Artificial Intelligence, AI, Deep Learning Dictionary Terms
Cooper pairsThe coupled pairs of electrons that carry supercurrents through the body of a superconductor, relative to a coherent...
hybrid coolerA cryogenic cooler device that is an intermittent Joule-Thomson refrigerator with a passive radiator serving as the...
holographic cameraA holographic camera, also known as a holographic imaging system or holographic recorder, is a specialized device used to...
optical design softwareOptical design software refers to specialized computer programs used by optical engineers, physicists, and designers to...
Becke lineA band of light that appears along the outer edge of a transparent material under microscopic investigation and that moves...
optoacousticOptoacoustic, or photoacoustic, refers to a phenomenon and related techniques that involve the generation of acoustic waves...
multiple invarianceCharacteristic of optical correlators in which invariance to more than one distortion parameter per axis of the processor is...
swindle ghost imageA positive after-image that is maintained for a minute or more.
Lawson criterionDefines the minimum operational standards for a self-sustaining fusion reactor as equivalence between energy released per...
pump laserA pump laser is a type of laser used to provide the necessary energy to the gain medium of another laser or laser system,...
virtual realityVirtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment or experience that can be...
resonanceResonance can be defined in various contexts, including physics, chemistry, and music. Here are definitions for resonance in...
pressingA blank having basic surface curves attained by forming heat-softened glass that is pressed in a mold.
X resolutionX resolution is a measure of the number of pixels or data points along the horizontal axis of an image or display. It...
luminaireA complete unit containing a light source, globe, reflector, housing, socket and other necessary components for lighting.
dichroic coatingA dichroic coating, also known as a dichroic filter or dichroic mirror, is an optical coating designed to selectively...
transverse modeIn the context of optics and lasers, a transverse mode refers to a specific spatial pattern of the electric field within the...
radargrammetryThe analysis of the photographs taken from the radar display of a survey aircraft and used when recording terrain that is...
photoreflectanceA noncontact form of electromodulation in which modulation of the electric field is caused by photo-excited electron-hole...
scotoscopeAn instrument that uses an image intensifier to aid in the viewing of subjects in low-light-level environments.
interferometerAn interferometer is a scientific instrument that utilizes the principle of interference to measure differences in the path...
sheet gratingA three-dimensional grating designed with thin metal sheets to remain opaque to all but one specific and predetermined wave.
rectificationA technique used in photogrammetry to ensure parallelism during projection printing. Failure to do this will change a...
laser-light-scattering photometerA scattering photometer using scattered light in the solid angle 4.51+0 19° with respect to the forward direction, and...
active mediumAn active medium is a material or substance used in various optical devices and systems, where it plays a critical role in...
neodymium glassGlass containing small quantities of neodymium oxide that is used as a filter plate in color television or as a lasing...
infrared lensAn infrared lens is an optical component specifically designed and optimized for transmitting, focusing, or manipulating...
heatseekerA guided missile that uses an infrared sensor to detect and home in on an enemy target. The missile is guided by the high...
image dissector tubeAn electron tube that is used as a camera tube for a television system. When the picture to be transmitted is focused on a...
image intensifierAn image intensifier, also known as an image intensification tube or image intensification device, is a specialized...
retroreflectionRetroreflection is a phenomenon in optics where light is reflected back toward its source, typically in a direction nearly...
circular dichroismCircular dichroism (CD) is a spectroscopic technique used to study the structural characteristics of chiral (asymmetric)...
helium-neon laserA helium-neon (HeNe) laser is a type of gas laser that emits visible red light at a wavelength of 632.8 nm. It operates...
mode hoppingMode hopping in the context of lasers refers to a phenomenon where a laser system abruptly switches from one longitudinal...
coverslipA coverslip, also known as a cover glass or cover slip, is a thin and flat piece of transparent material typically made of...
Craik-O'Brien effectObserved when alterations in the luminous sterance at the contour of an object create the illusion of the outer zones...
scaling lawIn coherence theory, an optical law put forth by physicist Emil Wolf that explains the behavior of light as it travels away...
excitation1. The process by which an atom acquires energy sufficient to raise it to a quantum state higher than its ground state. 2....
ultraviolet coatingsUltraviolet (UV) coatings are specialized optical coatings designed to operate in the ultraviolet region of the...
ordinary rayThe ray that has an isotropic speed and maintains a uniform polarization in all propagation directions when traveling in a...
microscope immersion fluidThe liquid used in microscopy to fill the space between the high-power objective lens and the microscope slide in order to...
fiber optic test equipmentFiber optic test equipment encompasses a range of specialized tools and instruments designed to evaluate the performance and...
crustA stain in a glass surface.
photovoltaic cellA photovoltaic cell, commonly known as a solar cell, is a semiconductor device that directly converts light energy into...
whole slide imagingWhole slide imaging (WSI), also known as virtual slide microscopy or digital pathology, is a technology that involves the...
Golgi Staining TechniqueThe Golgi staining technique (also called the black reaction) makes it possible to look at the nervous system by rendering...
automated optical inspectionAutomated optical inspection (AOI) is a technology used in manufacturing processes, particularly in electronics, to...
forward-looking infraredA night-vision device that uses one or more infrared transducers to scan a scene in the 3- to 5-µm or 8- to...
stereoscopic rangefinderA rangefinder similar to a pair of binoculars with a long base, a dot or other wander mark provided in each eyepiece field,...
ratiometryRatiometry is a technique used in various scientific fields, particularly in analytical chemistry and biochemistry, to...
ghost1. A faint second image caused by reflection that is sometimes seen when observing through an optical instrument. 2. With...
vertical imbalanceThe difference in base up or down prism power at corresponding points located on the two lenses of a pair of spectacles.
helium leak detectorA small mass spectrometer used to find leaks in a vacuum system by detecting the presence of helium. Using a magnetic...
Pockels cellA Pockels cell, also known as an electro-optic modulator, is an optical device used to control the polarization of light by...
rotating mirror scannerDeveloped for use in military reconnaissance systems, it consists of a polygonal mirror, drive motor, interface between...
bodyIn the optical field, a piece of glass to which a lens or prism is cemented. The unit is ground and polished as a whole to...
laser-induced breakdown spectroscopyLaser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an analytical technique that uses a high-powered laser pulse to ablate a...
binocular magnifierA device having a pair of decentered lenses, one for each eye, that focuses on a single object as a magnifier. It is often...
smart microscopySmart microscopy refers to the integration of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and...
mosaic detector arrayA group of photosensors arranged in a grid-like pattern covering the entire field of view, enabling them to record it all at...
microfilm equipmentTwo essential pieces of equipment used in connection with the microfilming process: a camera capable of producing, on film,...
opticsOptics is the branch of physics that studies the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter...
Rayleigh criterion of resolving powerWhen a lens system with a circular aperture is free of aberrations, the image of a point object will appear as a disc of...
ophthalmologyOphthalmology is a branch of medicine that focuses on the anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the eyes and visual system....
long-wave infraredLong-wave infrared (LWIR) refers to a specific range of the infrared spectrum. Infrared radiation is divided into three main...
pixel pitchPixel pitch refers to the distance between the centers of two adjacent pixels on a display screen or imaging sensor. It is...
metallic mesh filterAn interference filter in which a very thin metal foil with a periodic array of square holes (inductive mesh) or a thin...
lagA term applied to an electric charge image in a camera tube that remains for a period of a few frames after its initial...
aliasingIn image processing, the result of a sampling frequency that is too slow to preserve the spatial frequencies of the image....
thermal imagingThermal imaging is a technology that detects infrared radiation (heat) emitted by objects and converts it into an image,...
avalanche photodiodeA device that utilizes avalanche multiplication of photocurrent by means of hole-electrons created by absorbed photons. When...
feedback control systemA system designed to control the output quantity of a device by returning a portion of its output signal to its input. This...
burst pressureThe measure used in vacuum technology to quantify the total pressure capacity of the ferrofluidic seal before it fails.
aperture distortionA loss of resolution or detail in a television signal caused by the size of the electron scanning beam.
Franck-Condon principleThe principle that electronic energy transitions occur at such speeds that the nuclei of the atoms in the molecular system...
monocoil sheathingA type of tubing used to protect optical fiber cables, consisting of a wire spiral of aluminum, galvanized steel or...
broadband dielectric mirrorsBroadband dielectric mirrors, also known as broadband mirrors, are optical coatings designed to efficiently reflect or...
secondary bowThe indistinct rainbow that may sometimes be observed outside the distinct primary bow and that has its colors in opposite...
photographic photometryA form of photometric measurement, often used with light sources that are transparent or fluctuating, in which a...
fiber Bragg gratingA fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is a type of optical filter that is inscribed or "written" into the core of an optical fiber. It...
solid-state laserA solid-state laser is a type of laser that uses a solid gain medium (as opposed to a liquid or gas) to produce coherent...
fiber optic cable assemblyA fiber optic cable assembly refers to a complete unit consisting of optical fibers, connectors, protective jackets, and...
reciprocity failure
stoneAn opaque inclusion in glass that contains undissolved or crystalline material. Also known as a seed.
transmission electron microscopeA transmission electron microscope (TEM) is a powerful microscopy technique that uses a beam of electrons to create...
iconoscopeA camera tube that employs a high-velocity electron beam to scan a photoemissive mosaic and to store electrical charge...
orthiconA television camera tube in which a low-velocity electron beam scans a photoactive mosaic that has been created by an...
calcium indicatorA calcium indicator is a molecule that is sensitive to changes in calcium ion (Ca2+) concentrations in biological systems....
multijunction deviceA photovoltaic device that consists of multiple p-n junctions to produce a greater efficiency when in use than that of...
gauze techniqueThe masking of all openings of an optical transform -- except the hole at the symmetrical center -- with a thin wire gauze...
gain coefficient
Glan-Foucault prismA type of birefringent polarizing prism that transmits the extraordinary ray and removes the ordinary ray through total...
fanA set of rays through a lens originating at a common point and contained in one plane.
actinic focusActinic focus refers to the point or plane within an optical system where ultraviolet (UV) light or other actinic radiation...
laser markingLaser marking is a process in which a laser beam is used to mark or engrave a surface by altering its properties or...
photoacousticPhotoacoustic refers to the generation of acoustic (sound) waves following the absorption of light (usually laser pulses) by...
light fidelityLiFi, short for light fidelity, is a wireless communication technology that utilizes visible light or infrared light to...
laser coolingLaser cooling is a technique used to reduce the temperature of a material or a collection of atoms or molecules by using...
radial distribution methodA statistical analysis of facts obtained when the intensity of x-ray diffraction is calculated at different angles. In this...
aplanatic pointsAplanatic points refer to specific points in an optical system where certain aberrations, such as spherical aberration or...
scanning electron microscopyScanning electron microscopy (SEM) is an advanced imaging technique used in microscopy to obtain high-resolution,...
modulation transfer function analysis/measurement equipmentMTF analysis/measurement equipment refers to instruments and tools used to measure and analyze the modulation transfer...
magnifying powerThe ability of an optical system to make an object appear larger. An optical element or optical system causing an object to...
specular reflectionPertaining to the manner in which light is reflected, as by a mirror or speculum.
linear positioning stageA linear positioning stage, also known as a linear stage or translation stage, is a precision mechanical device used to...
Airy discThe central peak (including everything interior to the first zero or dark ring) of the focal diffraction pattern of a...
double slitA pair of long, slender parallel apertures used in experiments on diffraction and interference.
radixTotal number of characters available to each position of a digital numeric system.
barrier layerIn the fabrication of an optical fiber, a layer that can be used to create a boundary against OH-ion diffusion into the core.
measuring wedgeA wedge in a rangefinder or heightfinder used to displace the image produced by one telescope so that it coincides with that...
magnetorheological finishingMagnetorheological finishing (MRF) is a precision optics polishing technique used for shaping and finishing optical surfaces...
CCD image sensorA CCD image sensor, or charge-coupled device image sensor, is a type of electronic device used to convert optical images...
ultraviolet light sourcesUltraviolet (UV) light sources are devices that emit light in the ultraviolet spectrum, which ranges from about 10 nm to 400...
prelasingWhen uncontrolled laser energy leaks from a laser cavity prematurely, it causes serious damage to optical components and...
photoluminescencePhotoluminescence is a phenomenon in which a material absorbs photons (light) at one wavelength and then re-emits photons at...
gyroscopyGyroscopy refers to the principles and applications of gyroscopes, devices that measure or maintain orientation based on the...
photoemulsionIn photolithography, an opaque material used in masks that has a lower optical density and grainier composition than chrome.
augmented realityAugmented reality (AR) is a technology that integrates digital information, typically in the form of computer-generated...
neutral density coatingA coating applied to a neutral density glass that is designed to reduce the amount of light evenly across the transmitted...
neural networkA computing paradigm that attempts to process information in a manner similar to that of the brain; it differs from...
adiabatic laser colorimetryAdiabatic laser colorimetry is a technique used to measure the color of materials based on the principle of adiabatic...
splice closureA container which secures multiple splice trays and protects the trays and their contents from damage.
gallium arsenide injection laserA laser system consisting of a planar PN junction within a single crystal of gallium arsenide. The pair of parallel,...
chronophotographThe continuous record containing the series of pictures formed by chronophotographic methods.
lymphocyteA lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell (leukocyte) that plays a central role in the immune system. Lymphocytes are...
cosine law of illuminationLaw relating the illuminance (or irradiance) of a surface to the cosine of the angle, q, between the normal to the surface...
plumeA mixture of ionized gas and metal vapor generated by impingement of the laser beam onto a material being welded or a weld...
tunnelingAn observed effect of the ability of certain atomic particles to pass through a barrier that they cannot pass over because...
focus control1. A mechanism that permits the focusing of an optical system.2. A means of obtaining the sharpest image from a cathode-ray...
optical strain sensorsOptical strain sensors are devices that utilize optical principles to measure the deformation or strain experienced by a...
spectroradiometerA spectroradiometer is a device used to measure the intensity of light at different wavelengths across the electromagnetic...
metrologyMetrology is the science and practice of measurement. It encompasses the theoretical and practical aspects of measurement,...
optical bistabilityThe phenomenon that can render an optical resonator the equivalent of a semiconductor flip-flop. A bistable device will...
gain-switchingGain-switching is a technique used in lasers to generate short pulses of light by modulating the gain of the laser medium....
optical glassOptical glass refers to a type of glass specifically engineered and manufactured for use in optical components and systems,...
dust counterAn instrument that uses a photoelectric system to determine the size and volume of dust particles in a given unit of air.
pair productionThe production of a positron-electron pair by a photon having energy greater than one mega-electron-volt, whereby some of...
actinismActinism refers to the property of radiation, particularly light, that enables it to produce photochemical effects. This...
focus1. The focal point. 2. To adjust the eyepiece or objective of a telescope so that the image is clearly seen by the observer....
photochromicPhotochromic refers to a property exhibited by certain materials, typically organic compounds or dyes, which undergo...
sensitometryPrimarily the measurement of photographic sensitivity of certain materials such as photographic film. It refers to the...
circular-ranging optical coherence tomographyCircular-ranging optical coherence tomography (CR-OCT) is a specialized imaging technique used in medical diagnostics and...
grain boundaryIn a multicrystalline material, the meeting point between crystallites.
optical artifactsOptical artifacts refer to undesired or unintended effects that can occur in optical systems, such as microscopes, cameras,...
cleanroomAn area in which airborne particulates can be monitored and controlled so that given size particles do not exceed a...
optical clockAn optical clock is a highly precise and advanced timekeeping device that relies on the oscillations of electromagnetic...
cooled infrared detectorAn infrared detector that achieves a specified sensitivity through the application of certain cryogenic temperatures.
superluminal transmissionSuperluminal transmission refers to the hypothetical process of transmitting information faster than the speed of light,...
evaporagraphA sensor generally used for infrared imaging. It consists of two chambers separated by a thin, blackened membrane. An...
optical filterAn optical filter is a device that selectively transmits or blocks specific wavelengths, or colors, of light. Optical...
