Photonics Dictionary: E

A type of optical fiber loss resulting from the misalignment of fibers in a splice or connector.

Synonym of extrinsic fiber loss.

Scattering caused by the interaction between ingoing and outgoing particles of the same type, with no loss of kinetic energy.

An electro-optic modulator (EOM) is a device used to modulate the amplitude, phase, or polarization of light waves using an external electrical signal. Electro-optic modulation is a fundamental...

An electron-gun system is an assembly used to generate and control a focused beam of electrons. Electron guns find applications in various fields, including cathode ray tubes (CRTs), electron...

The use of a material's emissivity to measure absorption. It is useful as an absorption loss measurement technique, since at thermal equilibrium, emittance is equal to absorptance.

An arc lamp whose carbon electrodes are enclosed in a transparent chamber, resulting in an arc that is steadier, lasts longer and emits more ultraviolet radiation.

A laser or laser system positioned within an enclosure to prevent dangerous optical radiation from leaving the enclosure.

Also referred to as a bulb. The glass housing that encloses an incandescent source, or the glass or metal housing that encloses an electron tube.

The light spectrum formed by an explosive reaction or by the electrical explosion of a metallic wire by a strong current.

In cosmology, a star that exhibits a rapid increase in the magnitude of light, which is followed by a slow decrease in magnitude. The nova and supernova are explosive variables.

A pattern on an oscilloscope display that consists of a string of shapes that resemble eyes. Because the pattern becomes more closed with increasing distortion and interference, an open eye diagram...