to coloration in materials that is not caused by pigments or dyes but is instead a result of the...
digital filter
A linear computation or algorithm performed on a selected series in the form of an input signal that produces a new series...
tachometer
An instrument designed to measure the rate of rotation of components, such as shafts.
orthonormalization
Optimization method used in optical design computer programs that employs a variable-by-variable approach to construct new...
incident light meter
An exposure meter designed to measure the light striking an object and used at a suitable location in a scene.
image iconoscope
A camera tube similar in design to the iconoscope. However, the image formed in the image iconoscope is projected on a...
axial gradient technology
A method of designing lasers whereby the laser rod is cut into elliptical discs and cooled by running water over the disc...
multiconfiguration mode
Used in computer design for optical systems with common parts and different applications.
dispersion
Dispersion refers to the phenomenon where different wavelengths (colors) of light travel at different speeds when passing...
cassette
A container designed to hold recording material (film, video- and audiotape) so that when it is loaded into a recording...
inverted microscope
A microscope designed so that the specimen is located face down above the objective.
waveguide
A waveguide is a physical structure or device that is designed to confine and guide electromagnetic waves, such as radio...
advanced driver assistance systems
Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) refers to a set of safety features and technologies designed to assist drivers in...
ultraviolet spectrometer
A spectrophotometer designed for use in the 200- to 380-nm range of the electromagnetic spectrum and equipped with a...
modified chemical vapor deposition
Modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) is a technique used in the fabrication of optical fibers. It is a specialized form...
comparator
1. An eyepiece or magnifier with a scale at its image plane. That scale is placed in contact with an object, permitting...
metasurfaces
Metasurfaces are two-dimensional arrays of subwavelength-scale artificial structures, often referred to as meta-atoms or...
hydrophilic
Hydrophilic is a term used to describe substances or materials that have an affinity for water. The word hydrophilic comes...
aspheric mirror
An aspheric mirror is an optical mirror surface that deviates from the shape of a perfect sphere, having a non-spherical...
bubble chamber optics
Specially designed optics for the observation and photographing of hydrogen in a bubble chamber.
damped least squares
An organizational method used in optical design computer programs. The technique produces one number (merit function) to...
3D printing
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), is a manufacturing process that builds three-dimensional objects...
modulation transfer function analysis/measurement equipment
MTF analysis/measurement equipment refers to instruments and tools used to measure and analyze the modulation transfer...
global optimization
A controlled random search process, such as generalized simulated annealing, that has been incorporated into many optical...
fill factor
In solar energy technology, the percent of usable land covered by collectors. The horizontal collector is the only design...
environmental chamber
A test chamber designed to expose the subject being tested to external conditions, such as heat, shock, pressure and...
harmonic wave analyzer
An instrument designed to calculate the amplitude and phase of the different harmonic elements of a radiation wave utilizing...
distance of distinct vision
The near-point distance of the normal eye. The value of 10 in. or 25 cm is normal. This value is used in evaluating the...
back-wall photovoltaic cell
A photovoltaic cell designed so that light travels through the front electrode and a semiconductor before it comes to the...
Amici prism
Also known as roof prism. A type of prism designed by G.B. Amici. It consists of a roof edge produced upon the long...
laser drift
Laser drift typically refers to a phenomenon where the frequency or wavelength of a laser source gradually changes over...
D*
A value used to designate the relative sensitivity of a detector. The higher the D* value, the better the detector.
oleophobic
Oleophobic is a term used to describe substances or materials that repel or resist oils. The word oleophobic comes from the...
potentiometer
A device designed to measure electromotive force or electrical difference potential.
mirror mount
A mirror mount is a mechanical device used to secure and precisely position mirrors in optical systems. Mirrors are...
CoaXPress
CoaXPress (CoaXPress or CXP) is a standardized digital interface and communication protocol used primarily in machine vision...
microstereoscope
A binocular microscope designed for the viewing of stereo pairs. As these stereoscopic image pairs are seen through a...
concentricity error
The distance between the center of the two concentric circles of an optical fiber that designate the diameter of the...
instantaneous field of view
Instantaneous field of view (iFOV) is a term commonly used in the context of remote sensing, imaging systems, and optical...
coudé
A set of mirrors along a telescope's polar axis designed to redirect light to a fixed position without being affected by the...
light field
The term light field refers to the spatial distribution of light rays traveling in all directions through a given space. It...
spatial light interference microscopy
Spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM) is an optical microscopy technique that belongs to the category of quantitative...
log converter
A device designed to convert linear change in the light state at input to log data at output.
design and engineering consulting services
Design and engineering consulting services refer to professional services provided by specialized firms or individuals to...
two-photon polymerization
Two-photon polymerization (TPP) is a technique used in additive manufacturing, specifically in the field of 3D printing. It...
broadband filter
A broadband filter is an electronic or electromagnetic device designed to pass a range of frequencies or signals within a...
beam shaper
A beam shaper is an optical device or system designed to modify the spatial profile or intensity distribution of a laser or...
quartz plate
A crystalline-quartz plate designed according to specifications but having its two major faces parallel.
optical assembly
An optical assembly refers to a collection of optical components that are carefully arranged and aligned to perform a...
electromagnetic compatibility
The ability of a device to operate without electromagnetically interfering with the operation of nearby equipment and...
fingerprint camera
A fixed-focus camera designed to record the ink impression of fingerprints that have been impressed on a card or form for...
optical figure
The amount by which an optical surface deviates from its ideal design value, expressed in wavelengths of light. Optical...
slide projector
An optical projection device designed to project positive color transparencies onto a screen for viewing.
logic-to-light device
A fiber optic component or system designed in such a way that it can be operated by people without specialized knowledge of...
dichroic mirror
A dichroic mirror, also known as a dichroic beamsplitter or interference filter beamsplitter, is an optical device that...
television microscope
A device designed to enlarge the image of a microscopic object by television process. It may be a flying spot scanner that...
sheet grating
A three-dimensional grating designed with thin metal sheets to remain opaque to all but one specific and predetermined wave.
micro-robotics
Micro-robotics refers to the field of robotics that involves the design, development, and application of miniature robotic...
custom optic
A custom optic refers to an optical component that is designed, manufactured, and tailored to meet specific requirements or...
periscope
An optical instrument designed to displace the line of sight in a vertical direction. For submarines and other military uses...