Secondary Speckle PatternA self-interference effect that generates random patterns; secondary speckle pattern (SSP) typically occurs in diffuse...
electrowetting displayAn electrowetting display (EWD) is a type of electronic display technology that utilizes the principles of electrowetting to...
voltaic cellAn electric cell having two electrodes of unlike metals immersed in a solution that chemically affects one or both of them,...
polymerPolymers are large molecules composed of repeating structural units called monomers. These monomers are chemically bonded...
glassA noncrystalline, inorganic mixture of various metallic oxides fused by heating with glassifiers such as silica, or boric or...
back-wall photovoltaic cellA photovoltaic cell designed so that light travels through the front electrode and a semiconductor before it comes to the...
cylindrical lensA cylindrical lens is an optical component that has different curvatures along its two orthogonal axes, resulting in a shape...
American Chemical SocietyThe American Chemical Society (ACS) is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in...
photon fluxPhoton flux refers to the rate at which photons (particles of light) pass through a unit area per unit time. It is a measure...
bandgapIn semiconductor physics, the term bandgap refers to the energy range in a material where no electronic states are allowed....
periscopeAn optical instrument designed to displace the line of sight in a vertical direction. For submarines and other military uses...
thermal interface materialsThermal interface materials (TIMs) are substances or compounds used to enhance the thermal conductivity between two surfaces...
linear polarizationLinear polarization refers to the polarization state of light where the electric field oscillates in a single plane as the...
charge-coupled deviceA charge-coupled device (CCD) is a type of electronic image sensor used in various imaging devices, including digital...
fiber-coupled LEDA fiber-coupled LED (light-emitting diode) refers to an LED device that is optically coupled to an optical fiber for the...
thermogramAlso known as analog thermogram. The resultant photograph, illustrating, in tones ranging from black to white, the spatial...
atomic force microscopeAn atomic force microscope (AFM) is a high-resolution imaging and measurement instrument used in nanotechnology, materials...
mode filling factorIn a laser, the fraction of plasma volume used by a particular transverse mode of oscillation, a determinant of the gain...
Airy differential equationThe equation devised by Sir G.B. Airy for the analysis of light diffraction near a caustic surface: (d2f/dz2) - zf = 0 where...
gyroscopic camera mountA mount that uses a floating suspension and a motor-driven gyroscope to keep a motion picture or still camera at a set angle...
ring-laser gyroscopeA ring laser gyroscope (RLG) is a type of gyroscope that uses laser light to detect and measure changes in orientation. It...
single-mode waveguide (or fiber)An optical waveguide in which only the lowest order bound mode, which may consist of a pair of orthogonally polarized...
pellicle mirrorA thin, stretched plastic membrane cemented to a rigid supporting ring. It may be coated to act as a beamsplitter, for...
stereoscopeA small instrument containing a picture support and a pair of magnifying lenses so arranged that the left eye sees only the...
double-clad fiberDouble-clad fiber (DCF) is a specialized optical fiber that features two concentric cladding layers surrounding a core. The...
Risley prismA Risley prism, also known as a Risley prism pair or Risley rotating prism, is an optical device used for controlling the...
half bandwidthThe term half bandwidth (HBW) generally refers to the width of a spectral band or frequency range at half of its maximum...
inefficient shutterA shutter in which the opening and closing times for a large aperture setting occupy a substantial fraction of the total...
absolute luminance thresholdThe absolute luminance threshold is the lowest luminance level of a light source or illuminated object that can be detected...
pointer eyepieceA Huygenian eyepiece containing a pointer at its focal plane that is used -- when viewing an object through the eyepiece --...
gallium arsenide phosphideGallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) is a semiconductor alloy composed of gallium (Ga), arsenic (As), and phosphorus (P). It...
continuous strobeA continuous strobe, also known as a continuous light or constant light strobe, is a type of lighting device used in...
light-emitting diodeAn LED, or light emitting diode, is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs...
zirconium arcA small bulb containing a conducting gas, an arc being formed between a metal ring and a tiny zirconium electrode near the...
monomer exchange diffusionProcess that occurs when a polymerized soft plastic rod with higher refractive index is placed in a bath of a lower...
lasing thresholdThe lowest excitation power level at which a laser's output is mainly the result of stimulated emission rather than...
nonlinear opticsNonlinear optics is a branch of optics that studies the optical phenomena that occur when intense light interacts with a...
fractional photothermolysisA laser skin-resurfacing method that creates microscopic thermal wounds referred to as microscopic treatment zones (MTZs),...
teloscopyTeloscopy, while not a commonly used term, could be understood in the context of principles related to telescopes and their...
free-abrasive machiningThe process whereby a rotating wheel carries grains of an abrasive, suspended in a vehicle, across the surface of the...
video graphics arrayThe video graphics array (VGA) is a display resolution standard introduced by IBM in 1987 for displaying graphics on...
maserA maser (microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) is a device that produces coherent electromagnetic...
panoramic telescopeA telescope so manufactured that the image remains erect and the position of the eyepiece is unchanged as the line of sight...
astronomical telescopeAn astronomical telescope is a type of optical instrument designed to gather and magnify light from distant celestial...
cresyl violetCresyl violet, also known as cresyl violet acetate or cresyl echt violet, is a synthetic organic compound belonging to the...
fused array of fibersOptical fibers fused together to form a solid, vacuum-tight assembly in the form of a slab or rod. Discs or rectangular...
actuatorAn actuator is a mechanical or electromechanical device that is responsible for moving or controlling a mechanism or system....
spatial light interference microscopySpatial light interference microscopy (SLIM) is an optical microscopy technique that belongs to the category of quantitative...
optical time-domain reflectometryA method for characterizing a fiber wherein an optical pulse is transmitted through the fiber, and the resulting light...
photodarkeningThe effect that the optical losses in a medium can grow when the medium is irradiated with light at certain wavelengths.
double refractionThe separation of unpolarized light into two plane-polarized elements by a doubly refracting crystal. When a crystal, such...
orange peelIn the context of imaging, particularly digital imaging and printing, "orange peel" refers to a texture or visual distortion...
cryostatA cryostat is a device used to maintain very low temperatures, typically below the boiling point of liquid nitrogen (77 K or...
surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopySurface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an analytical technique that combines the principles of Raman spectroscopy...
sputtering equipmentSputtering equipment is machinery used in the process of physical vapor deposition (PVD), specifically sputtering....
spectral flow cytometrySpectral flow cytometry is an advanced flow cytometry technique that expands the capabilities of traditional flow cytometry...
intelligent vision systemsIntelligent vision systems combine traditional computer vision techniques with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine...
mosaic mirrorA large telescope mirror fabricated from several smaller sections.
color temperature meterA device containing two photocells behind deep red and blue filters to measure color temperatures. The amplifier gain is...
cameraA light-tight box that receives light from an object or scene and focuses it to form an image on a light-sensitive material...
photoelectric photometryThe use of photoelectric sensors to detect and measure the intensity of a light source. This application, as compared to...
eye guardA shield of rubber, plastic or metal used to protect the eyes of the observer from stray light and wind, and to maintain the...
saccadic motionThe movement of the eye as it focuses on details of a scene. Some imaging systems mimic this movement by small, rapid...
laser cavityA laser cavity, also known as an optical cavity or resonator, is a fundamental component of a laser system. It is a confined...
heterojunctionA heterojunction is a junction formed between two different semiconductor materials with differing band gaps. These...
gain-guided laserA laser diode in which the beam is confined to the region of the active layer with gain high enough to accomplish such...
noncontact automatic inspection systemsNoncontact inspection systems are advanced measurement and inspection technologies that evaluate the properties and...
beam waistThat point in a Gaussian beam where the wavefront has a curvature of zero and the beam diameter is a minimum.
AI system-on-chipAn AI system-on-chip (SoC) is an integrated circuit that integrates hardware components optimized for performing AI...
knife-edge scanning microscopeAn imaging device originally created to image whole mouse brain volumes at microscopic resolution. The main component of the...
constant variant enhancementTechnique that uses high-pass filtering to reduce the local average to zero for all regions of the picture and then applies...
atomic absorption spectrometerAn atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) is an analytical instrument used to determine the concentration of specific chemical...
gallium arsenideGallium arsenide (GaAs) is a compound semiconductor material composed of gallium (Ga) and arsenic (As). It belongs to the...
structural character recognitionAn approach to character recognition based on the structure of the character to be identified (number of straight lines,...
pairingIn interlaced television scanning, an effect in which the lines of one field fail to fall exactly within the lines of the...
beauty defectA defect on or in an optical element that does not appreciably impair the function of the surface.
clinometerAn instrument for measuring the vertical angle of an object. It usually contains an accurately made protractor, a sensitive...
Raman fiber probeA flexible fiber cable with a small diameter that transports light from the excitation laser to the target. Used in Raman...
system-on-chipA system-on-chip (SoC) is an integrated circuit (IC) that incorporates all necessary components of a computer or electronic...
digital twinA digital twin refers to a virtual representation or digital counterpart of a physical object, system, or process. This...
second-harmonic generationSecond-harmonic generation (SHG) is a nonlinear optical process that occurs when two photons with the same frequency combine...
twisted intramolecular charge transferTwisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) is a phenomenon observed in certain organic molecules containing...
flat optical-quality mirrorsFlat optical-quality mirrors are highly precise reflective surfaces used in various optical applications where the quality...
CID cameraCID, or charge injection device, camera refers to a type of imaging device that utilizes a specific kind of solid-state...
Fresnel reflectionFresnel reflection refers to the reflection of light at the interface between two different media with different refractive...
responsivityThe gain that occurs between light intensity incident on a CCD given by the photocurrent produced.
photoacoustic spectroscopyA method for obtaining the optical absorption spectra of solids, semisolids, liquids and gases. PAS is inherently...
image motion compensationThe active control of various aspects (optical element position, airspace thickness, etc.) of an optical system that...
activity (radioactivity)Radioactivity refers to the spontaneous emission of radiation from the nucleus of an unstable atom. This emission occurs as...
quasi-CW laserA laser that generates a succession of pulses at a high enough repetition rate to appear continuous. The pump source is...
sextantA handheld navigational instrument used to measure the elevation angle of celestial bodies such as the sun. An image of the...
photronic cellA photovoltaic cell usually sensitive to infrared radiation. It may have a copper base and a film of cuprous oxide. When it...
pencil beamIn astronomy, the main lobe of an antenna pattern that has a small angular extent in two mutually perpendicular directions....
quantum wellA quantum well is a structure in quantum mechanics that confines particles, such as electrons or holes, in one spatial...
Brillouin microscopyBrillouin microscopy is a non-invasive imaging technique that utilizes Brillouin scattering to measure the mechanical...
quantum detectorA photodetector in which an electrical charge is produced when incident photons change electrons within the detecting...
ferromagnetismThe properties of certain materials that cause them to have relative permeabilities that exceed unity. This permeability...
internet of thingsThe internet of things (IoT) refers to a network of interconnected physical devices, vehicles, appliances, and other objects...
critical flicker frequencyRelative to a light source, the frequency at which the source appears to fluctuate in light intensity half the time and...
multi-axis alignmentMulti-axis alignment refers to the process of aligning or adjusting components or systems in multiple spatial dimensions or...
chromophoreA naturally occurring pigment in tissue that may selectively absorb certain wavelengths and can be used to aid in targeting...
cathode-ray tube faceplateA fiber optic end plate constructed by drawing a bundle of parallel fibers embedded in glass and cutting it into thin...
fiber optic gyroscopeA fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) is a type of gyroscope that uses the interference of light waves to detect changes in...
aperture cardA combination 80-column computer card containing a 35-mm microfilm frame. Reference data can be punched onto the card to...
linear motionLinear motion is the movement of an object or particle along a straight path in a single direction. It is one of the...
sensor1. A generic term for detector. 2. A complete optical/mechanical/electronic system that contains some form of radiation...
cartesianOf or pertaining to the methods of the French philosopher Rene Descartes. Refers to the standard orthogonal X-Y-Z coordinate...
connectomeA connectome refers to a comprehensive map or diagram of neural connections within the brain or nervous system of an...
data acquisition softwareData acquisition software is a type of application or system designed to capture, process, and store data from various...
supercontinuumSupercontinuum refers to a broad spectrum of light that spans a wide range of wavelengths, typically from the visible to the...
linearityA relationship between two variables so that when plotted on a graph they yield a straight line.
quantum repeaterA quantum repeater is a crucial component in quantum communication networks, designed to extend the range over which quantum...
intrinsic photoconductivityThe absorption of a photon raising an electron across the forbidden gap from valence to conduction band of the semiconductor...
Nichols radiometerAn instrument devised by Nichols and Hull for use in the measurement of radiation pressure. The device has two small...
parallel-plate waveguideA pair of waveguides with axes normal to the plane and that guide uniform cylindrical waves.
dark-field condenserA condenser that forms a hollow cone-shaped beam of light with its focal point in the plane of the specimen. If it is used...
Haidinger fringesAlso known as constant angle or constant deviation fringes. The interference fringes observed with dense flat plates near...
clinical photographyThe application of photography, with the exception of radiography, to obtain pictures of parts or the whole of a patient to...
ionAn atom that has gained or lost one or more electrons and, as a result, carries a negative or positive charge.
achiralityAchirality refers to the property of a molecule or object that is superimposable on its mirror image. In other words, an...
mode lockingMode locking is a technique used in optics and laser physics to generate short pulses of light with extremely high peak...
adaptometerAn adaptometer is an instrument used to assess the adaptation of the human eye's sensitivity to changes in ambient light...
semiconductorA semiconductor is a type of material that has electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator. In...
image jumpIn optics, the term image jump refers to a displacement or shift in the apparent position of an image when a change occurs...
photoacoustic imagingAbbreviated PAI. An imaging modality with a hybrid technique based on the acoustic detection of optical absorption from...
single-photon avalanche diodeA single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) is a specialized type of photodetector designed to detect extremely weak optical...
borescopeA device for the internal inspection of hard-to-get-at mechanical parts, such as rifle barrels, sewer pipes, oil wells, or...
holographyHolography is a technique used to capture and reconstruct three-dimensional images using the principles of interference and...
photovoltaic detector
optoelectronic integrated circuitA monolithic device containing both photonic and electronic sources, detectors, modulators, etc., on a single semiconductor...
ophthalmic photographyThe methods and techniques used to obtain medical photographs of the human eye. To photograph the exterior of the eye,...
optical parametric amplificationOptical parametric amplification (OPA) is a process in nonlinear optics where a weak signal beam is amplified by a much...
vibrational spectroscopyVibrational spectroscopy is a type of spectroscopy that involves the study of the vibrational states of molecules. It is...
gyroscopeA gyroscope is a mechanical device consisting of a spinning disk or wheel mounted on a spinning axis in such a way that its...
3D profiling3D profiling, also known as three-dimensional profiling, refers to the process of capturing, analyzing, and visualizing the...
vacuum gaugeA gauge designed to measure the degree of vacuum in an evacuated vessel. A simple U-tube containing mercury is adequate for...
claddingThe low-refractive-index material that surrounds the core of an optical fiber to contain core light while protecting against...
wide-field fluorescence microscopyWide-field fluorescence microscopy uses either naturally occurring structures or staining with fluorescent tags that are...
optical surfaceA reflecting or refracting surface contained within an optical system.
phageA phage, short for bacteriophage, is a type of virus that infects and replicates within bacteria. Phages are composed of...
pleochroismThe property exhibited by certain birefringent crystals in which the degree with which they transmit polarized light is...
visibleThat term pertaining to the spectral region that can be perceived by the eye.
biocularA term pertaining to devices (generally optical) designed for use with both eyes viewing through a single exit pupil. The...
hyperspectral imagingHyperspectral imaging is an advanced imaging technique that captures and processes information from across the...
vernier acuityThe degree to which a pair of fine lines can be aligned to each other. A normal observer will demonstrate an accuracy of 10...
retinaThe retina is a light-sensitive tissue layer located at the back of the eye, opposite the lens. It plays a crucial role in...
photon sieveA photon sieve is an optical device used in the field of optics and imaging. It's designed to focus and shape light,...
