HR Dictionary Terms
ocular prismThe prism used in a rangefinder to bend the lines of sight through the instruments into the eyepieces.
alexandrite lasersAn alexandrite laser is a solid-state laser that utilizes a synthetic crystal made from the rare earth element alexandrite...
compound semiconductorA semiconductor made up of two or more elements, in contrast to those composed of a single element such as germanium or...
mirror blankA mirror blank refers to the initial piece of material from which a mirror is made. It is typically a flat or slightly...
panoramic lensA lens system that is capable of producing a 360° image, or one that is very close to that. In recording, the image may...
photon tunneling microscopeAn instrument in which visible light beyond the critical angle from a metallurgical microscope is focused on a reference...
stereo cameraA camera with two taking lenses and synchronized shutters. Two images are recorded simultaneously on separate frames,...
beam profilerA device that measures the spatial distribution of energy perpendicular to the propagation path of a radiant beam. An energy...
laser lithotripsyLaser lithotripsy is a medical procedure that uses laser energy to break down or fragment stones in various parts of the...
filovirusFiloviruses are a family of viruses that are responsible for severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fevers in humans and...
Fresnel diffraction1. Also known as near-field diffraction. The field of radiation sent through an aperture in an absorbing screen at large...
Lovibond tintometerA subtractive colorimeter that expresses a liquid's or object's color as a combination of three colors. These colors are...
bend lossThe loss of optical power in an optical fiber because radiation escapes through its bends. The radiation loss caused by...
optical time-domain reflectometerAn optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) is a specialized instrument used in optical fiber communications to characterize...
object displacementThe movement of an object seen through a refracting prism toward the apex of a prism.
full wave compensatorA piece of uniform birefringent material placed at a 45° angle to the plane of polarization in a polarizing microscope...
trolandThat level of retinal illuminance resulting when a surface with a luminance of 1 candela/m2 is viewed through a pupil with...
optical coherence tomography imaging systemOptical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging technique used in medical diagnostics and biomedical research to obtain...
negative dielectric anisotropyState typically studied in liquid crystals in which the dielectric coefficient parallel to the director is less than the...
histologyHistology is the branch of biology and medicine that involves the study of the microscopic structure of tissues and organs...
fiber axisThe mechanical centerline through the core of an optical fiber.
long-wave infraredLong-wave infrared (LWIR) refers to a specific range of the infrared spectrum. Infrared radiation is divided into three main...
thermal bloomingThe effect that characterizes an intense laser beam that is passed through an absorbing medium, causing the absorbed energy...
beam matrix1. A geometrical arrangement of two or more light beams for use in laser shows, object detection or other applications...
dual-wavelength spectrophotometrySpectrophotometry in which radiation of two separate wavelengths, usually one in an absorption band and the other not, pass...
thermophotovoltaicThermophotovoltaic (TPV) refers to a technology that converts heat energy into electricity using the principles of...
scintillation crystalA scintillation crystal, also known simply as a scintillator, is a material that emits light when it interacts with ionizing...
sapphire windowA sapphire window refers to a transparent optical component made from sapphire crystal. Sapphire is a single-crystal form of...
concaveConcave is an adjective used to describe a surface or shape that curves inward or has a hollow or recessed appearance. In...
optical cements and adhesiveOptical cements and adhesives are specialized materials used in the assembly and bonding of optical components in optical...
Jacquinot advantageThe higher throughput obtained with an FTIR device compared with traditional spectrometers that need slits to achieve...
lab-on-a-chipA lab-on-a-chip (LOC) is a miniaturized device that integrates various laboratory functions and capabilities onto a single,...
optical bistabilityThe phenomenon that can render an optical resonator the equivalent of a semiconductor flip-flop. A bistable device will...
3D printing3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), is a manufacturing process that builds three-dimensional objects...
reticleA reticle, also known as a reticule or graticule, is a pattern or set of markings placed in the focal plane of an optical...
stripe laserIn rudimentary form, this technology consists of diffusion of a PN junction through a mask of silica, over which a contact...
gallium arsenide phosphideGallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) is a semiconductor alloy composed of gallium (Ga), arsenic (As), and phosphorus (P). It...
triclinicWith respect to a crystal, having three unequal axes intersecting at angles, only two of which can be equal and only one of...
laser cell sortingA moving group of fluid-suspended biological species directed through separate channels by which the population is isolated....
total insertThe lateral distance between a vertical line drawn through the geometrical center of the distance portion of a multifocal,...
