Abbreviations/Acronyms

electron-beam accessed memory

European Computer Manufacturers' Association

electron discharge machining

ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

electromagnetic acoustic transducers

European Space Agency; excited state absorption

Federal Acquisition Regulation; false alarm rate

frequency angle scanning, tracking and ranging

fiber distributed data interface

fluorescence recovery after photobleaching

free-space digital optical

free-space optics

acceleration of gravity

graphic applications subroutine package

gigacycles

gas-cooled fast reactor

ground-based electro-optical deep space surveillance system

graphics performance characterization

general-purpose interface bus

grating surface emitting

graphical user interface

highly accelerated stress screen

heat capacity mapping mission

high-performance parallel interface

hybrid mosaic on stacked silicon

interfacing optical element

infrared search and track

joint surveillance target attack system

kilomegacycle

laser radar intelligence acquisition technology

laser absorption spectrometer; light-activated switch; local alignment system

light-activated silicon-controlled rectifier

light-activated silicon-controlled switch

laser-activated silicon switch; laser spark spectroscopy

Long Duration Exposure Facility

laser-energized explosive device; low-energy electron diffraction

laser fusion breeder reactor

laser feedback microscope; lateral force microscope; longitudinal field modulator

laser optoacoustic

laminated object manufacturing

laser spot tracker

Manufacturing Automation Protocol; measurement assurance program

milliamperes-second - unit measure of electric charge acquired when multiplying the electric current in milliamperes (one thousandth or 10-3 of the standard unit for electric current the ampere) by the time in seconds. It is commonly used to describe the length of time that electrons are produced or passed through a given circuitry.

media access unit — A media access unit (MAU) is a unique device utilized to connect token ring devices from multiple network stations into a star topology. There are two types of MAUs, passive and active. Passive MAUs are powered from their network connections while active MAUs are powered electrically from an external source.

molecular beam epitaxy — A well-controlled thin film technique for growing films with good crystal structure in ultra high vacuum environments at very low deposition rates. MBE is also commonly used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices and solar cells.

megacycles

megacycles per second — Megacyces per second is an oscillation rate equivalent to one million (or 106) of the standard unit of a single optical period over a second which is an optical cycle.

modulation contrast microscopy; multichip module — modulation contrast microscopy is a unique illumination technique that enhances contrast in an imaging microscope by converting optical gradients into variations in light intensity. Modulation contrast microscopy is found most commonly in live cell imaging, polarization microscopy, phase contrast, and oblique illumination of stained, unstained and birefringent specimens. A multichip module is an electronic packaging system where multiple discrete electronic components (integrated circuits, semiconductor diodes, etc.) are packaged in various ways onto a single substrate.

megacycles per second

magnetic Czochralski process — Introduction of an external magnetic field in the Czochralski melting process for crystal growth in order to influence the flow and dampen the amplitudes of the melt oscillations that occur in the process. This is accomplished when the external magnetic field generates an electric field inside the melt, which further induces an internal magnetic field in the now electrically conducting melt. The amplitudes of the now induced electric and magnetic fields can be controlled by the strength of the external magnetic field allowing control of the MCZ process.