NTSC triangleThe triangle in a chromaticity diagram joining the chromaticities of the NTSC phosphors, and containing all chromaticities...
logic diagramA diagram that uses special symbols called logic symbols to represent the detailed functioning of electronic logic circuits....
laser outputThe laser output refers to the generated and emitted light produced by a laser system. This output is characterized by...
rectilinear propagationStraight line travel. This denotes the fact that light travels in a straight line when traveling through a medium with a...
gamma rayThe spontaneous emittance of electromagnetic radiation by the nucleus of certain radioactive elements during their quantum...
carbonaceousConsisting of, containing, pertaining to or yielding carbon.
cutting laser systemsCutting laser systems are advanced machines that use focused laser beams to cut, engrave, or mark materials with high...
depth of fieldThe distance, on either side of the object plane focused on, through which satisfactory image definition can be obtained....
scintillation detectorA scintillation detector is a radiation detection device that utilizes scintillation crystals to detect and measure ionizing...
silicon photodiodeA silicon photodiode is a semiconductor device that converts light into an electrical current. It is a type of photodetector...
phase-change optical discAn erasable data recording and storage medium that uses a laser to heat the crystalline surface of the disc to a certain...
molecular motorA molecular motor refers to a nano-sized device composed of organic molecules or other small-scale components that can...
laser pointerHandheld optical laser device containing a semiconductor or DPSS source. The output is corrected via internal collimating...
plastic lensA lens made from transparent plastic material. Lenses over 31/2 in. in diameter are usually machined, ground and polished....
vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laserA laser that has a surface-emitting semiconductor gain element coupled to an external mirror designed to complete the laser...
active transportActive transport is a biological process by which cells move molecules or ions across their cell membrane against their...
deep multiphoton microscopyDeep multiphoton microscopy is an advanced imaging technique used in biological and biomedical research to visualize...
BCS theoryBardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory of superconductivity, based on the notion that electrons with opposite momentum and spin...
equatorial mountA telescope stand equipped with a polar axis that can be set parallel to the Earth's axis of rotation and a declination axis...
soliton laserA color center laser whose output is coupled to an external control laser cavity and then fed back to the main laser cavity...
field effect transistor photodetectorA photodetector employing photoregeneration of carriers in the channel region of an FET structure to provide photodetection...
airglowDiffuse light emitted by the atmosphere due to the excitation of particles of atmospheric gas. These excited particles...
entrainmentThe movement of particulate material by flowing gas or liquid.
anamorphicA term used to denote a difference in magnification along mutually perpendicular meridians. Anamorphic systems are basically...
electro-optic detectorA device that detects radiation by utilizing the influence of light in forming an electrical signal. It may be a phototube;...
q-switched operationQ-switched operation, or q-switching, is a technique used in lasers to produce short and intense pulses of light. The term...
substrateA substrate refers to a material or surface upon which another material or process is applied or deposited. In various...
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assayAn enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a laboratory technique used to detect and measure the presence of specific...
photochemicalThe term photochemical pertains to chemical processes or reactions that are initiated or influenced by the absorption of...
thermoplastic recording deviceA display device having a thermoplastic film as the control layer medium. The film, moving from a playoff reel, is scanned...
decimationThe process of reducing the size of an image by removing a certain proportion of the samples produced from the original...
attosecond photonics sourcesAttosecond photonics sources refer to devices or systems that generate extremely short pulses of light on the order of...
fiber optic sensorA fiber optic sensor is a device that uses optical fibers to detect and measure physical, chemical, biological, or...
speckle imagingA technique for obtaining improved resolution of images produced by large telescopes and distorted by the effects of...
abridged spectrophotometerAn abridged spectrophotometer refers to a simplified or compact version of a traditional spectrophotometer, which is a...
RTSP protocolRTSP, or real-time streaming protocol, is a network control protocol designed for controlling streaming media servers. It is...
thin-film coatingThin-film coatings are layers of material applied to the surface of an object or substrate, typically to modify its optical,...
soft mold blockingBlocking by means of a pitch ring, pitch button or a totally pitched block. Pitch, containing a soft filter, may be used...
phototheranosticsPhototheranostics, a portmanteau of "photo" (light), "therapy," and "diagnostics," refers to an emerging field that combines...
metaboliteA metabolite is any small molecule that is a product of metabolism, the chemical processes that occur within living...
dye laserA laser using a dye solution as its active medium. Its output is a short pulse of broad spectral content and its achievable...
illuminated tableA desklike apparatus with an opal glass surface illuminated from beneath by fluorescent tubes. It is equipped with roll...
luminousPertaining to electromagnetic radiation as perceived by the eye; that is, with the contributions as wavelengths in the...
thin-film depositionThin-film deposition is a process used to deposit a thin layer of material onto a substrate surface, typically ranging from...
picture monitorA kinescope used to survey the details of television video transmission.
aerial cameraCamera designed for the imaging of the earth's surface in order to obtain high quality aerial images
color centerA color center, in the context of materials science and condensed matter physics, refers to a specific type of...
compensating glassAlso known as clear glass or clear filter. The clear glass plate is used to simulate a filter, in converging or diverging...
swept source optical coherence tomographySwept-source optical coherence tomography is an imaging technique used in medical diagnostics, particularly in...
linear plasticA term for thermoplastic optical materials; that is, those in which the polymer chains remain linear after heating and...
dark-field photomicrographyA photomicrographic recording technique that utilizes dark-field illumination to render an image of an object having a...
spatial resolutionSpatial resolution refers to the level of detail or granularity in an image or a spatial dataset. It is a measure of the...
interfacial angleThat angle found between a pair of adjacent faces of a crystal.
antisolar pointThe point to which the extension of the straight line, reaching from the sun to the observer's eye after penetrating the...
integrated photonicsIntegrated photonics is a field of study and technology that involves the integration of optical components, such as lasers,...
differential interference contrast microscopyDifferential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy, also known as Nomarski interference contrast microscopy, is an optical...
intrinsic detectorA photodetector composed of a photoconductive material that, when exposed to radiation, conducts without the aid of added...
convolutional neural networkA powerful and flexible machine-learning approach that can be used in machine vision to help solve difficult problems....
volumetric imagingVolumetric imaging refers to the capture, visualization, and analysis of three-dimensional (3D) information from a volume of...
laser anemometryThe process by which laser emission is used in measuring fluid velocity and, more specifically, the detection of air and...
arc light sourceIn present usage, especially for spectroscopic identification, an arc between electrodes that serves as a radiation source....
imagery rectificationPhotogrammetric compensation for incidental camera movement (which prevents attainment of true vertical photographs) whereby...
label-freeLabel-free refers to a technique or method that does not require the use of additional labels, tags, or markers to detect or...
phototheodoliteA camera equipped with angular scales in altitude and azimuth. The scale readings are imprinted on the film when an exposure...
otoscopeAn otoscope is a medical device used by healthcare professionals, particularly ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists,...
blind approach beacon systemA ground-based navigation beacon that emits pulsed signals which are picked up by aircraft making an instrument (blind)...
absolute whiteAbsolute white is a term used in color science and imaging to describe a reference white point that represents the...
common optoelectronics laser detection systemA laser warning and countermeasure system containing a sensor that indicates the direction of a laser beam, and analytical...
optical time-domain reflectometerAn optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) is a specialized instrument used in optical fiber communications to characterize...
axisA straight line, real or imaginary, passing through a body and indicating its center; a line so positioned that various...
actinometerAn actinometer is a device used to measure the intensity of radiation, particularly solar radiation or light, often with a...
single attachment stationIn a dual-ring local area network, a node that is connected only to the primary, active ring and not to the secondary ring...
cathodeA cathode is an electrode through which electric current flows out of a polarized electrical device. In different contexts,...
dual attachment stationIn a dual-ring local area network, a node that is connected both to the primary, active ring and also to a secondary ring...
resolution targetA chart on paper or glass containing a series of sets of lines at progressively smaller spacing and used to ascertain the...
rugateBearing alternate ridges and grooves; corrugated. Said of some optical surfaces.
echelle gratingA specialized form of diffraction grating consisting of assembled glass plates of equal thickness that resemble a flight of...
motion controllerIn optics, a motion controller refers to a device or system that precisely controls the movement of optical components, such...
nonlinear crystalA nonlinear crystal is a type of crystal that exhibits nonlinear optical properties when subjected to intense...
stereo compilationExtraction of three-dimensional measurements from a stereo pair of photographs.
heliostatA device having a plane mirror so mounted that it can be set to reflect sunlight into a piece of laboratory equipment. It is...
Bunsen-Roscoe lawThe law stating that the amount of chemical change produced is proportional to the amount of light absorbed. Actually, the...
sun-tracking concentratorControlled beam technology that introduces beams of sunlight through holes in a roof that are relayed throughout the...
opal glassA material consisting of very small colorless particles imbedded in a clear glass matrix. It is available in two forms:...
deep ultravioletDeep ultraviolet (DUV or deep-UV) refers to a specific range of ultraviolet light with shorter wavelengths than those in the...
lens blankA lens blank is a piece of optical material in a raw, unfinished state, typically in the form of a disk or block, from which...
3D scanners3D scanners are devices used to capture the three-dimensional shape and characteristics of physical objects or environments....
brightfieldBrightfield refers to a type of microscopy and imaging technique in which the specimen is illuminated with a white light...
high-power laser windowsHigh-power laser windows are specialized optical components designed to transmit laser beams while withstanding the high...
photon jetA photon jet is a narrow, highly collimated beam of light that is formed when light interacts with small dielectric...
recrystallizationThe growth of particular grain fragments in a metal or alloy, at the expense of others, that occurs when the metal or alloy...
mask proximity correctionA technique used in photolithography of computer chips to compensate for errors caused by the proximity effect, which...
absolute colorimetricAbsolute colorimetric refers to a color management rendering intent used in color profiles and conversion processes,...
sapphire windowA sapphire window refers to a transparent optical component made from sapphire crystal. Sapphire is a single-crystal form of...
polymerase chain reactionThe polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a widely used molecular biology technique used to amplify a specific segment of DNA...
spectroscopySpectroscopy is a technique used in the study of interactions between matter and electromagnetic radiation. It involves...
metamaterialMetamaterials are artificial materials engineered to have properties not found in naturally occurring substances. These...
indium gallium arsenideIndium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) is a semiconductor compound composed of indium (In), gallium (Ga), and arsenic (As). It...
bosonA boson is a type of fundamental particle that follows Bose-Einstein statistics, which dictate the statistical distribution...
quantum sensingQuantum sensing refers to a class of sensing technologies that leverage principles from quantum mechanics to enhance the...
skyrmionA skyrmion is a topologically stable, vortex-like configuration of spins in a magnetic material. These configurations are...
compound crosspointA device for obtaining very low crosstalk in a crosspoint by arranging two simple switches along different arms of a passive...
relative indexThe ratio of the velocities of light in two adjacent media, neither of which is air.
catoptric systemAn optical system in which the only image-forming elements are curved-surface mirrors; e.g., a Cassegrain lens system.
linear image sensorA linear image sensor is a type of solid-state electronic device used to capture and convert light into electrical signals....
strain measuring equipment
magneto-optic readout deviceA device using the Kerr effect to read back the signals from mechanically recorded tapes and discs. It consists of a light...
biomimicryBiomimicry, or biomimetic design, is the practice of emulating natural processes, systems, and structures found in...
hysteresisThis term literally means "to lag behind.'' It is quite often used to describe the residual effect that remains after...
inductanceInductance is a fundamental property of an electrical circuit or component that describes its ability to store energy in a...
pigtailA short length of optical fiber permanently fixed to a component and used to couple power between it and the transmission...
GRIN lensA GRIN (gradient index) lens is a type of optical lens that utilizes a gradient in refractive index across its volume rather...
quantum dot thin filmsQuantum dot thin films refer to thin layers or coatings composed of quantum dots deposited onto a substrate surface. Quantum...
American Astronomical SocietyThe American Astronomical Society (AAS) is a prominent professional association of astronomers and other scientists...
machine learningMachine learning (ML) is a subset of artificial intelligence (AI) that focuses on the development of algorithms and...
Geiger counterAlso called Geiger-Müller counter. An instrument designed to detect and measure radioactivity through the use of a...
camera chainThe term sometimes used to describe the sequential arrangement of components in a video system -- from transmitter to...
neon tubeAn electron tube containing neon gas that uses the transmission of an electric current through the gas to ionize the neon...
isolatorIn the context of electronics and optics, an isolator refers to a device that allows the transmission of signals in one...
aerotriangulationIn aerial photography, the geometric method of indicating the three-dimensional location of ground points from a pair of...
coupler1. In color development, the chemical that combines with certain by-products of the development procedure to form a dye. 2....
electron microscopeA device utilizing an electron beam for the observation and recording of submicroscopic samples with the aid of photographic...
ZerodurZerodur is a type of glass ceramic material known for its exceptional thermal and mechanical properties, particularly its...
rectilinearIn a straight line. When applied to a lens, it indicates that images of straight lines formed by the lens are not distorted.
freeform opticsFreeform optics refers to the design and fabrication of optical surfaces that do not follow traditional symmetric shapes,...
optical parametric chriped-pulse amplificationOptical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) is an advanced technique used in ultrafast laser systems to amplify...
read-out integrated circuitA read-out integrated circuit (ROIC) is an electronic device used in imaging systems, particularly in infrared (IR) and...
Raman spectrometer laser systemsRaman spectrometer laser systems are specialized instruments used to perform Raman spectroscopy, a technique that provides...
optical testing instrumentAn optical testing instrument is a device or system used to evaluate and measure the performance, quality, and...
inline inspectionInline inspection involves performing quality checks, measurements, or tests on products or materials while they are being...
fiber optic bundlesFiber optic bundles consist of multiple optical fibers grouped together within a common protective sheath or coating. These...
metasurfacesMetasurfaces are two-dimensional arrays of subwavelength-scale artificial structures, often referred to as meta-atoms or...
marking laser systemsMarking laser systems are advanced devices that use laser beams to create permanent marks, patterns, or engravings on...
atmospheric refraction correlationFormulaic compensation to correct laser ranging data for the effects of horizontal refractivity gradients; it requires the...
magnitudeIn astronomy, the relative brightness of a celestial body. Originally a scale from 1 to 6, where 1 represented the brightest...
beaconA device, either visual or electronic, that emits signals to identify set positions for use in the navigation of aircraft...
very long baseline interferometryConsists of a pair of radio telescopes concentrated on a single celestial object. This technique creates a single radio...
double-pass transmittance hologramA hologram having an object wave that has been transmitted through the transparent object media to a mirror, reflected again...
polarizing filterA filter that polarizes light passing through it. It is possible to fabricate sheets of plastic or gelatin that contain...
thermophotovoltaicThermophotovoltaic (TPV) refers to a technology that converts heat energy into electricity using the principles of...
C-mount lensA C-mount lens refers to a specific type of lens commonly used in machine vision, surveillance, microscopy, and other...
micro-optical coherence tomographyMicro-optical coherence tomography (micro-OCT) is an imaging technique that is an adaptation of optical coherence tomography...
liquid marbleLiquid marble refers to a unique form of microscale liquid encapsulation, where small droplets of liquid are coated with a...
chemical sensingChemical sensing refers to the detection and measurement of specific chemical compounds or substances in various...
opticalPertaining to optics and the phenomena of light.
microwave mappingThe pattern of microwave field intensity that can be obtained by detecting the minute expansion of a microwave absorber slab...
