Photonics Dictionary: T

A Pockels cell in which electrical current is applied in a direction orthogonally to that of the light beam.

In the context of optics and lasers, a transverse mode refers to a specific spatial pattern of the electric field within the cross-section of a laser beam. These modes represent the different...

The laser pumping that exhibits an advantage over longitudinal pumping in that the threshold pump power density can be lowered approximately in proportion to the laser length.

The method for measuring the index profile of an optical fiber or preform by illuminating it coherently and transversely to its axis, and examining the far-field radiation pattern.

Abbreviated TEA CO2 laser. A gas laser that provides shorter pulses and higher peak powers than conventional CO2 lasers. The electrical excitation pulse occurs transversely to the optical axis...

Also known as TEA laser. A coherent optical source with a wide wavelength range in the infrared, visible and ultraviolet that uses an electrical discharge transverse to (across) the optical axis to...

A tool used in cutting circular holes around a center. Also, a laser cutter in which the beam moves in relation to the cut surface.

A semiconductor device that functions as an electrically controlled switch for AC loads.

The science of interfacing surfaces in moving contact, which includes areas such as friction, lubrication and wear.

Luminescence that arises from friction and that usually occurs in crystalline materials.

The characteristic of displaying three colors when observed in as many separate directions.

The basis of color vision in the human eye. Three types of cones have been identified, each having a unique spectral response (red, green and blue).

With respect to a crystal, having three unequal axes intersecting at angles, only two of which can be equal and only one of which can measure 90°.

A color-television viewing system with three kinescopes, three lenses and three deflection yokes used to form the red, green and blue images required for a tricolor television projection.

A compound lens consisting of two negative lenses of flint glass. A double-convex lens of crown glass is cemented between the two negative lenses. With this system, it is possible to decrease...

Also known as corner-cube reflector or retrodirective reflector. Three reflecting surfaces, perpendicular to each other, that are arranged like the inside corner of a cube. As the triple mirror has a...

A lens assembly made up of three lens elements that may or may not be cemented.

A device used to produce numerical integrations for colorimetry.

A magnetic-deflection mass spectrometer that has an electrostatic field placed perpendicularly to its magnetic field, permitting both spatial mass dispersion and perfect double focusing in the plane...

In a fiber optic communications network, a circuit that connects two switching centers and does not branch off to terminal points.

An evacuated bulb containing a tungsten filament that is heated by passing an electric current through it. In domestic light bulbs the inside of the bulb is frosted to soften shadows. In projection...

Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by the presence of suspended particles. These particles can include sediment, silt, clay, plankton, and other microscopic...

A system that is complete and self-contained, needing no further additions to permit its operation.

A compound crystal having two or more crystals or crystal sections that, when regularly positioned, are in reverse position relative to the other sections. When viewed, these crystals appear to be...

Twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) is a phenomenon observed in certain organic molecules containing electron-donor and electron-acceptor groups that are linked together within the same...

A form of liquid crystal widely used in displays, achieved by sandwiching a liquid crystal material between two substrates whose inside surfaces have been prepared with a special coating that aligns...

Two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) is a nonlinear optical method that allows imaging of biological cells and living tissue. The advantage of TPEF in comparison to conventional fluorescence...

This results from the simultaneous absorption of two photons, each having half the energy needed for excitation and requiring a high spatial and temporal concentration of photons. The ensuing...

A testing device that provides a contour map of the emergent wavefront for the observer in terms of the given wavelength of the light.