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...
off-axis paraboloid and ellipsoid mirrorOff-axis paraboloid and ellipsoid mirrors are specialized optical components used in various optical systems, particularly...
absorption indexThe absorption index represents the imaginary component of the complex index of refraction, and not the real component. The...
bandwidthThe range of frequencies over which a particular instrument is designed to function within specified limits. See also fiber...
time delay integrationA method of scanning in which a frame transfer device produces a continuous video image of a moving object by means of a...
Koehler illuminationA two-stage illuminating system for a microscope in which the source is imaged in the aperture of the substage condenser by...
optical stainingWith respect to microscopy, also called dispersive staining, optical staining the projection of colors through areas of a...
Laurent polarimeterA Laurent polarimeter is an instrument used in optics for measuring the rotation of plane-polarized light caused by...
optically isotropic crystalA transparent crystalline substance that displays the same optical properties (i.e. refractive index) in all directions such...
Talbot's lawThe law stating that the brightness of an object that is examined through a slotted disc, rotating over a critical...
laser cavityA laser cavity, also known as an optical cavity or resonator, is a fundamental component of a laser system. It is a confined...
cladding mode stripperA mechanism or device, especially a coating with a refractive index equal to or slightly greater than that of an optical...
time domainThe time domain is a concept used in signal processing and analysis to describe signals in terms of their behavior over...
mid-infrared cameraA mid-infrared camera is a type of imaging device designed to capture images in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral range,...
remote laser weldingA robotic process commonly employed by automakers that enables high-speed and flexible production throughput by using...
long-pass filterA long-pass filter is an optical filter that allows longer wavelengths of light to pass through while blocking or...
tee couplerA passive coupler that connects three ports.
Geissler tubeA specific gas-filled tube designed to illustrate the luminous effects of discharges through rarefied gases.
morphological processingA set of algorithms used to study the structural and spatial characteristics of objects in a digitized image for...
otoscopeAn otoscope is a medical device used by healthcare professionals, particularly ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists,...
hyperchromic shiftHyperchromic shift refers to an increase in the absorption of light, leading to a higher absorbance, often observed in...
retroreflectionRetroreflection is a phenomenon in optics where light is reflected back toward its source, typically in a direction nearly...
holographyHolography is a technique used to capture and reconstruct three-dimensional images using the principles of interference and...
flicker photometryHeterochromatic photometry that depends on the elimination of chromatic flicker at a lower frequency than luminance flicker.
epitaxialEpitaxial refers to the growth of a crystalline layer on a crystalline substrate in such a way that the orientation of the...
photodiodeA two-electrode, radiation-sensitive junction formed in a semiconductor material in which the reverse current varies with...
achromatic pointLocation on the CIE chromaticity diagram which produces the color white for a given light source at a specified temperature.
electrophoretic displayAn electrophoretic display, often referred to as an electronic paper display or e-paper display, is a type of electronic...
swept-source laserA swept-source laser, also known as a wavelength-swept laser, is a type of laser that rapidly and continuously changes its...
centrationIn a perfectly centered lens, the mechanical axis (defined by the ground outside the diameter of the lens) is made to be...
vertical incident illuminationWith respect to microscopy, light that is directed down through the objective onto the specimen and then returned by...
laser sinteringLaser sintering is an additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that involves using a laser to selectively fuse...
conjugate holographic imageAlso known as real holographic image. The indistinct, highly distorted image produced on the side of the hologram closest to...
optical assemblyAn optical assembly refers to a collection of optical components that are carefully arranged and aligned to perform a...