Mollier diagramGraphic evaluation of the operation of a steam thermodynamic cycle of a solar energy system on which enthalpy is plotted...
feature extractionIn image processing and machine vision, the process in which an initial measurement pattern or some subsequence of...
microcircuitA microcircuit typically refers to an integrated circuit (IC) or chip that contains miniaturized electronic components, such...
simultaneous location and mappingTechnology that uses data from an array of sensors, one of which is commonly lidar, to solve the problem of creating a map...
spurious resolutionA phenomenon that causes the details in an image to appear at a spatial frequency higher than that at which the contrast...
nanoimprint lithographyNanoimprint lithography (NIL) is a nanolithography technique used for fabricating nanoscale patterns on a substrate. It is a...
Nernst glowerA Nernst glower, also known simply as a Nernst lamp or Nernst filament, is a type of incandescent lamp or radiant heater...
runoutIn a linear stage, any deviation from the desired translation across a flat, straight line.
laser active elementsLaser active elements typically refers to the substances or materials within a laser system that play a critical role in the...
American Association for the Advancement of ScienceThe American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to...
delay timeThe interval between direction of signal to a light-emitting diode and attainment of 10 percent output current in the...
ammonia maserAn ammonia maser is a device that amplifies microwave radiation using ammonia gas molecules in a process analogous to how...
CMOS cameraA CMOS camera refers to an imaging device that employs a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor to...
near-infrared spectroscopy cerebral oximetryA monitoring technique used to measure the oxygen saturation levels in the brains of patients, commonly in operating room...
superfluorescenceThe process in which the normal rate of fluorescent emission from a substance is enhanced by virtue of the optical gain of...
biomedical laser systemsBiomedical laser systems refer to specialized laser devices and equipment used in medical and biological applications for...
turbidityTurbidity is a measure of the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by the presence of suspended particles. These...
vacuum chamberA vacuum chamber is a sealed enclosure from which air and other gases are removed to create a low-pressure environment,...
ferroelectric domainThe region of a ferroelectric crystal where spontaneous polarization is uniformly directed.
functional near-infrared spectroscopyFunctional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that measures changes in hemoglobin...
detector-Dewar assemblyA detector-Dewar assembly typically refers to a combination of a detector and a Dewar flask used in scientific instruments,...
gas discharge displayA display device that contains an inert gas that gives off orange light when a high voltage is applied to ionize the gas.
Laplacian edge enhancementEdge enhancement technique that accentuates all edge details in an image without discriminating as to spatial orientation.
hard elasticsHigh-modulus elastic fibers that exhibit the following differences from conventional elastic fibers: Increasing temperature...
curingThe use of chemicals or radiation to induce a desired change in a substance; e.g., some optical adhesives are set by...
multichannel direct-reading spectrometerAn instrument that contains a spectrograph with a grating in which an array of slits, in place of a photographic plate, is...
skew rayAny ray through an optical system that is not a meridional ray. The plane created by a refracted skew ray does not contain...
spectroheliographAn instrument in which an image of the sun is scanned by the entrance slit of a monochromator, the exit slit simultaneously...
Photoelastic equipment and suppliesPhotoelastic equipment and supplies refer to instruments and materials used in photoelasticity, a technique used to analyze...
multiple lens cameraA camera that uses a rotating mirror to project sequential images onto lenses that are arranged in an arc. The reflected...
edge-emitting LEDAn edge-emitting light-emitting diode is a type of LED structure where light emission occurs primarily along the edge of the...
InGaAs photodiodeAn InGaAs photodiode refers to a photodetector device that is constructed using a semiconductor material composed of a...
virtual histologyVirtual histology refers to the use of digital technology and computational methods to simulate or recreate histological...
dark current densityDark current density refers to the electric current that flows through a semiconductor device in the absence of any external...
robotic vision systemsRobotic vision systems, also known as machine vision systems when integrated with robots, are technologies that enable...
histochemical stainingHistochemical staining is a laboratory technique used in biology and medicine to visualize specific chemical components...
copper oxide photocellAn early type of nonvacuum photocell consisting of a layer of copper oxide on a metallic substrate, with a thin transparent...
texelA contraction for "texture element." A base unit used in computer graphics that defines the surface of three-dimensional...
CCD cameraA CCD camera, or charge-coupled device camera, is a type of digital camera that utilizes a CCD image sensor to capture and...
capnometerAn instrument incorporating an infrared detector assembly, used to analyze carbon dioxide gases and in medical applications...
stochastic optical reconstruction microscopyStochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) is a superresolution microscopy technique that enables imaging of...
liquid mirrorA mirror composed of liquid, taking advantage of the parabolic shape of a spinning liquid and the fact that the mirror's...
polychromatic acousto-optic modulatorA crystal-based device that combines and adjusts the intensities of multiple wavelengths of laser light in order to obtain...
straight-path approximationThe determination of axially symmetric and asymmetric refractive-index distributions by use of interferometry carried out on...
jig transitAn optical instrument containing a gimballed sighting telescope, used to measure angular relationships in horizontal and...
coded aperture imagingAn imaging process in which the single opening of a simple pinhole camera is replaced with many openings called,...
air doseA quantitative measure of the amount of radiation given off by an instrument, expressed in roentgens per unit of free air.
reflectance confocal microscopyReflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a non-invasive imaging technique that allows for high-resolution, in vivo imaging...
colorimeterA colorimeter is a device used to measure and quantify the color characteristics of an object or a light source. It provides...
abaxial spherical aberrationAbaxial spherical aberration, also called oblique spherical aberration, refers to a specific type of optical aberration that...
differential quantum efficiencyThe slope of the curve when output is plotted against input for quantum efficiency in a device.
plasma noiseIntroduced into the laser beam from localized fluctuations in current density within the plasma itself. These fluctuations...
rare earth dopantsRare earth dopants refer to elements from the lanthanide series, also known as rare earth elements, that are intentionally...
tourmalineA naturally occurring crystalline mineral that has the property of polarizing transmitted light. It is little used now that...
Abney effectThe Abney effect, named after its discoverer Sir William de Wiveleslie Abney, refers to a phenomenon in color perception...
terahertz spectrometerA terahertz spectrometer is a scientific instrument used to measure and analyze the properties of materials in the terahertz...
meta-opticsMeta-optics, also known as metasurface optics or flat optics, is a branch of optics that involves the design, fabrication,...
dichroismDichroism refers to the property of certain materials to exhibit different colors or absorbance of light depending on the...
adaptation (visual adaptation)Visual adaptation refers to the process by which the visual system adjusts to changes in the environment or stimuli over...
optical aberrationOptical aberration refers to imperfections or deviations from ideal optical behavior in an imaging system, such as a lens or...
electron-beam gun1. A device generally used in a cathode-ray or camera tube to emit a stream of electrons moving at uniform velocity in a...
aperture illuminationThe amplitude, polarization and phase contained in the field distribution over the aperture.
well plateA well plate, also known as a microplate or microtiter plate, is a flat plate with multiple small wells or depressions...
equalized-response densitometerA densitometer having a receiver that indicates when a desired radiation level has been attained.
atomic clockAn atomic clock is a highly precise timekeeping device that uses the vibrations or oscillations of atoms as a reference for...
oculometerAn electro-optical infrared tracker consisting of a beamsplitter, an illuminating source, an image dissector tube and an...
mid-infrared cameraA mid-infrared camera is a type of imaging device designed to capture images in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral range,...
optical frequency combAn optical frequency comb is a tool used for measuring frequencies with extremely high precision. It is essentially a...
diamond-turned opticDiamond turning refers to a precision machining process used to produce complex optical components, particularly lenses and...
autofluorescenceAutofluorescence refers to the natural emission of fluorescence exhibited by certain biological structures or molecules when...
pluggable opticsPluggable optics, also known as pluggable transceivers or optical transceivers, are modular devices used in optical...
turretA rotating plate containing two or more lenses to provide a rapid interchange.
discontinuously reinforced aluminumA composite derived from aluminum alloy powder and silicon carbide, used as an optical substrate in air- and spacecraft...
moiré topographyContour mapping technique that involves positioning a grating close to an object and observing its shadow on the object...
dispersion-shifted fiberA dispersion-shifted fiber (DSF) refers to a type of optical fiber designed to minimize the effects of chromatic dispersion,...
array processorIn image processing, a specially designed programmable computer peripheral that attaches to the host system for the purpose...
superconductorA metal, alloy or compound that loses its electrical resistance at temperatures below a certain transition temperature...
aerial mappingThe use of photographs taken from the air to construct graphic maps and charts of ground surfaces.
face-pumped laserA device in which slab geometry internally compensates for thermal-optic distortion; the solid host material -- glass or...
colmascopeA polariscope used to demonstrate strain inherent in a piece of glass.
scribing and engraving laser systemsScribing and engraving laser systems are types of laser equipment used for precision cutting, marking, and engraving on...
computer graphics workstationThe physical area containing an assembly of computer graphics equipment for presenting generated images and allowing...
saturation1. The decrease of the absorption (or gain) coefficient of a medium near some transition frequency when the power of the...
lenticular stereo photographyA type of stereoscopic photography in which a pair of lenses focuses a pair of images, relative to the positions of the two...
filar eyepieceA measuring eyepiece with a screw-micrometer-driven crosshair used to measure the size of the image.
pulse durationThe lifetime of a laser pulse, generally defined as the time interval between the halfpower points on the leading and...
aerial photographyPhotographing of terrain on the ground and objects in the air by cameras mounted in aircraft; utilized in satellites,...
neon indicator tubeA cold-cathode tube containing neon and designed to visually determine a potential difference or field.
passive optical networkA passive optical network (PON) is a telecommunications network architecture that uses optical fibers and passive optical...
optical assemblyAn optical assembly refers to a collection of optical components that are carefully arranged and aligned to perform a...
piezoresistancePiezoresistance is a phenomenon in materials science and physics where the electrical resistance of a material changes in...
chalcogenideChalcogenide refers to a class of compounds containing elements from group 16 of the periodic table, which includes sulfur...
Camera Link HSCamera Link HS (high speed) is a standard developed for high-speed digital data transmission in machine vision and...
sustaining voltageIn a laser, the voltage necessary to sustain a constant operating current, somewhat less than that needed for start-up.
active regionIn the context of a laser diode, the active region is a critical part of the device where the primary light generation...
Compton scatteringThe phenomenon observed by A.H. Compton in 1923 -- that some scattered radiation possesses a longer wavelength and...
near-infrared spectroscopyNear-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive analytical technique that uses the near-infrared region of the...
remote inspectionRemote inspection refers to the process of inspecting, evaluating, or monitoring assets, equipment, infrastructure, or...
machine vision lensA machine vision lens is a specialized optical lens designed for use in machine vision systems, which are used for automated...
erbium-doped fiber amplifierAn optical fiber that can be used to amplify an optical input. Erbium rare earth ions are added to the fiber core material...
line-scan recordingA type of recording in which the recording line remains fixed and the recording medium is fed past the recording device.
microphotofabricationThe formation of microimages for microreduction. The technique is used, for example, in the production of precision reticles...
lapA metal tool used to grind lenses with loose abrasive (see diamond cutting tool). The functional surface of the lap is...
optical distanceThe physical length of the light path in a substance divided by the refractive index of that substance. See also equivalent...
blackbody sourceA blackbody source, often simply referred to as a blackbody, is a theoretical or practical physical object that absorbs all...
Mie scatteringMie scattering, named after the German physicist Gustav Mie, refers to the scattering of electromagnetic radiation (such as...
fluorographic cameraA camera with a very high aperture lens or mirror system for photographing x-ray fluorescent screen images, mainly to save...
split Stirling coolerA cooling system used to attain and maintain desired low temperatures in infrared systems. The Stirling type is a mechanical...
leading edge spikeIn a sequence of laser pulse emissions, the intitial pulse that often helps initiate a reaction at the target surface,...
breakdown voltageIn avalanche photodiodes, the point at which an increase in the reverse bias voltage causes the current gain to approach...
CMOS image sensorA CMOS image sensor, short for complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor image sensor, is a type of semiconductor device used...
quantum key distributionQuantum key distribution (QKD) is a method of secure communication that utilizes principles from quantum mechanics to...
optical leverA device used to detect and measure small amounts of rotation. The rotating object contains a reflecting surface from which...
diode laserA diode laser is a type of laser that uses a semiconductor diode as the active medium to generate coherent light....
MTF optimizationComputerized lens design algorithm that permits the lens MTF characteristic to be included and controlled during the...
extensometer1. A strainmeter capable of measuring the change in the relationship between two reference points, provided that the points...
scientific complementary metal-oxide semiconductorScientific complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (sCMOS) refers to a type of image sensor technology specifically designed...
bilinear interpolationIt is often necessary to estimate the value of what a pixel would be between neighboring pixels. This is accomplished by...
2D profile sensorA 2D profile sensor is a type of sensor used in various industrial and technological applications to measure and capture...
vibrational transitionA vibrational transition refers to a change in the vibrational energy of a molecule. Molecules consist of atoms that are...
quasiparticleA quasiparticle is an emergent phenomenon that occurs in many-body systems, particularly in condensed matter physics, where...
pressurizationInjecting a gas (usually nitrogen) with a very low moisture content into the body of an optical instrument to create a...
cell migrationCell migration refers to the process by which cells move from one location to another within tissues or across biological...
mode 1 (and mode 2)In compact disc systems, the two principal frame formats for data storage. Mode 1 devotes 2048 bytes to user data, reserving...
fiber optic windowThe face of a cathode-ray tube (CRT) that has a fiber optic sheet attached to its surface. The sheet's fibers are at right...
immunofluorescenceThe technique that uses light to detect and analyze the antibodies produced by a specimen stained with an organic dye.
polycrystalA substance that transmits the infrared, but which is too delicate or fragile to be used in the form of a single crystal....
prismA prism is a geometric optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light. It is typically a solid, transparent...
linear opticsLinear optics refers to the study and manipulation of light in a linear and deterministic manner, where the response of...
Fresnel diffraction1. Also known as near-field diffraction. The field of radiation sent through an aperture in an absorbing screen at large...
optical tableAn optical table, also known as an optical bench or an optical breadboard, is a specialized platform used in optics...
dark-line spectrumA spectrum having some lines that are darker than others or that contrast against a light, continuous-spectrum background.
synapseA synapse is a specialized junction between two neurons (nerve cells) or between a neuron and a target cell (such as a...
dark operate modeAn operate mode in which the sensor is programmed to perform a task such as generating output when the light level falls...
MSM photodiodeA metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodiode is a type of photodetector that consists of metal electrodes on a semiconductor...
free-space opticsFree-space optics (FSO), also known as optical wireless communication or optical wireless networking, refers to the...
analog adaptive resonance theoryAnalog adaptive resonance theory (AART) is a neural network model within the broader framework of adaptive resonance theory...
swept-source Raman spectroscopyswept-source Raman spectroscopy is an advanced analytical technique that combines the principles of Raman spectroscopy with...
electroless platingThe deposition of a metallic coating, usually nickel, on a component by chemical means rather than by electroplating; the...
rainbow hologramEssentially, a hologram of a hologram, in which the first-generation hologram is masked with a narrow slit. During image...
principal axisA straight line connecting the curvature centers of the refracting lens surfaces. In a mechanical sense, a line joining the...
leukocyteLeukocytes, commonly known as white blood cells, are a crucial component of the immune system in vertebrates, including...
fiber laserA fiber laser is a type of laser in which the active gain medium is an optical fiber doped with rare-earth ions such as...
Raman spectroscopyRaman spectroscopy is a technique used in analytical chemistry and physics to study vibrational, rotational, and other...
reflection x-ray microscopyA means of high resolution study through the application of soft and hard x-rays onto a sample surface in order to obtain...