MEMS fiber optic switch
A MEMS fiber optic switch is a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device designed to selectively route optical signals...
narrow-angle dark-field illumination
An imaging system designed to highlight small deviations in a planar reflective object such as a mirror. The system can be...
annealing furnace
An oven or furnace that possesses the design requirements and heat control necessary to anneal glass for the optical...
phototheranostics
Phototheranostics, a portmanteau of "photo" (light), "therapy," and "diagnostics," refers to an emerging field that combines...
microfluidics
Microfluidics is a multidisciplinary field that involves the manipulation and control of very small fluid volumes, typically...
Dammann grating
A Dammann grating is a type of diffractive optical element (DOE) used to create an array of equally spaced,...
diascope
1. An optical device used for projection of enlarged images of transparencies or lantern slides on a screen. 2. A device...
achromatism
Use of achromatic design; the correction of chromatic aberration; without color or hue (grey, black and white)
dichroic coating
A dichroic coating, also known as a dichroic filter or dichroic mirror, is an optical coating designed to selectively...
plane densitometer
An instrument designed to give precise and rapid detection of changes in tumor growth as well as the location of small...
transmission sphere
A precision lens designed to convert the plane wavefront output of an interferometer to a spherical wavefront for the...
point spread function
The point spread function (PSF) is a fundamental concept in imaging that describes the response of an imaging system to a...
optical design and engineering services
Optical design and engineering services involve the development, customization, and optimization of optical systems and...
galvanometric scanner
A galvanometric scanner, also known as a galvanometer scanner or galvo scanner, is a type of optical scanning device used to...
near-infrared camera
A near-infrared (NIR) camera is an imaging device designed to capture images in the near-infrared region of the...
orthographic camera
A camera designed with a telecentric optical system and a narrow field of view; the telecentric optical system (placement of...
metamaterial
Metamaterials are artificial materials engineered to have properties not found in naturally occurring substances. These...
virtual reality
Virtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment or experience that can be...
kampometer
A device designed to measure radiant energy, particularly in the thermal region.
binocular microscope
A microscope designed with two eyepieces (oculars), permitting the use of both eyes when viewing through the instrument.
ultraviolet fiber optics
Ultraviolet (UV) fiber optics refers to optical fibers that are designed and optimized for the transmission of ultraviolet...
cyanometer
An instrument designed to measure the proportion of light emitted by a source in the blue region of the spectrum.
optics
Optics is the branch of physics that studies the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter...
lens blank
A lens blank is a piece of optical material in a raw, unfinished state, typically in the form of a disk or block, from which...
scientific complementary metal-oxide semiconductor
Scientific complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (sCMOS) refers to a type of image sensor technology specifically designed...
dry objective
A microscope objective designed to be used without liquid between the cover glass and the objective, or, in the case of...
Fresnel lens
A Fresnel lens is a type of optical lens that consists of a series of concentric grooves or steps carved into a flat, thin...
quantum confinement
Quantum confinement refers to the phenomenon in quantum mechanics where the motion of charge carriers, such as electrons or...
vertical external cavity surface-emitting laser
A laser that has a surface-emitting semiconductor gain element coupled to an external mirror designed to complete the laser...
slide projection lens
A lens designed for projection of color transparencies.
etaloning
Etaloning is an optical phenomenon that occurs in imaging systems, particularly in devices such as spectrometers,...
flasher
A device that is designed to automatically turn electric lamps on and off in a rapidly repeating sequence. The device may...
Rayleigh prism
A prism system designed to produce a very high dispersion of light.
optical design software
Optical design software refers to specialized computer programs used by optical engineers, physicists, and designers to...
confocal resonator
A confocal resonator, also known as a confocal cavity or confocal laser resonator, is a type of optical resonator...
Johansson geometry
A design for bent crystal monochromators in which spacing is constant along any circular arc terminating at the two foci and...
photometry
Photometry is the branch of science that deals with the measurement of light, particularly in terms of its intensity and the...
feedback control system
A system designed to control the output quantity of a device by returning a portion of its output signal to its input. This...
digital twin
A digital twin refers to a virtual representation or digital counterpart of a physical object, system, or process. This...
electron-beam lithography system
An electron-beam lithography (EBL) system is a sophisticated nanofabrication tool used in the semiconductor industry and...
metallographic microscope
A specially designed microscope for observing the etched surface of a polished metal specimen. The specimen is often laid...
optical gate
An optical gate typically refers to a device or system that controls the transmission of light, allowing it to pass through...
grown-junction photocell
A photodiode that has been designed so that the bar of semiconductor material has a PN junction perpendicular to its length...
minimum object distance
Minimum object distance, often abbreviated as MOD, refers to the closest distance at which a camera lens or optical system...
spatially offset Raman spectroscopy
Spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) is a technique that extends traditional Raman spectroscopy by incorporating...
laser output
The laser output refers to the generated and emitted light produced by a laser system. This output is characterized by...

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