Pockels cellA Pockels cell, also known as an electro-optic modulator, is an optical device used to control the polarization of light by...
spherochromatismA lens aberration. The chromatic variation of spherical aberration.
gray levelsIn image processing, machine vision and television, discrete brightness values quantized for a group of pixels. They can...
laser active elementsLaser active elements typically refers to the substances or materials within a laser system that play a critical role in the...
reagentA reagent is a substance or compound that is used in a chemical reaction to bring about a specific transformation or to...
chemical vapor deposition equipmentChemical vapor deposition (CVD) equipment refers to a class of specialized apparatus used in the process of chemical vapor...
ion-beam sputteringIon-beam sputtering (IBS) is a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique used for depositing thin films onto substrates. It...
achromatic lensA lens consisting of two or more elements, usually of crown and flint glass, that has been corrected for chromatic...
bending of light1. That action occurring when light passes through an optical interface at other than normal incidence, i.e., refraction. 2....
circular dichroism spectroscopyA type of spectroscopy used extensively in the analysis of biological samples. Because most biologically synthesized...
ring-laser gyroscopeA ring laser gyroscope (RLG) is a type of gyroscope that uses laser light to detect and measure changes in orientation. It...
Fraunhofer hologramA far-field pattern holographically reproduced image that is categorically considered with three-dimensional lensless...
Liebmann effectThe visual perception of contrasting forms is more difficult if the forms have the same luminance but different...
transverse pumpingThe laser pumping that exhibits an advantage over longitudinal pumping in that the threshold pump power density can be...
optical gateAn optical gate typically refers to a device or system that controls the transmission of light, allowing it to pass through...
residual blueThe optical phenomenon in which white light dispersed by small particles in suspension appears blue when viewed through a...
digital cameraA digital camera is a device that captures and records still images or video in digital format. Unlike traditional film...
chroma1. Attribute of a visual sensation that permits a judgment to be made of the amount of pure chromatic color present. 2. The...
Pellin-Broca prismA form of dispersing prism, often used in monochromators, that consists of a common right-angle prism with a 30°...
four-level laserA solid-state laser consisting of active atoms or ions of a transition metal, rare-earth metal or actinide, imbedded in a...
laser opticsLaser optics refers to a broad category of optical components and systems designed for manipulating and controlling laser...
marginal raysAlso referred to as the axial ray (or a-ray), a marginal ray originates from the axial point of the object and passes...
gainAlso known as amplification. 1. The increase in a signal that is transmitted from one point to another through an amplifier....
optical fiber optic switchesOptical fiber optic switches are devices used in optical fiber communication systems to selectively route optical signals...
iris diaphragmA mechanical device designed to smoothly vary the effective diameter of a lens, thereby controlling the amount of light...
Faraday rotationThe effect discovered by Faraday in 1845 whereby nonoptically active materials or substances become capable of rotating the...
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...
modulatorA modulator is a device or component that modifies a carrier signal in order to encode information for transmission over a...
custom opticA custom optic refers to an optical component that is designed, manufactured, and tailored to meet specific requirements or...
whole slide imagingWhole slide imaging (WSI), also known as virtual slide microscopy or digital pathology, is a technology that involves the...
synchronous transmissionA mode of transmission whereby the sending and receiving stations operate continuously at a fixed relationship of phase and...
high-speed motion cameraA high-speed motion camera, also known as a high-speed camera or slow-motion camera, is a specialized imaging device...
orthochromatic filmBlack and white film that is sensitive to green, blue and violet light but not to red light.
scanning tunneling microscopeA high-resolution imaging instrument that can detect and measure the positions of individual atoms on the surface of a...
color holographyThe recording of three or more separate holograms having a different color on a medium, so that illumination with a tricolor...
ultraviolet lensA lens intended for use with wavelengths shorter than about 380 nm. It must be made of quartz, calcium fluoride, lithium...
gratingA framework or latticework having an even arrangement of rods, or any other long narrow objects with interstices between...
additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a manufacturing process that involves creating three-dimensional...
aplanatic surfaceAn aplanatic surface is an optical surface that is specifically designed or shaped to minimize spherical aberration and...
chief rayThe ray that passes through the center of the aperture stop in an optical system. It often is called the principal ray of an...
mode-locked lasersMode-locking is a technique used in lasers to produce ultrashort pulses of light with durations on the order of picoseconds,...
precision apertureAn accurately produced hole of any size and shape that is used as a masking device in an optical system. Pinhole apertures...
sputtering targetA sputtering target is a solid material used in the process of physical vapor deposition (PVD), specifically sputtering....
skew rayAny ray through an optical system that is not a meridional ray. The plane created by a refracted skew ray does not contain...
aerocartographyThe creation of topographical maps and charts from a stereographic record produced through the overlapping of consecutive...
flowmeterA flowmeter is a device used to measure the flow rate or quantity of a fluid passing through a particular point in a system....