Waidner-Burgess standardA standard of luminous intensity evaluated as the luminous intensity of 1 cm2 of a blackbody at the melting point of...
excitonAn exciton is a quasiparticle that represents the bound state of an electron and a hole in a solid-state material, typically...
ductingPropagation of electromagnetic waves through the Earth's atmosphere in a path that conforms to the curvature of the Earth...
tolerancingThe determination of the degree to which a manufactured component can deviate from its ideal specifications of material and...
octaveIn optics, an octave typically refers to a range of frequencies or wavelengths that spans a factor of 2. In other words,...
Jacquinot advantageThe higher throughput obtained with an FTIR device compared with traditional spectrometers that need slits to achieve...
ocular accommodationOcular accommodation is the process by which the eye changes its optical power to maintain a clear image (focus) on an...
piezoelectricPiezoelectricity is a property exhibited by certain materials in which they generate an electric charge in response to...
light-activated silicon-controlled rectifierA PN-PN device with incident light taking the place of gate current; three of the four semiconductor regions are available...
laser powder bed fusionLaser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a type of additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that uses a high-power...
light-activated silicon-controlled switchSimilar to LASCR, except that all four regions are available.
spectrographic slitsThe slits in a spectrograph that form images of spectral lines. Slits may be bilateral or unilateral, and generally close...
vapor degreasingA method of cleaning and drying coated optical components. The cooled parts are placed in a container above a boiling...
structural colorStructural color refers to coloration in materials that is not caused by pigments or dyes but is instead a result of the...
laser cell sortingA moving group of fluid-suspended biological species directed through separate channels by which the population is isolated....
digital holographic microscopyDigital holographic microscopy (DHM) is an advanced imaging technique that combines holography and digital image processing...
laser headContains elements which produce lasing., e.g. gain medium, oscillator mirrors as well as housing.
antiblooming gateA device that prevents electrons from a saturated pixel in a CCD imaging device from spilling into an adjacent pixel. The...
quasi-linear theoryThe first nonlinear theory in plasma physics that details the time and space evolution of plasma wave instability from a...
photonic crystalsPhotonic crystals are artificial structures or materials designed to manipulate and control the flow of light in a manner...
prism binocularsA pair of telescopes with prismatically erected images, mounted side by side with the eyepieces at the interocular distance...
filter kernalA function used in a convolution filtering operation. The image to be filtered is convolved with the filtering kernel to...
solid-state driveA solid-state drive (SSD) is a storage device that stores data electronically using solid-state memory chips. Unlike...
photodetectorA photodetector, also known as a photosensor or photodiode, is a device that detects and converts light into an electrical...
rhomboid prismA reflecting prism that is rhomboidal in shape. It has two parallel transmitting faces, and two parallel reflecting faces;...
laser lensesLaser lenses, also known as optical lenses for laser applications, are specialized lenses designed to manipulate and control...
ultrasonic grating constantThe space between diffracting centers of an ultrasonic wave that is forming certain light diffraction spectra.
optical consulting servicesOptical consulting services involve specialized expertise and support provided by optical engineering firms, consultants, or...
adhesion (thin-films)Optical thin film adhesion specifically refers to the adhesion properties of thin films used in optical applications....
Lloyd's mirrorA mirror employed with a very high incidence angle to form a pair of coherent light sources by reflection, and therefore...
Lambert's cosine lawFlux per unit solid angle leaving a surface in any direction is proportional to the cosine of the angle between that...
degrees of freedomThe number of unique ways in which a part can move in an alignment system. In static alignment, there are six: one in the...
scintillation crystalA scintillation crystal, also known simply as a scintillator, is a material that emits light when it interacts with ionizing...
photon-richPhoton-rich typically refers to an environment or situation where there is an abundance of photons present. In the context...
law of BrewsterThe law stating that when light strikes a surface at such an angle that the reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular...
smart citiesSmart cities are urban environments that use information and communication technologies (ICT) and data-driven solutions to...
sandwich holographyThe simultaneous exposure of two holographic plates with emulsions facing the object. After deformation, a second pair of...
absorption lensAn absorption lens is a type of optical lens that not only focuses or diverges light but also significantly absorbs certain...
laser-induced fluorescenceLaser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is a spectroscopic technique that involves using a laser to excite molecules or atoms,...
Murty interferometerA form of shearing interferometer that contains a simple wedged (plane-parallel) glass plate with a nonzero optical path...
microcombA microcomb, short for microresonator frequency comb, is a novel photonic device that generates a precise series of evenly...
holographic particle velocimetryA method of measuring flow velocity by seeding the flow with neutrally buoyant particles and using a pulsed laser to...
continuous spectrumThe radiation spectrum of matter found in condensed states, liquid or solid, that is continuous and not a line spectrum. The...
Ti:sapphire laserA Ti:sapphire laser is a type of solid-state laser that utilizes a titanium-doped sapphire crystal as the gain medium. The...
absorption peakAn absorption peak refers to a sharp increase or spike in the absorption of electromagnetic radiation at a particular...
iridescenceThe rainbow exhibition of colors, usually caused by interference of light of different wavelengths reflected from...
shutter speed testerA device used to measure the opening time of a shutter. The most common devices depend on the charging or discharging of an...
optical coatingsOptical coatings are thin layers of materials applied to optical components, such as lenses, mirrors, filters, and prisms,...
mosaicOne surface of a nonconducting plate that is coated with many minute particles of photoemissive material that are insulated...
microelectromechanical systemsMicroelectromechanical systems, or MEMS, refer to miniature devices or systems that integrate mechanical and electrical...
radiation-shielding windowsPlates of glass containing as many heavy metal oxides as can be dissolved in the glass without causing devitrification. The...
Polarization ImagingA subsurface imaging technique based upon the polarization of light reflected off an object. The polarization of reflected...
actinideThe actinides are a series of 15 chemical elements in the periodic table, with atomic numbers from 89 to 103. They are named...
adjacency effectThe adjacency effect refers to a phenomenon in remote sensing and image analysis where the characteristics of an object or...
distributed Bragg reflectorA device similar to distributed feedback lasers in construction and operation, but in which the period grating that produces...
output couplerThe partially reflective mirror at the end of the laser cavity that is the source of the beam. It controls the coupling...
reactive evaporationReactive evaporation refers to a process in thin-film deposition where a material is deposited onto a substrate through...
quantum efficiencyQuantum efficiency (QE) is a measure of the effectiveness with which a device or system, typically in the context of...
ophthalmicPertaining to the human eye.
deep learningDeep learning is a subset of machine learning that involves the use of artificial neural networks to model and solve complex...
Raman scatteringRaman scattering, also known as the Raman effect or Raman spectroscopy, is a phenomenon in which light undergoes inelastic...
laser texturingLaser texturing is a manufacturing process that involves using a laser beam to selectively modify the surface of a material,...
phase maskIn optics and photolithography, a phase mask refers to a device that modifies the phase of light waves passing through it....
x-ray image spectrographyIrradiation of a cylindrical crystal with an x-ray beam resulting in Bragg diffraction that produces a slightly enlarged...
mode-locked lasersMode-locking is a technique used in lasers to produce ultrashort pulses of light with durations on the order of picoseconds,...
hybrid cableA cable assembly containing both optical fibers and copper electrical conductors in the same jacket.
integrated circuitMultiple, interconnected circuit elements, contained on or in a common substrate, that function as a unit and not separately.
high voltage power suppliesHigh voltage power supplies in photonics are specialized electrical devices designed to provide a stable and adjustable high...
cascade showerA shower of cosmic rays whereby a high-energy electron produces one or more photons that convert into electron pairs, the...
active-cavity radiometerAn active-cavity radiometer is a highly sensitive instrument used to measure radiant energy (power per unit area), often in...
thermographyThermography is a technique that involves the use of an infrared imaging device, called a thermal camera or infrared camera,...
grain isolating diaphragmIn a microscope, the diaphragm located between the Bertrand lens and the eyepiece, which is closed during conoscopic viewing...
roughening laserA roughening laser is a laser-based surface modification technique aimed at altering the surface texture of a material to...
dual-chirped optical parametric amplificationDual-chirped optical parametric amplification (DC-OPA) is an advanced technique in ultrafast laser technology used to...
bathymetric lidarBathymetric lidar is a remote sensing technique used to measure the depth of water bodies and map underwater terrain...
subtractive color processThe basic process of color photography whereby colors are subtracted from white light by means of filters, making all colors...
heat treatingThe process of subjecting glass to temperature cycling to produce physico-chemical reactions that alter its properties....
active-matrix liquid crystal displayAn active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) is a type of flat-panel display technology that utilizes an array of...
GEDI lidarThe global ecosystem dynamics investigation (GEDI) lidar is a state-of-the-art spaceborne instrument designed to study...
modulation transfer functionAlso called sine wave response and contrast transfer function. The modulation transfer function is the ratio of the...
Huygenian eyepieceAn ocular having two planoconvex lenses that are formed from similar glass and that are separated by a space equal to half...
Cassegrain lens systemA two-mirror lens design used in astronomical telescopes, the primary being a parabola, the secondary a smaller hyperbola....
gratingA framework or latticework having an even arrangement of rods, or any other long narrow objects with interstices between...
Nyquist criterionIn image acquisition (and sampling theory), the postulate that the pickup sampling frequency must be a minimum of twice as...
complementary wavelengthAlso called complementary dominant wavelength. On a chromaticity diagram, the wavelength on the spectrum locus that lies on...
fiber optic passive componentsFiber optic passive components are devices used in fiber optic communication systems that do not require an external power...
vacuumIn optics, the term vacuum typically refers to a space devoid of matter, including air and other gases. However, in...
diasporometerIn an optical rangefinder, the system of wedges that rotate in opposite directions to aid in the detection of deviation in...
Higgs bosonThe Higgs boson is a fundamental particle associated with the Higgs field, a field that permeates the universe and is...
agri-photonicsAgri-photonics refers to the application of photonics technologies in agriculture. Photonics involves the generation,...
water glassA solution containing colloidal silica particles.
metallographic microscopeA specially designed microscope for observing the etched surface of a polished metal specimen. The specimen is often laid...
gainAlso known as amplification. 1. The increase in a signal that is transmitted from one point to another through an amplifier....
wave functionIn quantum mechanics, a wave function (often denoted by the Greek letter Ψ, psi) is a mathematical description that...
liquid core optical fiberMultimode straight fiber capable of transporting linearly polarized light with any incident polarization angle, and in which...
videographyVideography refers to the process of capturing moving images and recording them in a digital format. It involves the use of...
aiming beamA visible laser beam generated coaxially with an infrared or other invisible laser beam to aid in its positioning.
analog-to-analogAnalog-to-analog (AA) refers to the process or system that involves the conversion or transmission of analog signals from...
waveguideA waveguide is a physical structure or device that is designed to confine and guide electromagnetic waves, such as radio...
pulsed-dye laserA laser with a gain medium consisting of an organic dye, which is carbon-based. The dye is mixed with a solvent, allowing...
colored glass filtersColored glass filters are optical components made from glass that has been uniformly tinted with specific colorants or dyes....
x-ray absorbing filterA window made of glass containing a high percentage of lead or other dense material known to absorb x-rays readily.
Rydberg atomThe term "Rydberg atom" refers to an atom in a highly excited state where one or more of its electrons are in a Rydberg...
microreciprocal degreeAn approximated measure of the smallest change in color temperature detectable by the human eye, defined as the reciprocal...
chirped-pulse amplification laserA laser whose pulses are expanded, using gratings and optical fibers, before amplification and compressed to increase beam...
optically compensating zoom systemA variable focal length lens system that retains the object in focus as one or more lenses move as a unit along its optical...
interferometric modulator displayInterferometric modulator display (IMOD) is a type of display technology used in electronic devices, known for its energy...
CMOS quantitative polymerase chain reaction systemThis type of miniaturized system, referred to as CMOS qPCR, combines microfluidic technology with an ultralow-light CMOS...
antigenAn antigen is any substance that is capable of triggering an immune response in an organism. Antigens are typically proteins...
liquid/fluid opticsLiquid or fluid optics refers to the use of liquids to create or enhance optical systems. These systems leverage the unique...
luminescent greenhouse collectorA collector for photovoltaic power generation that consists of a thin plate that strongly absorbs sunlight striking its...
equivalent air pathWhen a block of glass (prism, window, filter, etc.) is placed into a converging light bundle, it increases the physical...
magnonA magnon is a quasiparticle representing a quantized spin wave in a magnetic material. In other words, it is a collective...
Nomarski microscopyAlso referred to as differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy; Nomarski microscopy is a unique form of microscopy...
angular spectrum approachThe angular spectrum approach is a mathematical and computational technique used in the field of optics to analyze and...
idiochromaticPertaining to the possession of photoelectric characteristics as a result of the properties of the true crystal and not of...
Lorentz oscillator modelThe Lorentz oscillator model is a theoretical model used in physics to describe the response of a charged particle (such as...
Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensorThe Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor is an optical device used for measuring the wavefront aberrations of an optical system....
Ritchey-Common testAn interferometric method for describing the surface shape of large coated or uncoated optical flats. The procedure uses a...
oriented crystalA crystal having the axes of its grains aligned so that they have directional magnetic characteristics.
high-sensitivity cameraA high-sensitivity camera is a type of camera designed to perform well in low light conditions, capturing clear and detailed...
holmium laserHolmium lasers are a type of medical laser that utilizes holmium-doped crystals as the gain medium. The term holmium laser...
photoelasticityThe process of determining, with the aid of plane-polarized light, the stress distribution in materials under complex...
gold colloid aggregatesGold colloid aggregates refer to clusters or assemblies of gold nanoparticles suspended in a liquid medium. These aggregates...
quantitative phase imagingQuantitative phase imaging (QPI) is an advanced imaging technique used in microscopy to measure and analyze the optical...
resonance spectrumThe fluorescent emission spectrum emitted by certain substances following the irradiation of one of these substances with...
time-lapse optical coherence tomographyTime-lapse optical coherence tomography (OCT) refers to a medical imaging technique that captures a series of sequential OCT...
pathogenA pathogen is a biological agent, such as a virus, bacterium, fungus, protozoan, or parasite, that causes disease in its...
linear receive opticsLinear receive optics typically refers to the optical components and systems used in the reception (detection) of linearly...
circumzenithal arcThe halo phenomenon of a brightly colored arc having the colors of the rainbow and lying parallel to the horizon.
YAG crystalA YAG crystal refers to a solid-state crystal made of yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), which is a synthetic crystalline...
adaptive opticsAdaptive optics (AO) is a technology used to improve the performance of optical systems by reducing the effects of...
hydrogen cyanide laserA gas laser having a mixture of gases that makes it useful in the lab. The mixture of gases flows through a pressure and...
linewidthLinewidth, also known as spectral linewidth or line width, refers to a measure of the width of a frequency spectrum of a...
plasmonicsPlasmonics is a field of science and technology that focuses on the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and free...
hero experimentsLaboratory experiments that focus on demonstrating new capabilities of a certain technology or device, usually without...
crystal ovenA temperature-controlled container used to stabilize the temperature and resonant frequency of a crystal found in a...
beamsplitter coatingsBeamsplitter coatings are specialized optical coatings applied to glass or other substrates to split incident light into two...
laser tubeThe device, usually made of glass or a similar material, that contains the resonant cavity and optics of a gas laser.
servoA servo, short for servomechanism or servo motor, is a closed-loop control system that precisely controls the position,...
acoustical holographyAcoustical holography is a technique used to visualize and analyze sound fields in three-dimensional space. It involves...
acuity (visual acuity)Visual acuity specifically refers to the clarity or sharpness of vision, typically measured by the ability to discern the...
