8,738 terms
Photonics Dictionary
Search 8,700+ definitions in the Photonics Dictionary—your authoritative source for terms in optics, lasers, imaging, fiber optics, and related technologies.
center of curvatureThe center of the sphere of which the surface of a lens or mirror forms a portion. Each curved surface of a lens has a center of curvature; the surfaces may be convex or concave.
center of perspectiveThat viewpoint at which the angular subtenses of points in the picture are identical to angular subtenses of the original points in the scene, at the camera lens.
center thicknessThe lens thickness measured at the optical axis.
center, optical -> optical centerThe point on the optical axis of a lens that is the image of the nodal points. For any bundle of rays passing through the optical center of a lens, the incident and emergent rays through this point...
centerburstIn an interferogram, an intense portion of the recording that corresponds in size to the amount of infrared radiation incident on the detector.
centered curveThe surface curvature designed to reduce the marginal error found in the periphery of a spectacle lens.
centered lens systemA lens system in which the centers of curvature of all surfaces fall on a common axis.
centering1. Mounting a lens or mirror so that its optical axis is coincident with the optical or mechanical axes of other portions of the system. 2. The machining (edging) of the outside diameter of a lens...
centiIn the SI system, prefix meaning one hundredth, 10-2.
central obstructionIn a reflecting telescope, the obstruction of the primary mirror by a secondary mirror which blocks a small amount of the light reflected by the primary mirror and introduces additional diffraction.
central processing unitThe computer module whose circuitry interprets instructions and guides the actions of the peripherals. Also known as the mainframe.
centrationCentration is the precise alignment of the optical center of a lens or optical element with its mechanical center or the axis of the mounting assembly. It is crucial for ensuring that the optical...
centrifugeA rotating chamber that can be spun at different speeds to generate great radial forces used to simulate different gravity loads.
centrifuge microscopeA microscope that can be used to observe and magnify microscope specimens while they are being centrifuged. The objective rotates near the periphery of the centrifuge head, and the ocular is...
centroid -> 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 at the intersection of all of the hyperplanes of symmetry within that...
CERcontactless electroreflectance
ceramicsIn optics and photonics, ceramics refer to advanced ceramic materials that possess unique optical properties, making them suitable for various applications involving the manipulation and control of...
Cerenkov counterAn instrument that detects high-energy charged particles by analysis of the Cerenkov radiation that they emit.
Cerenkov radiationThe radiation produced when a charged particle traverses a medium that has a refractive index considerably greater than unity. The moving particle has a velocity that exceeds the velocity of light in...
cerium oxideA polishing material that has a quicker polishing action than rouge (ferric oxide) and that is cleaner to handle.
CERNEuropean Organization for Nuclear Research
cesium 134An isotope of cesium that emits negative beta particles and has a half-life of 2.19 years; its applications include photoelectric cells and developmental ion propulsion systems.
cesium chlorideColorless crystals used in photoelectric cells and for photosensitive material in cathodes.
cesium oxide cellA photoemissive detector sensitive to wavelengths up to 1 µm. It has one sharp maximum of sensitivity at 350 nm and a broad maximum at 800 nm.
cesium phototubeA phototube having a cesium-coated cathode that has its greatest sensitivity in the infrared region.
cesium vapor lampA lamp that emits light as the result of the passage of an electrical current through ionized cesium vapor.
cesium-antimonide photocathodeA photocathode that exhibits maximum sensitivity in the blue and ultraviolet regions of the spectrum. The sensitivity is obtained by the exposure of a thin layer of antimony to cesium vapor at an...
CEVcontrolled environment vault
CFAcomplex field amplitude
CFCchlorofluorocarbons
CFFcritical fusion frequency
CFMcubic foot per minute
CFRcode of federal regulation
cgcentigram; center of gravity
CGAcolor graphics adapter; Compressed Gas Association
CGCcolor graphics converter
CGHcomputer-generated hologram
CGHOEcomputer-generated holographic optical element
CGHScomputer-generated holographic scanner
CGIComputer Graphics Interface
CGMcomputer graphics metafile
cgscentimeter-gram-second
CGVHcomputer-generated volume hologram
chain scissionThe breakdown of the bonds in polymer chains caused by illumination.
chalcogenideChalcogenide refers to a class of compounds containing elements from group 16 of the periodic table, which includes sulfur (S), selenium (Se), and tellurium (Te). These elements are known as...
chalniconProprietary name for a low-light-level TV pickup tube.
chamchamfer
chamferThe removal of sharp edges by grinding.
channel densityThe number of channels per unit bandwidth handled by a single optical fiber.
channel electron multiplierA photoelectric detector consisting of a glass tube internally coated with a low conductance material. Voltage applied along the tube causes photoemission from the photocathode at the end of the tube...
Photonics Dictionary