Munsell Book Of ColorA collection of color samples arranged in charts according to equal visually spaced steps in Munsell hue, value and chroma.
fiber optic spectrometerA fiber optic spectrometer is a device used for measuring the spectral content of light. It utilizes optical fibers to...
structural colorStructural color refers to coloration in materials that is not caused by pigments or dyes but is instead a result of the...
chromaticityThe qualities of color associated with hue and saturation, but not brightness or lightness.
planar access couplerLow-insertion-loss fiber coupler fabricated from a sheet of light-sensitive material laminated onto a fused quartz substrate...
electron-beam film scanningThe method by which photographic film is scanned by an electron beam. One technique uses the uniform light of a television...
Schmidt cameraA camera that consists of a concave spherical mirror with an aspheric plate situated at the center of curvature of the...
piezoresistancePiezoresistance is a phenomenon in materials science and physics where the electrical resistance of a material changes in...
electro-optic modulatorAn electro-optic modulator (EOM) is a device used to modulate the amplitude, phase, or polarization of light waves using an...
crystallized glassGlass of special composition that is melted, formed into desired shapes, and subjected to a high-temperature treatment in...
flow cytometryFlow cytometry is a powerful technique used in biology and medicine for the quantitative analysis of the physical and...
reflective spectroscopyReflectance spectroscopy is a technique used to analyze the reflective properties of materials across various wavelengths of...
etalonAn etalon is an optical device that consists of two parallel reflecting surfaces separated by a precise and known distance....
adjacency effectWith respect to photography, the change in the density-exposure relations, for small details of the photographic image, that...
depth of fieldThe distance, on either side of the object plane focused on, through which satisfactory image definition can be obtained....
white lightLight perceived as achromatic, that is, without hue.
Johansson geometryA design for bent crystal monochromators in which spacing is constant along any circular arc terminating at the two foci and...
microRNAMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, single-stranded RNA molecules, typically consisting of about 19 to 24 nucleotides,...
fluorescent proteinFluorescent proteins are proteins that exhibit the property of fluorescence, which is the ability to absorb light at a...
triangulationA method of measuring distance by recording a single scene from two points of perspective. Surveying instruments can be...
chromaticnessThe sensations of hue and saturation, taken together, but not brightness or lightness.
laser surgeryLaser surgery refers to a medical procedure in which a laser, or focused beam of light, is used as a precision tool to cut,...
high-content screeningAlso known as HCS, an analytical method designed to collect statistically relevant amounts of quantitative data on many...
infrared signal generatorA device that combines electronic and optical techniques to form a monitored infrared signal between 1 and 14 µm. It...
dialytic telescopeA telescope that corrects dispersion and spherical aberration through the use of one or more lenses, usually smaller than...
spectroheliographAn instrument in which an image of the sun is scanned by the entrance slit of a monochromator, the exit slit simultaneously...
Munsell chromaNumerical scale of chroma devised by A.H. Munsell and exhibited in the Munsell Book of Color.
chiralityChirality is a property of certain molecules and objects in which they are non-superimposable on their mirror images. In...
Maddox rodLenslike composition of stacked glass cylinders through which a spot of light appears as a streak perpendicular to the...
magnonA magnon is a quasiparticle representing a quantized spin wave in a magnetic material. In other words, it is a collective...
GaN-based LEDsGallium nitride-based light-emitting diodes (GaN-based LEDs) are semiconductor devices that emit light when an electric...
back-wall photovoltaic cellA photovoltaic cell designed so that light travels through the front electrode and a semiconductor before it comes to the...
event-based sensorAn event-based image sensor, also known as a dynamic vision sensor (DVS), is a type of digital imaging device designed to...
micropitA laser-induced scar on experimental bare glass surfaces usually attributable to threshold damage and indicative of isolated...
cross wireFine lines, wires or threads used in the focal plane of many optical instruments to point out and locate particular objects...
aplanatic pointsAplanatic points refer to specific points in an optical system where certain aberrations, such as spherical aberration or...
microscopyMicroscopy is a scientific technique that involves the use of microscopes to observe and study objects that are too small to...
flow cameraAn automatic camera that can record reduced images of documents at a rate of up to 30,000 documents per hour by having the...
selective laser meltingSelective laser melting (SLM) is an additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that belongs to the powder bed...