Laser scanningLaser scanning is a technology used to create precise digital representations of physical objects or environments by...
sheet polarizerA sheet of plastic material containing microscopic crystals of herapathite or some other similar substance that transmits...
temperature sensorsTemperature sensors in optics are crucial for monitoring and controlling thermal effects that can significantly impact...
biomarkerA biomarker, short for biological marker, refers to a measurable and quantifiable indicator of a biological condition,...
laser irradiationLaser irradiation is a process that involves the use of focused laser beams to deliver energy to specific areas for medical,...
microradianEquivalent to 10-6 radian, where 1 radian equals 180/pi degrees. A rod 1 km in length will be moved by an angle of 1...
spin coatingSpin coating is a widely used technique in the fabrication of thin films and coatings, particularly in microelectronics,...
contact microradiographyThe radiography of small objects having detail too fine to be seen by the unaided eye. The resulting negative, when...
indium gallium arsenide cameraAn InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide) camera is a type of imaging device that utilizes InGaAs sensors to capture images in the...
swept-source laserA swept-source laser, also known as a wavelength-swept laser, is a type of laser that rapidly and continuously changes its...
slicing and cutting machines - for crystals, quartz, glass, etc.A crystal, glass, or quartz slicing and cutting machine is a specialized piece of equipment used in the manufacturing...
air-to-ground phototransmission systemA category of systems designed to communicate a photo taken from the air (e.g., aircraft, balloon, satellite) to a ground...
infrared coatingsInfrared coatings, also known as IR coatings, are specialized optical coatings designed to manipulate the transmission,...
ultraviolet reflectanceUltraviolet reflectance refers to the ability of a material or surface to reflect UV light. Ultraviolet light is...
laser driftLaser drift typically refers to a phenomenon where the frequency or wavelength of a laser source gradually changes over...
semiconductor materialsSemiconductor materials in photonics refer to materials that have electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an...
solid opticsOptical elements arranged with no spaces between, so that the light travels only through glass, not air.
end-fire couplingEnd-fire coupling refers to a method of coupling energy into or out of a waveguide, transmission line, or antenna, where the...
piezo wormA piezoelectric translator that moves up and down a spindle like a caterpillar. It clamps itself at one end, expands, clamps...
luminance meterA type of photometer calibrated in luminance units (candles per square unit, or lamberts). In photography an exposure meter...
lineamentA mappable surface feature arranged in straight or curved lines that is distinguished from surrounding surfaces and is...
after-imageThat image remaining on the detector after the primary stimulus has been removed. In the visual system, the after-image...
optoelectronicPertaining to a device that responds to optical power, emits or modifies optical radiation, or utilizes optical radiation...
microfluidicsMicrofluidics is a multidisciplinary field that involves the manipulation and control of very small fluid volumes, typically...
superresolutionSuperresolution refers to the enhancement or improvement of the spatial resolution beyond the conventional limits imposed by...
spaserA spaser (surface plasmon amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) is a nanoscale device that generates coherent...
microdisplayA microdisplay is a miniature electronic display technology that is designed to project visual information onto a small...
ultraviolet microscopyThe study and photographing of microscope specimens in ultraviolet light; using an optical microscope containing fluorite...
image processing equipmentImage processing equipment refers to hardware and software systems designed for capturing, manipulating, analyzing, and...
helical scanningA method used in facsimile scanning that sweeps the elemental area across the copy in a spiral motion as the result of the...
neuromorphicNeuromorphic refers to the design and development of computing systems or devices that are inspired by the structure and...
quality control and inspection systemsQuality control and inspection systems in optics and photonics ensure that optical components and systems meet stringent...
mirageThe distortion of an object's true image as the result of abnormal atmospheric disturbances along the path traveled by the...
population inversionThe condition in which there are more atomic systems in the upper of two energy levels than in the lower, so stimulated...
pentamirrorA pentamirror is an optical component found in SLR cameras, composed of multiple flat mirrors arranged in a pentagonal...
visible spectrometerA visible spectrometer is an analytical instrument used to measure the intensity of light in the visible spectrum, typically...
laser oscillatorContains the light or beam path within a laser device. The oscillator uses reflective optical components that are oriented...
cesium-antimonide photocathodeA photocathode that exhibits maximum sensitivity in the blue and ultraviolet regions of the spectrum. The sensitivity is...
photometricPertaining to the measurement of the intensity of light.
turnkey systemA system that is complete and self-contained, needing no further additions to permit its operation.
rectilinear systemAn optical system that is corrected for distortion and spherical aberration and therefore forms the image of a straight line...
PIN photodiodeA PIN photodiode is a type of photodetector or semiconductor device used to convert light signals into electrical signals....
optical headIn compact disc and CD-ROM technology, the portion of the drive that projects the laser light onto the surface of the media...
laser paintingExtended period exposure photographs of a laser light created with various patterns within full image (laser graffiti).
filovirusFiloviruses are a family of viruses that are responsible for severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fevers in humans and...
data cubeA multidimensional array of values that is commonly used in programming to describe a time series of image data. Each...
pixel binningPixel binning, also known as pixel merging or pixel combining, is a technique used in digital imaging and camera technology....
dark-field discA disc contained within an electronic cell counter for regulating light transmission.
spectrum measuring instrumentA traveling microscope or an automatic microdensitometer used to measure the spectrum plate obtained in a spectrograph.
hybrid mosaic on stacked siliconA sensor module used in advanced pattern recognition systems, containing signal-processing integrated circuits stacked and...
contact fluorographyA fluorographic method whereby the sensitive photographic medium is pressed against a fluorescent screen to form a visible...
free radicalsShort-lived molecular or atomic particles, with an unpaired electron, that play an important part in many photochemical...
oxytosisOxytosis refers to a form of cell death that is induced by oxidative stress. It is characterized by the overproduction of...
carbonizationCarbonization is a process in which organic materials are heated in the absence of air, leading to the decomposition of the...
rare-earth type glassOptical glasses containing the oxides of rare earths such as lanthanum to impart a very high refractive index combined with...
anisotropicAnisotropic is a term used to describe a material or substance that exhibits different properties or behaviors in different...
Kerr solitonA Kerr soliton refers to a specific type of soliton, a self-reinforcing wave packet, that arises in nonlinear optical...
aerial reconnaissanceThe use of optical or electronic recording systems to extract information from the terrain, while aloft, for reconnaissance...
fluoride glassOptical glass containing zirconium fluoride that results in special characteristics such as improved transmission.
borosilicate glassA strong, heat-resistant glass that contains a minimum of 5 percent boric oxide.
achromatAn achromat, in the context of optics, refers to a type of lens or lens system designed to reduce chromatic aberration....
electron-beam recordingThe recording of the information contained in a modulated electron beam onto photographic or silicon resin-coated materials....
laser mirrorsLaser mirrors are specialized optical components designed to reflect laser beams with high efficiency and minimal loss. They...
frequency combA frequency comb is a precise and regular series of equally spaced spectral lines, or frequencies, that are generated with...
decision-tree classificationA structural method of optical character recognition, used where the input media are variable, as in hand-written or...
neuromorphic vision sensorA neuromorphic vision sensor is a type of imaging device designed to mimic the structure and functioning of the human visual...
laser rangefinderA laser rangefinder is a device that uses laser technology to measure the distance between the device and a target. It...
resonatorA resonator is a device or system that exhibits resonance, which is a phenomenon that occurs when an external force or...
optogenetic defibrillationAn optogenetic technique that embeds genetically-engineered proteins to the heart to aid in terminating arrhythmias. After...
Dewar vesselAn evacuated, double-walled container for storing liquids at low temperatures. Often made of glass, the vessel resembles a...
polycarbonateA tough, durable, heat- and cold-resistant optical quality plastic used in injection-molded items such as streetlight...
sondeA ruggedized scintillation counter used in oil well logging. The cylindrical housing contains a gamma ray source, a...
morphological processingA set of algorithms used to study the structural and spatial characteristics of objects in a digitized image for...
autocollimatorAn autocollimator is an optical instrument used for measuring small angular deviations with high precision. It operates on...
chip-on-board lightsChip-on-board (COB) lights refer to a type of LED lighting technology where multiple LED chips are directly mounted onto a...
pentaprsimA pentaprism is a five-sided glass prism used in optical devices, particularly in SLR cameras, to deviate the path of light...
ray tracingRay tracing is a rendering technique used in computer graphics to simulate the way light interacts with objects in a scene....
accessible radiationAccessible radiation refers to the portion of radiation from a source that can be reached or detected by humans,...
monoergicPertaining to radiation or particle emission, whereby the emission is produced with minimal energy spread.
time-correlated single photon countingTime-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) is a technique used in photon counting applications, particularly in the...
pulse compressionA means of achieving higher peak powers and more efficient harmonic generation by narrowing the pulse width and thus...
aperture stopA physical constraint, often a lens retainer, that limits the diameter of the axial light bundle allowed to pass through a...
electrodeless discharge tubeA device consisting of an airtight quartz tube that holds the material to be analyzed. When a high-frequency electrostatic...
scientific CMOS cameraA scientific CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) camera is a type of digital camera specifically designed for...
microchannel plateA microchannel plate (MCP) is a specialized electron multiplier device used in various applications such as particle...
Brace-Lemon spectrophotometerA spectrophotometer having a pair of identical collimators with two Glan polarizing prisms, one fixed in azimuth and the...
probe cardA probe card is a testing device used in the semiconductor manufacturing industry to evaluate and test the electrical...
addressability (optical)Optical addressability refers to the capability to control or manipulate individual elements that emit or modulate light...
drum scannerAn image-processing device that scans in a straight line parallel to the axis of a rotating cylinder to which the material...
Casimir forceThe Casimir force is a quantum phenomenon that results in an attractive force between two closely spaced uncharged...
luminous paintA mixture of phosphor with a trace of a radioactive element that emits faint light continually. It is used on watch dials...
dielectricExhibiting the characteristic of materials that are electrical insulators or in which an electric field can be sustained...
pseudohologramCoded image obtained optically with a nonredundant pinhole array imaging aperture.
reticleA reticle, also known as a reticule or graticule, is a pattern or set of markings placed in the focal plane of an optical...
annular eclipseA type of solar eclipse that occurs when the sun is at perihelion and the moon is at apogee. Because the apparent size of...
phluometryThe term applied to the geometrical structure of radiometry or of the propagation of any quantity that is conversed and that...
laser kiss cuttingLaser kiss cutting is a technique used in manufacturing and fabrication processes, particularly in industries like...
pyroelectric pulse detectorA current-source thermal detector used to detect and study the pulses obtained from particular lasers.
disc laserA laser having a rod that is a stacked array of discs immersed in a transparent flowing coolant fluid. In this way, the...
solar radiationRadiation from the sun that is made up of a very wide range of wavelengths, from the long infrared to the short ultraviolet...
reflected ultraviolet photographyA photographic method used to obtain an image of a subject by means of its reflectance of incident ultraviolet radiation. An...
micro-LEDMicro-LED (micro-light-emitting diode) refers to a technology that involves the use of very small light-emitting diodes to...
embedded visionEmbedded vision refers to the integration of computer vision technologies into various embedded systems, devices, or...
Newton's ringsThe series of rings or bands formed when light beams reflected from two polished, adjacent surfaces, placed together with a...
STED microscopySTED microscopy, or stimulated emission depletion microscopy, is a superresolution imaging technique in fluorescence...
machine vision softwareMachine vision software is a type of software used in industrial and manufacturing settings to analyze and interpret images...
Langmuir-Blodgett techniqueA method of depositing crystalline films one molecular layer at a time, by dipping the substrate into water containing a...
junction diodeA semiconductor device with the property of conducting current more easily in one direction than the other. It has two...
germanium crystalGermanium crystal refers to a crystalline form of the element germanium (Ge), which is a metalloid and semiconductor...
surface-mount LEDsSurface-mount LEDs (SMD LEDs) are light-emitting diodes designed for mounting directly onto the surface of printed circuit...
fixed axis of rotationThe locus of points in a system along a line that remains stationary while the remainder of the system rotates.
optical stainingWith respect to microscopy, also called dispersive staining, optical staining the projection of colors through areas of a...
fiber optic attentuatorsA fiber optic attenuator is a passive optical component designed to attenuate or decrease the intensity of an optical signal...
probeAcronym for profile resolution obtained by excitation. In its simplest form, probe involves the overlap of two...
laser-induced cut and patchA process used in the design, repair and customization of integrated circuits. A low-power laser etches a silicon wafer...
Weissenberg methodThe Weissenberg method, named after the German physicist Karl Weissenberg, is a technique used in x-ray crystallography for...
low Earth orbitLow Earth orbit (LEO) refers to a region in space that is relatively close to Earth's surface, typically characterized by...
spectral signatureA spectral signature, in the context of remote sensing and spectroscopy, refers to the unique pattern or characteristic...
near-infrared spectrometerA near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer is an analytical instrument used to measure the absorption, transmission, or reflection...
oleophobicOleophobic is a term used to describe substances or materials that repel or resist oils. The word oleophobic comes from the...
Ritchey-Chretien telescopeA form of Cassegrain telescope having a concave hyperbolic primary and a convex hyperbolic secondary. This form permits the...
remote active spectrometerA device employed to identify toxic agents lingering on the ground or in the air from up to three miles away, by using laser...
strainIn optics, the mechanical tension, compression or shear in optical glass due to internal stress caused by improper cooling...
residual gas analysisA measurement in optical thin-film coating processes whereby the gases remaining in the vacuum chamber after coating are...
fluoresceinFluorescein is a synthetic organic compound extensively used as a fluorescent tracer in various applications, particularly...
emission spectrumAn emission spectrum is a graphical representation or a characteristic pattern of the wavelengths or frequencies of light...
carbon dioxide laserA gas laser in which the energy-state transitions between vibrational and rotational states of CO2 molecules give emission...
coherence lengthThat length over which energy in two separate waves remains constant. With respect to a laser, the greatest distance between...
pollingInquiry made to gain access by a master station in a token ring network.
translucentPertaining to materials having the property of reflecting a part and transmitting a part of the incident radiation.
attosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopyAttosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopy (APAP) is an advanced technique in ultrafast spectroscopy that allows...
radiantPertaining to electromagnetic radiation, with the contributions at all wavelengths of interest weighted equally.
endoscopeAn endoscope is a medical device used for visualizing and examining the interior of hollow organs, body cavities, or...
micromachining laser systemsMicromachining laser systems are advanced tools that use laser technology to perform highly precise material removal and...
parallel scanningParallel scanning refers to a method of acquiring data or images simultaneously from multiple sources or in parallel, rather...
chemical-mechanical polishingA technique for polishing silicon in which an alkaline suspension containing silicon dioxide particles creates a soft layer...
pushbroom scanningPushbroom scanning is a technique used in remote sensing and imaging systems, particularly in satellite and aerial sensors,...
visually coupled airborne systems simulatorA visual system including a tiny television tube and imaging optics, all contained in a helmet to be worn by pilots in...
invisibility cloakAn invisibility cloak is technology that would render an object or individual invisible to the observer.
In scientific...
holocameraA camera system used to form a high-precision hologram of the subject on a photographic plate. It contains a high-power...
chirped-pulse amplificationChirped pulse amplification (CPA) is a technique used in laser physics to amplify ultrashort laser pulses to high energies...
gray1. A measure of absorbed dose, equal to the energy imparted by ionizing radiation to a mass of matter corresponding to 1 J...
starting voltageIn a laser, the voltage necessary to initiate electrical discharge, somewhat higher than that needed to sustain it.
custom opticA custom optic refers to an optical component that is designed, manufactured, and tailored to meet specific requirements or...
meridional rayA ray that lies in the meridional plane; a ray that lies in the plane that contains the optical axis. A tangential ray.
modulatorA modulator is a device or component that modifies a carrier signal in order to encode information for transmission over a...
pitch polishing compoundPitch for polishing mixed with other materials to give it the right viscosity so that it will follow the fine-ground lens...
Pechan prismA prism made up of two air-spaced components. It has the ability to revert, and not invert, an image, and can be used in...
