Photonics Dictionary: B

A photovoltaic cell designed so that light travels through the front electrode and a semiconductor before it comes to the barrier layer.

An opaque shielding device designed to reduce the effect of stray light on an optical system.

In semiconductor physics, the term bandgap refers to the energy range in a material where no electronic states are allowed. It represents the energy difference between the valence band, which is the...

The range of frequencies over which a particular instrument is designed to function within specified limits. See also fiber bandwidth.

An optical scanning device designed to read information printed in the form of bars of different size by detection and processing of the varying reflectivity of light in the barcode.

A coupling mechanism designed to quickly lock a connector into an adaptor or a lens into a lens mount. Typically coupling is accomplished by less than a quarter turn of the component being mounted.

A device designed to decrease flux density or power per unit area of a light beam through absorption and scattering of the beam.

A system of optical components designed to increase the diameter of a radiation beam. Usually an afocal system.

A beam shaper is an optical device or system designed to modify the spatial profile or intensity distribution of a laser or light beam. The goal is to transform the incoming beam into a desired shape...

A beamsplitter is an optical device used to divide a beam of light into two or more separate beams, typically by reflecting a portion of the incident light while transmitting the remainder....

An instrument designed to produce very hard x-rays by the acceleration of electrons in a varying magnetic field.

Designating any instrument in which both eyes can be used to view the image to achieve a stereoscopic effect, or merely to facilitate observation. See also prism binoculars.

A microscope designed with two eyepieces (oculars), permitting the use of both eyes when viewing through the instrument.

A term pertaining to devices (generally optical) designed for use with both eyes viewing through a single exit pupil. The term may be distinguished from binocular in that biocular instruments contain...

Blaze height typically refers to a parameter in the context of diffraction gratings, which are optical devices consisting of a series of closely spaced parallel grooves or slits. The blaze height is...

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 in perfect focus, its image is spread out into a circular shape on the...

A breakout cable, also known as a fan-out cable or breakout assembly, is a type of cable that combines multiple individual cables into a single, larger cable. The breakout cable is designed to...

Broadband dielectric mirrors, also known as broadband mirrors, are optical coatings designed to efficiently reflect or transmit light over a broad range of wavelengths. These mirrors are constructed...

A broadband filter is an electronic or electromagnetic device designed to pass a range of frequencies or signals within a specified bandwidth while attenuating or rejecting signals outside of that...

An optical instrument designed to permit the visual examination of the interior of the bronchi.

Specially designed optics for the observation and photographing of hydrogen in a bubble chamber.