Photonics Dictionary: V

The maximum distance at which the eye can perceive and evaluate objects.

1. An instrument used to determine the visual range in an environment. 2. A type of photometer that artificially reduces an object's visibility to threshold limits and records the quantity of...

That region of the electromagnetic spectrum to which the retina is sensitive and by which the eye sees. It extends from about 400 to 750 nm in wavelength.

That term pertaining to the spectral region that can be perceived by the eye.

An instrument that uses an erbium:glass laser to determine cloud height from the ground.

The processes in which luminous energy incident on the eye is perceived and evaluated.

The numerical definition of the ability of an observer to perceive fine detail. The average value may be taken as one minute, or 6.7 cycles/mm, at 250 mm (normal viewing distance).

The angle subtended by an object at the point of observation.

An imaginary line between the object, through the nodal point of the eye, and the fovea, or point of finest retinal acuity.

A pair of stars (double star) that can be seen separately with a telescope, generally by setting a filar micrometer for the separation and position angle. Observation of visual binaries improves with...

A device that enables visual tracing of a fiber optic cable to check for breaks and defects by coupling visible light into the cable. Also called fiber tracer.

The angular field of view that is seen by the eyes when fixed on a point straight ahead. The normal binocular visual field is approximately 130° in diameter.

A photometer that permits visual comparison of the luminance of two surfaces.

The value of the expanse of b-particles in an absorber, evaluated by visual examination of breaks in the absorption curve.

An electron tube that stores and visually displays information by means of a cathode-ray-beam-scanning and charge-storage mechanism.

A series of high contrast block letters or similar objects arranged to permit the evaluation of eyesight in humans.

A visual system including a tiny television tube and imaging optics, all contained in a helmet to be worn by pilots in flight simulator training.

A vacuum chamber is a sealed enclosure from which air and other gases are removed to create a low-pressure environment, typically close to or at a complete vacuum. These chambers are often...

The technique of producing spectrograms in wavelengths beyond 120 nm by the use of a diffraction grating and a Schumann plate in a vacuum environment.

A device that serves to detect the presence of vacuum ultraviolet radiation. It may be photographic film, a thermopile, ion chamber, vacuum photodiode, photomultiplier or channel electron multiplier.

Radiation whose spectrum runs between 100 and 300 nm. Any work with these wavelengths requires evacuated equipment.

Any source that emits radiation of wavelengths between 100 and 300 nm. Instruments used to study these sources must be evacuated, as vacuum ultraviolet does not travel freely in air.

A method of spectral analysis using wavelengths between 100 and 300 nm that utilizes both emission and absorption techniques.

Van der Waals forces refer to the attractive or repulsive forces between molecules (or parts of molecules) that arise from fluctuations in electron distribution. These forces are relatively weak...

An Abbe condenser in which the upper lens element is fixed. The lower lens may focus the illumination between the elements so that it emerges from the fixed lens as a large-diameter parallel bundle....

A machine vision technique of image correlation whereby the correlation kernel (template of the desired image) is transformed into a group of vectors, each representing a specific feature of the...

A brightness, superimposed on the image of the retina, that decreases its contrast and that often results in decreased visibility.

The angular relation between two light rays that originated at the same object point. Sometimes used to indicate the angle between the visual axes of the eyes.

With respect to a television system, a pulse transmitted at the end of each field to break off the cathode-ray beam as it begins the next field.

A laser that has a surface-emitting semiconductor gain element coupled to an external mirror designed to complete the laser resonator. VECSELs can be electrically or optically pumped. The extended...

In television system specifications, the number of parallel horizontal black and white lines of equal thickness, that can be resolved from top to bottom of the raster. (One line equals either a black...

With respect to television, the returning direction of the electron beam during the vertical blanking period.

A type of surface-emitting laser diode that uses dielectric mirrors to produce surface emission. The laser cavity is established in a vertical direction with respect to the plane of the active region.

A device that measures the back focal length or vertex power of a lens.

In integrated circuits, a pathway, hole, or other passage through the substrate.

A vibrational transition refers to a change in the vibrational energy of a molecule. Molecules consist of atoms that are connected by chemical bonds, and these atoms are not stationary but are in...