McLeod gaugeA gauge designed to measure high degrees of vacuum. It consists of a glass bulb attached to the vacuum vessel, the...
fiber distributed data interfaceA standard for fiber optic data transmission systems being developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and...
quantum-ehanced metrologyQuantum-enhanced metrology refers to the use of quantum mechanics principles and techniques to enhance the precision and...
coherent fiber bundleA coherent fiber bundle (CFB), also known as a coherent fiber optic bundle, is an assembly of multiple optical fibers...
electrophoretic displayAn electrophoretic display, often referred to as an electronic paper display or e-paper display, is a type of electronic...
data analysis softwareData analysis software is a category of software tools used for the systematic examination of data sets to uncover patterns,...
macula luteaThe small central portion of the human retina that is responsible for providing the clearest, and most distinct aspects of...
lithographyLithography is a key process used in microfabrication and semiconductor manufacturing to create intricate patterns on the...
retroreflectivityRetroreflectivity refers to the property of a surface or material to reflect light back to its source, regardless of the...
microscopyMicroscopy is a scientific technique that involves the use of microscopes to observe and study objects that are too small to...
selective laser meltingSelective laser melting (SLM) is an additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that belongs to the powder bed...
quantum entanglementQuantum entanglement is a phenomenon in quantum mechanics where two or more particles become correlated to such an extent...
Nd:YAG laserNd:YAG laser refers to a solid-state laser that utilizes neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:Y3Al5O12) as the gain...
integration timeIntegration time, in the context of optics, imaging systems, and sensor technology, refers to the duration over which a...
ferroelectric materialsFerroelectric materials are a type of dielectric materials that exhibit spontaneous electric polarization, meaning they...
backside-illuminated sensorA backside-illuminated (BSI) sensor is an image sensor technology where the light-sensitive elements (typically pixels) are...
sapphire optical fiberSapphire optical fiber is a type of optical fiber made from single-crystal sapphire, which is a form of aluminum oxide...
epitaxialEpitaxial refers to the growth of a crystalline layer on a crystalline substrate in such a way that the orientation of the...
spectral repeatabilitySpectral repeatability refers to the consistency and reproducibility of spectral measurements across multiple trials or...
short wavelength infraredShort wavelength infrared (SWIR) refers to the portion of the infrared spectrum that encompasses wavelengths roughly between...
coupling efficiencyThe fraction of available output from a radiant source that is coupled and transmitted by an optical fiber.
backscatterBackscatter refers to the phenomenon in which radiation or waves are scattered backward, opposite to the direction of the...
light source powerThe electrical power used to stimulate any light source. Power supplies may be step-up or step-down transformers; rectifiers...
meso formA form of an element that cannot demonstrate optical activity as a result of dextrogyrate and levogyrate effects that are...
metaverseThe term "metaverse" refers to a collective virtual shared space, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical...
strain viewerA viewer that uses the transmittance of polarized light through glass or a similar medium to examine strained regions. See...
ionographyAn electroradiographic process that uses ionization of air by x-rays as a basis for forming electrostatic images.
macroscopicSizable enough to be perceived by the unaided eye.
gegenschein-zodiacal light photometerA photometer used to measure sky brightness and polarization associated with zodiacal light, background starlight, F-region...
acceptance patternThe acceptance pattern, often used in the context of antennas and optical systems, refers to the spatial distribution of the...
in situIn situ, from Latin meaning "in place," refers to a method or approach where measurements, observations, or experiments are...
index dipThe decrease in the refractive index at the center of a fiber's core, caused by certain fabrication techniques. Also called...
enantiomerEnantiomers are a pair of molecules that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other, similar to left and right...
photodiode detectorA photodiode detector is a semiconductor device that converts light into an electrical current. It operates based on the...
beamsplitterA beamsplitter is an optical device used to divide a beam of light into two or more separate beams, typically by reflecting...
reduced focal lengthThe ratio of the first focal length of a lens to the refractive index of the medium containing the incident light; the ratio...
cross dispersionRecombination of only the light that is correctly dispersed by the first stage of a polychromator through its wide...
index-guided laserA laser diode with an output beam contained in the active layer by means of a built-in refractive index profile formed in...
germicidal UVGermicidal ultraviolet (GUV) refers to a specific range of UV radiation that has disinfectant properties capable of killing...
active-matrixAn OLED display that has an integrated electronic backplane as its substrate. Active-matrix OLED displays use at least two...
continuous waveContinuous wave (CW) refers to a type of signal or transmission where the signal is constant and does not vary with time. In...
single-mode fiber optic connectorsSingle-mode fiber optic connectors are designed for use with single-mode fiber cables, which have a smaller core diameter...
Bragg method of crystal analysisA technique in which a beam of x-rays is directed against a crystal, the atoms of which, because of their lattice...
lock-in amplifierA lock-in amplifier is a specialized electronic instrument used to extract and measure small signals embedded in noise or...
neurodegenerativeNeurodegenerative refers to a process or condition characterized by progressive dysfunction or loss of structure and...
negative stereoscopic imageWhen a stereo pair of images is switched so that the right eye sees the left image and the left eye the right, the stereo...
dichalcogenideDichalcogenides are a class of compounds composed of two atoms of a chalcogen element bonded to a single atom of a metal or...
atmospheric opticsThe analysis of the properties of radiation, such as light, when acted upon by variations in the atmosphere. Blue and red...
multiline laser systemA multiline laser system refers to a type of laser that is capable of emitting multiple discrete wavelengths or spectral...
absorption spectrumAn absorption spectrum is a graphical representation of the absorption of light by a material as a function of wavelength,...
spectrohelioscopeAn instrument similar to the spectroheliograph, but having a scanning method that is performed by a pair of rapidly...
spectral domain optical coherence tomographySpectral domain optical coherence tomography is an imaging technique used in medical diagnostics, particularly in...
chirped mirrorsChirped mirrors are optical devices designed to manipulate the spectral properties of ultrashort laser pulses. They consist...
photoimmunotherapyPhotoimmunotherapy (PIT) is a medical treatment approach that combines elements of phototherapy and immunotherapy to target...
single molecule localization microscopySingle molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) is a group of super-resolution microscopy techniques that surpass the...
telemeter1. The term used to describe any of the many instruments used to remotely record physical dimensions, such as strain,...
spectralPertaining to or as a function of wavelength. Spectral quantities are evaluated at a single wavelength.
perovskiteThe term perovskite refers to a specific crystal structure commonly found in various materials. Perovskite structures have a...
incident rayA ray of light that falls upon or strikes a surface of an object such as a lens. It is said to be incident to the surface.
optical waveguideAny structure having the ability to guide the flow of radiant energy along a path parallel to its axis and to contain the...
quasi-monochromatic lightSingle wavelength source with a larger linewidth often containing multiple longitudinal modes.
femtosecond laserA femtosecond laser is a type of laser that emits ultrashort pulses of light with durations on the order of femtoseconds,...
mode sweepingA form of laser output noise that is caused by thermal, mechanical, or acoustical disturbances of the cavity length. Mode...
laser trimmingThe use of lasers in tailoring of such components as thin-film resistors. The process improves speed and accuracy.
mid-wave infraredMWIR stands for mid-wave infrared, referring to a specific range of wavelengths within the infrared spectrum. Infrared...
absorption hologramAn absorption hologram is a type of hologram in which the image is formed by variations in the absorption of light within...
iodine cycleA development aimed at extending the life of a tungsten filament. The iodine vapor in the lamp envelope combines with the...
phototransistorA phototransistor is a type of semiconductor device that converts light energy into electrical signals. Similar to a regular...
reflection reduction coatingThe thin, transparent film made up of specific substances applied to glass-air surfaces for the purpose of decreasing the...
waferIn the context of electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, a wafer refers to a thin, flat disk or substrate made of a...
optical cements and adhesiveOptical cements and adhesives are specialized materials used in the assembly and bonding of optical components in optical...
microscope objectiveThe lens located at the object end of a microscope tube. A wide range of objectives is available, including simple...
acceptorIn various scientific fields, the term acceptor has distinct meanings:
Chemistry: An acceptor is an atom, ion, or...
aptamerAn aptamer is a short, single-stranded DNA or RNA molecule that can bind to a specific target molecule with high affinity...
hydrophobicHydrophobic is a term used to describe substances or materials that repel or do not readily interact with water. The word...
smectic phaseA form of liquid crystal in which flow does not take place in the usual manner. When examined with polarized light, the...
silicon carbide light-emitting diodesSilicon carbide (SiC) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor devices that emit light when an electric current is...
halftone screenA plate containing a uniform pattern of transparent holes in an opaque background, the clear area being nearly equal to the...
chemical vapor depositionChemical vapor deposition is a process of applying dopants to a glass bait by flame reactions of gaseous compounds. See also...
acutanceAcutance refers to the perceived sharpness of an image in terms of the contrast of edges, rather than the resolution of fine...
diaphragmA flanged or plain ring with a restricted aperture, located in an optical system at any of several points, that cuts off...
lithium triborate nonlinear crystalLithium triborate, commonly abbreviated as LBO, is a nonlinear optical crystal widely used in various applications involving...
dual-axis laserDual-axis laser is a laser device or system capable of emitting laser beams along two orthogonal axes (typically X and Y...
Förster resonance energy transferFörster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a mechanism describing the transfer of energy between two closely spaced...
fiber optic preformA fiber optic preform is a cylindrical glass rod or tube used as the starting material for manufacturing optical fibers. It...
permanent magnetic focusingThe focusing of an electron beam by a magnetic field that permanently retains the majority of its magnetic properties.
tungsten diselenideTungsten diselenide (WSe2) is a member of the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) family, composed of tungsten (W) and...
attenuatorAn attenuator is an electronic or optical device used to reduce the power or intensity of a signal without significantly...
gram negativeGram-negative bacteria are a group of bacteria that possess a cell envelope composed of a thin layer of peptidoglycan...
attenuated total reflectance spectroscopyAttenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy is a technique used in analytical chemistry to obtain IR spectra of samples....
field tiltThe angle measured between the focal surface containing the image and a plane normal to the optical axis.
wide-angle lensA wide-angle lens is a type of camera lens that has a shorter focal length than a standard or normal lens, allowing it to...
xyleneFluid used to aid in examination of semifinished blanks.
motorized positioning equipmentMotorized positioning equipment in optics and photonics refers to devices and systems that use motors to precisely control...
Greenough microscopeA form of a stereoscopic microscope having paired objectives, prisms and eyepieces, and invented by H. Greenough.
image signal processorAn image signal processor (ISP) is a hardware component or subsystem in digital imaging devices responsible for capturing,...
wave trainThe continuous group of waves that persists for a short time only.
photoelectromotive forceThe force that stimulates the emission of an electrical current when photovoltaic action creates a potential difference...
Q-switched pulseA laser output that occurs when the cavity resonator Q is first kept very low, using rotating mirrors or saturable...
x-ray diffractionThe bending of x-rays by the regular layers of molecules in a crystal acting like a very small diffraction grating. The...
stress-applying partIn polarization-preserving optical fibers, the element used to induce birefringence. The SAP is highly doped to provide a...
qubitA qubit, short for quantum bit, is the fundamental unit of information in quantum computing and quantum information...
micromanipulatorA device that provides means for accurately moving minuscule tools over the surface of a microscopic object. The motion...
Fabry-Perot cavityAn optical resonator in which feedback is accomplished by two parallel planes. In diode lasers, the planes are obtained by...
Porro prism erecting systemThe arrangement of two Porro prisms so that the inverted image formed by certain types of optical instruments is the same as...
hematoporphyrin derivativeA material used in photodynamic therapy that is retained selectively by tumor tissue when injected into the body; it then...
laserA laser, which stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation," is a device that produces coherent and...
Fresnel lensA Fresnel lens is a type of optical lens that consists of a series of concentric grooves or steps carved into a flat, thin...
photonic engineA photonic engine refers to a device or system that utilizes photonics, or the science and technology of generating,...
holographic tomographyHolographic tomography is an advanced imaging technique that combines holography and tomography to provide three-dimensional...
hazeAn aggravated form of fog in a polished surface caused by the scattering of light. The defects causing haze are larger than...
Geometrical opticsThe area of optics in which the propagation of light is described by geometrical lines (or rays) governed by Fermat's...
Wynne-Rosin telescopeA Cassegrain telescope having a parabolic primary mirror, a spherical secondary mirror and a zero-power doublet in the...
molded blankA blank whose basic surface curves are attained by heating and forming a given weight of raw glass; a rough glass blank...
diffuse reflectance spectroscopyDiffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) is a nondestructive analytical technique used to investigate the optical properties...
focal collimatorA collimator having, at one end of a tube, an objective lens, and at the other, a reticle with a pair of spaced lines...
Laurent polarimeterA Laurent polarimeter is an instrument used in optics for measuring the rotation of plane-polarized light caused by...
fluorescent light sourceA tube containing mercury vapor and lined with a phosphor. When current is passed through the vapor the strong ultraviolet...
interlayer attractionInterlayer attraction refers to the attractive forces between adjacent layers of atoms or molecules in a material,...
nonpolarizing prismsNonpolarizing prisms are optical components designed to split or combine light beams without altering their polarization...
box cameraThe simplest, most inexpensive type of camera, which is shaped as an oblong or square box, containing the simplest lens,...
cone1. A solid figure whose base is a circle and whose sides taper upward evenly to a point or apex. Light rays diverging from...
chromatic aberrationChromatic aberration is an optical phenomenon that occurs when different wavelengths (colors) of light are refracted by a...
metal componentAn accurate metal prism or plane parallel plate that is cemented to an optical element and remains with it during a series...
point spread functionThe point spread function (PSF) is a fundamental concept in imaging that describes the response of an imaging system to a...
particle accelerationParticle acceleration refers to the process by which charged particles, such as electrons or protons, gain kinetic energy...
inverse bremsstrahlungCollisional absorption of energy that occurs in inertial confinement fusion systems when hydrodynamic expansion of the...
image retaining panelA type of electroluminescent display that will record and maintain an irradiated image on its phosphor screen, provided a DC...
binocularsBinoculars are optical instruments used for magnifying distant objects by using two parallel telescopes mounted side by...
optical manufacturing tools and machineryOptical manufacturing tools and machinery encompass a wide range of equipment, instruments, and systems used in the...
microfluoroscopeA fluoroscope equipped with a magnified, fine-grained fluorescent screen to determine the fluorescence emitted by a...
data acquisition systemsA data acquisition (DAQ) system is a combination of hardware and software used to collect, process, and analyze data from...
3D printing3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), is a manufacturing process that builds three-dimensional objects...
photon tunneling microscopeAn instrument in which visible light beyond the critical angle from a metallurgical microscope is focused on a reference...
crystalA solid with a structure that exhibits a basically symmetrical and geometrical arrangement. A crystal may already possess...
powder radiographyA technique used in radiography to determine a crystal's structure by obtaining radiographs of it in powder form, normally...
optical design and engineering servicesOptical design and engineering services involve the development, customization, and optimization of optical systems and...
ytterbium laserA ytterbium laser is a type of solid-state laser that employs ytterbium ions (Yb³+) as the dopant in the gain medium....
negative ghostA ghost image that has the reverse lightness relations of the original image. This phenomenon is a common optical illusion...
acrylicAcrylic refers to a type of synthetic polymer material known for its versatility, clarity, and durability. It is commonly...
laser-triggered switchingA process by which the ionizing capabilities of a laser beam are used to break initiate conduction between pairs of...
acoustical hologramAn acoustical hologram refers to a three-dimensional representation of sound waves in space, analogous to optical holography...
microradiographyRadiographic recording and enhancement of the micoscopic details within the structure of thin specimens at a high...
freeform mirrorsFreeform mirrors refer to reflective optical components that deviate from traditional symmetric or rotationally symmetric...
lensless microscopyLensless microscopy, also known as computational or holographic microscopy, is an imaging technique that captures and...
modified chemical vapor depositionModified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) is a technique used in the fabrication of optical fibers. It is a specialized form...
Schottky diodeA Schottky diode is a type of semiconductor diode characterized by its low forward voltage drop and fast switching speed. It...
microRNAMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, single-stranded RNA molecules, typically consisting of about 19 to 24 nucleotides,...
Babinet compensatorA device containing two opposed quartz wedges of equal angle, one wedge being movable along its length by a micrometer...
automatic current controlAutomatic current control (ACC) refers to a system or mechanism designed to regulate and maintain a desired level of...
additive color processThe additive color process refers to the method of creating color by combining different wavelengths of light.
This...
meridional planeThat plane in an optical system containing its optical axis and the chief ray. Also called the tangential plane.
protein crystallographyProtein crystallography is a scientific technique used to determine the three-dimensional structure of proteins at atomic...
beam profilingBeam profiling is a technique used to characterize and analyze the spatial intensity distribution of a laser beam. It...
argon-fluoride excimer laserAn argon-fluoride (ArF) excimer laser is a type of ultraviolet laser that operates using a mixture of argon and fluorine...
inertial confinement fusionInertial confinement fusion (ICF) is a method of achieving nuclear fusion, a process where two atomic nuclei combine to...
frequency domainThe frequency domain is a concept used in signal processing and analysis to represent signals and data in terms of their...
attoampereAn attoampere (aA) is a unit of electric current in the International System of Units (SI). It is equal to one quintillionth...
Er:YAG laserAn Er:YAG laser is a type of solid-state laser that uses a crystal made of erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet...
image segmentationImage segmentation is a fundamental process in computer vision and image processing that involves partitioning an image into...
servo motionServo motion is the controlled motion of a mechanical system achieved through the use of a servo motor, which utilizes...
topologyTopology is a branch of mathematics that focuses on the properties of space that are preserved under continuous...
averted visionIn astronomy, the method of deliberately viewing objects with peripheral vision to take advantage of the eye's greater...
excitronA single-anode mercury pool tube that is designed to maintain a continuous cathode spot.
astronomical mirrorAn astronomical mirror, also known as a telescope mirror or primary mirror, is a key component of a reflecting telescope. It...
infrared jammingA countermeasure used against heat seeking missiles to reduce their effectiveness. Normally it involves the emittance of...
ablative wall flashlampAn ablative wall flashlamp typically refers to a type of flashlamp used in certain high-energy laser systems.
...
curvilinear distortionA lens aberration in which the focal length varies radially outward from the center of the field. It has the effect of...
maskingIn image processing, the assigning of certain portions (or pixels) of an image a constant value of either 0 (black) or 1...
photomultiplier tubeA photomultiplier tube (PMT) is a highly sensitive vacuum tube that detects and amplifies low levels of light. It is widely...
colloidal quantum dotsColloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are nanometer-sized semiconductor particles that are dispersed in a colloidal solution. These...
photoelastic constantA formulaic description of the linear change of the reciprocal optical dielectric tensor with either stress or strain.
light throughput efficiencyThe fraction of incident light power in an optical modulator that is available to the output beam.
air bearingA support device in which a column or chamber of air permits the free travel of a mobile part. In optical mounting and...
azadioxatrianguleniumAzadioxatriangulenium is a type of organic compound with a unique triangular molecular structure. It is often abbreviated as...
off-axis paraboloid and ellipsoid mirrorOff-axis paraboloid and ellipsoid mirrors are specialized optical components used in various optical systems, particularly...
fiber photometryAn optical recording technique that uses light source(s), a beamsplitting cube, light detector(s) and an optical fiber...
ambient temperatureThe prevailing temperature in the immediate vicinity of the object; the temperature of its environment.
digital signal processingDigital signal processing (DSP) refers to the manipulation and analysis of signals, which are representations of physical...
heat sinkA heat sink for a laser is a device designed to absorb and dissipate the excess heat generated by the laser during...
MylarE.I. duPont's trade name for a polyester film. The most practical beamsplitter for use beyond the 15-µm wavelength...
ion laserA laser in which the transition involved in stimulated emission of radiation takes place between two levels of an ionized...
APD detectorAn APD detector, or avalanche photodiode detector, is a type of photodetector used to detect light or optical signals by...
Glan spectrophotometerA device similar to the ordinary spectrophotometer but containing particular modifications to provide for the comparison of...
quantum dot light-emitting diodeQuantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) is a display technology that utilizes quantum dots, which are semiconductor...
tempered glassA glass that is heated, then chilled (usually by an air blast) to set up internal stresses so that the surfaces are under...
glide planeThe plane shared by the pair of axes in a twin crystal.
high-pressure cloud chamberA cloud chamber designed to maintain the gas within it at a high pressure as a means of reducing the range of the...
chain scissionThe breakdown of the bonds in polymer chains caused by illumination.
nitrogen vacancyA nitrogen vacancy (NV) refers to a specific type of defect or impurity in a crystal lattice where a nitrogen atom replaces...
phase screenA phase screen, in the context of optics and wave optics, refers to a surface or medium that introduces a phase delay to an...
diffractionDiffraction is a fundamental wave phenomenon that occurs when a wave encounters an obstacle or aperture, causing the wave to...
Monte Carlo simulationSimulation of radiative transfer in which each photon is generated by a source and its path through the medium is...
volume Bragg gratingsVolume Bragg gratings (VBGs) are specialized optical elements that consist of periodic variations in refractive index...
bright-line spectrumAn emission spectrum consisting of bright bands against a dark background.
multimodality imagingA technique that combines two or more imaging processes in order to minimize the disadvantages within each of the...
metabolic imagingMetabolic imaging refers to the visualization and quantification of metabolic processes within living organisms, tissues, or...
microbubble resonatorA microbubble resonator is a device used in photonics and optical physics for the precise manipulation of light waves. It...
Kerr effectThe Kerr effect, named after the physicist John Kerr who first observed it in 1875, is a nonlinear optical phenomenon where...
surface-enhanced Raman scatteringSurface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful analytical technique that enhances the Raman scattering signal of...
chromaticity diagramThe plane diagram produced by plotting one of the three chromaticity coordinates (X,Y,Z) against another. The most common...
optical probeAn optical probe is a device equipped with optical components such as lenses, fibers, or detectors, designed to transmit and...
laser diode moduleA laser diode module is a compact device that incorporates a laser diode, optics, and often other components into a single...
scanning electron microscopeA scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a powerful imaging instrument used in scientific research, materials...
relative brightnessA figure of merit corresponding to the amount of light seen by a viewer through binoculars. A higher number indicates a...
pseudo-second-derivativeA method used to approximate the values of the homogeneous second derivatives at each iteration in the course of lens design...
aspheric mirrorAn aspheric mirror is an optical mirror surface that deviates from the shape of a perfect sphere, having a non-spherical...
tracking accuracyMeasurement of a translation stage's deviation from absolute straightness, that is, its angular motion in both the vertical...
micro-roboticsMicro-robotics refers to the field of robotics that involves the design, development, and application of miniature robotic...
active layerIn the context of semiconductors and electronics, the active layer is the part of a semiconductor device where the essential...
infrared cameraAn infrared camera, also known as a thermal imaging camera or IR camera, is a device that captures and visualizes the...
secondary colorAn aberration that remains after primary color is corrected. Primary color causes the back focus of a lens to vary with...
camera shutterAn apparatus, designed for use with a camera, that is used to rapidly open the path from lens to film, to maintain the...
unmanned aerial vehicleAn unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without a human pilot onboard. UAVs are remotely...
solar simulatorA solar simulator is a device used to replicate the spectrum and intensity of sunlight in a controlled environment for...
fiber jointsFiber joints, also known as fiber optic splices, refer to the connection points where two optical fibers are permanently...
scanning moire topographyA contour mapping technique that uses electronic scanning and sampling techniques instead of a reference grating (see moire...
Abbe refractometerAn Abbe refractometer is a scientific instrument used to measure the refractive index of liquids and solids. Named after the...
cassetteA container designed to hold recording material (film, video- and audiotape) so that when it is loaded into a recording...
polarization-preserving fiberSingle-mode fiber that preserves the plane of polarization of the light launched into it as the beam propagates through its...
event-based sensorAn event-based image sensor, also known as a dynamic vision sensor (DVS), is a type of digital imaging device designed to...
analogA physical variable that is proportionally similar to another variable over a specified range. An analog recording contains...
laser desorptionA process of forming ions within a given molecular species by incident laser light. The molecular species may remain intact,...
Michelson-Morley experimentAn optical experiment carried out conclusively in 1887 that demonstrated that the ether, a hypothetical medium postulated by...
zoom lensAn optical system of variable focal length, the focal plane remaining in a fixed position. This result is achieved by moving...
gradient-index profileThe term gradient-index profile refers to a specific type of refractive index distribution within an optical material. In...
convexConvex is an adjective used to describe a surface or shape that curves outward, bulges, or has a rounded and outwardly...
triple aplanatA compound lens consisting of two negative lenses of flint glass. A double-convex lens of crown glass is cemented between...
diode-pumped solid-state laserA diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) is a type of laser system that uses semiconductor diode lasers to pump energy into...
beat lengthA characteristic of optical fiber used to calculate the fiber's ability to maintain polarization. The beat length describes...
polarization photometerA photometer having a pair of Nicol prisms introduced into the beam from the brighter of two sources to be compared. Turning...
color scannerAn instrument that uses a beam of light to scan a color transparency, and three differently filtered photosensors to record...
accelerometerAn accelerometer is a sensor or transducer that measures the rate of change of velocity of an object, or in simpler terms,...
scratchA defect on a polished optical surface whose length is many times its width. Block reek is a chainlike scratch formed in...
spatial intensity perturbationA beam instability, induced by index of refraction inhomogeneities and component damage of dirt and dust particles, that...
fusion ignitionFusion ignition refers to the point in a controlled nuclear fusion reaction where the energy released by the fusion...
fluorochromeThe combination of the organic dye in a stained specimen and the antibodies produced that is detected by exposure to light.
photoresistPhotoresist is a light-sensitive material used in photolithography processes, particularly in the fabrication of...
active opticsActive optics refers to a technology used in telescopes and other optical instruments to improve the quality of images by...
bin pickingBin picking, also known as bin picking automation or bin picking robotics, refers to the automated process of selecting and...
reflectiveThe term reflective is an adjective that describes the ability of a surface or material to reflect light or other forms of...
optical coherence tomography imaging systemOptical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging technique used in medical diagnostics and biomedical research to obtain...
spheric lensA spheric lens, also known as a spherical lens, is a type of optical lens with at least one surface that is part of a...
lens discA rotating disc that holds several lenses of differing focal length about a diameter. Used to switch lenses in a system...
Felgett advantageThe signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) obtained with a Fourier transform spectrometer when detector noise prevails, which exceeds...
x-ray spectrometerAn instrument designed to produce an x-ray spectrum of a material as an aid in identifying it. This technique is...
liquid crystal light valveA liquid crystal light valve (LCLV), also known as a spatial light modulator (SLM), is an optical device that modulates the...
videodiscA disc whose surface contains recorded digital data at high-packing densities arranged in concentric rings. The data,...
hydroxyl ion absorptionAn optical fiber's absorption of electromagnetic waves due to hydroxyl ions remaining after contact with water.
halo1. The faintly hued ring that is seen to surround a light source viewed through fog or light clouds. The size of scattering...
fluorescent whitening agentsAgents used for testing light sources and natural daylight with visual and instrumental assessment using a set of white...
Weibull distributionA statistical means of characterizing the failure of a fiber or device as related to strain or time. Results are plotted on...
optical phase distortionOptical phase distortion refers to a phenomenon where the phase of an optical wavefront is altered as it propagates through...
edge AIEdge AI, also known as edge artificial intelligence, refers to the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms and...
photoelectric relayA relay that opens or closes an electrical circuit depending on the intensity of the light incident to a photoelectric...
modulation bandwidthThe highest frequency at which a laser diode can be driven and still be modulated acceptably that further results in the...
piezoelectric transducers and ceramic materialsPiezoelectric transducers are devices that utilize the piezoelectric effect to convert electrical energy into mechanical...
optical materialsOptical materials refer to substances or compounds specifically chosen for their optical properties and used in the...
flash radiographyA technique used in radiography to obtain an unblurred image of a moving object by the use of very short x-ray exposures,...
dewettingDewetting is a phenomenon in materials science and physics where a thin film or coating spontaneously undergoes a process of...
nonlinear polarizationNonlinear polarization refers to the phenomenon where the polarization of a material responds nonlinearly to an applied...
temperature controllersTemperature controllers in photonics are devices used to regulate and maintain the temperature of photonic components and...
laser annealingLaser annealing is a process that involves using a laser beam to heat and modify the microstructure of a material, typically...
computational imagingComputational imaging refers to the use of computational techniques, algorithms, and hardware to enhance or enable imaging...
decibelThe standard unit used to express gain or loss and relative power levels. The decibel (dB) = 10 log (P2/P1).
spectral order (diffraction grating)When, for example, a beam of monochromatic light passes through a diffraction grating, the emergent rays that have remained...
design and engineering consulting servicesDesign and engineering consulting services refer to professional services provided by specialized firms or individuals to...
magnificationThe ratio of the size of the image of an object to that of the object. The ratio of the linear size of the image to that of...
automatic gain controlA method of producing an essentially constant output signal from an electronic circuit despite variations in the strength of...
active-matrix OLED displayAn active matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display is a type of flat-panel display technology that combines the...
line of sightThe line of vision; the optical axis of a telescope or other observation system. The straight line connecting the object and...
adapter (optical adapter)An optical adapter typically refers to a device or component used in optical systems to facilitate connections between...
planar access couplerLow-insertion-loss fiber coupler fabricated from a sheet of light-sensitive material laminated onto a fused quartz substrate...
fiber optic spectrometerA fiber optic spectrometer is a device used for measuring the spectral content of light. It utilizes optical fibers to...
transversely excited atmosphere laserAlso known as TEA laser. A coherent optical source with a wide wavelength range in the infrared, visible and ultraviolet...
Abbe-Porro prismAn Abbe-Porro prism, often referred to simply as a Porro prism, is an optical prism used in binoculars and other optical...
lapping and polishing servicesLapping and polishing services involve specialized processes used to improve the surface finish and dimensional accuracy of...
points per profilePoints per profile in imaging refers to the density or resolution of data points sampled along a line or profile within an...
spatial conditionThe spatial distribution of incident and collected flux contained in the analysis of reflectance, transmittance or densities.
phase distrortionPhase distortion refers to a change in the phase relationships between different frequency components of a signal. In the...
vacuum spectrographA spectrograph that functions in a vacuum and therefore eliminates any air-absorption of the emission being surveyed.
coherent communicationsA fiber optic communications system that works on the principles of homodyning or heterodyning. The transmitting laser...
tungsten lampAn evacuated bulb containing a tungsten filament that is heated by passing an electric current through it. In domestic light...
photochromismThe reversible change in the absorption spectrum of certain compounds upon irradiation with a given wavelength of light.
anisotropyAnisotropy refers to the property of exhibiting different values or characteristics when measured in different directions....
glow lampA lamp in which the ionization of the inert gas contained in it produces a glow in the space close to the negative electrode.
optoelectronicsOptoelectronics is a branch of electronics that focuses on the study and application of devices and systems that use light...
ion pairTwo oppositely charged particles.
gram positiveGram-positive bacteria are a group of bacteria that have a thick cell wall composed primarily of a substance called...
chiralityChirality is a property of certain molecules and objects in which they are non-superimposable on their mirror images. In...
Forbush decreaseDecrease in cosmic ray activity that is observed approximately 24 hours after a solar flare, attributed to a shielding...
advanced communication technology satelliteThe advanced communication technology satellite (ACTS) was a program developed by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space...
friabilityThe resistance of individual grains of an abrasive to breaking down under pressure. If the grains break down under...
galvanoluminescenceThe emission of radiant energy produced by the passage of an electrical current through an appropriate electrolyte in which...
gain-bandwidth productIn an avalanche photodiode, the gain multiplied by the signal frequency in MHz.
inverse Compton effectThe interaction between a photon and an energetic electron, caused by collision, that transfers energy from the electron to...