Jamin refractometerAn instrument designed to measure the index of refraction of a gas by the interference patterns formed by two beams, one of...
laser anemometryThe process by which laser emission is used in measuring fluid velocity and, more specifically, the detection of air and...
apochromatAn apochromat, often referred to as an apochromatic lens or apochromatic objective, is a type of optical system designed to...
nonlinear optical detectorA type of radiation detector designed to recognize nonlinear optical effects, such as the Raman effect, by means of a...
blue diode laserA blue diode laser is a type of semiconductor laser that emits light in the blue wavelength range of the electromagnetic...
ultraviolet reflectanceUltraviolet reflectance refers to the ability of a material or surface to reflect UV light. Ultraviolet light is...
color televisionA television system that is capable of producing an image whose colors approximate the colors of the original, by the use of...
infrared light-emitting diodeAn infrared light-emitting diode (IR LED) is a semiconductor device that emits infrared light when an electric current...
near-infrared cameraA near-infrared (NIR) camera is an imaging device designed to capture images in the near-infrared region of the...
comparator1. An eyepiece or magnifier with a scale at its image plane. That scale is placed in contact with an object, permitting...
attosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopyAttosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopy (APAP) is an advanced technique in ultrafast spectroscopy that allows...
CoaXPressCoaXPress (CoaXPress or CXP) is a standardized digital interface and communication protocol used primarily in machine vision...
modulation frequencyRate at which optical radiation or a signal is varied through the use of a mechanical or electronic chopper. Also called...
Maxwell triangleA diagram used to represent the trichromatic variables of the components in a three-color combination.
neon tubeAn electron tube containing neon gas that uses the transmission of an electric current through the gas to ionize the neon...
cinesextantAn optical instrument used to track and image a test vehicle (target) throughout its flight. The cinesextant frequently...
cordA threadlike inclusion within a blank of optical glass. Rarely found in quality optical materials.
dichroismDichroism refers to the property of certain materials to exhibit different colors or absorbance of light depending on the...
microstereoscopeA binocular microscope designed for the viewing of stereo pairs. As these stereoscopic image pairs are seen through a...
chronophotographyThe photographic recording of an action by taking a series of still pictures at regular intervals throughout the action.
glass annealing furnaceA furnace, generally electrically heated, with a control system capable of following a cam by which the temperature can be...
dye laserA laser using a dye solution as its active medium. Its output is a short pulse of broad spectral content and its achievable...
gradient-index profileThe term gradient-index profile refers to a specific type of refractive index distribution within an optical material. In...
optical coatingsOptical coatings are thin layers of materials applied to optical components, such as lenses, mirrors, filters, and prisms,...
chromatic dispersion
dispersion filterA complex filter that uses polarization and interference to transmit light that is nearly monochromatic.
diverging lensA diverging lens is a type of lens that causes parallel rays of light to spread out or diverge. It is thinner in the center...
meniscus anastigmatAn anastigmatic lens with a thick meniscus construction that flattens the field and corrects chromatic and spherical...
polychromatism
resistance heaterA crucible made of electrically resistive material through which a current is passed to heat the material inside, which then...
GRIN lensA GRIN (gradient index) lens is a type of optical lens that utilizes a gradient in refractive index across its volume rather...
surface-emitting laser diodeA semiconductor laser diode that emits light perpendicular to the active region. The output radiation is taken through the...
alexandriteA host crystal for chromium that emits pulsed or continuous-wave laser light, tunable from about 720 to 790 nm.
diaphragmA flanged or plain ring with a restricted aperture, located in an optical system at any of several points, that cuts off...
grapheneGraphene is a two-dimensional allotrope of carbon consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal...
split fieldThe field of view seen through some types of coincidence rangefinders. It is formed by the juxtaposition of opposite halves...
panchromatic photographic filmBlack and white film that has a wavelength sensitivity similar to that of the eye.
xenon arc photocoagulatorAn instrument for eye surgery that directs intense xenon arc light through the transparent cornea lens to the retina where...
harmonic generationHarmonic generation refers to a nonlinear optical process in which incoming photons interact with a material and produce new...
panchromatic sensitivityColor sensitivity extended to cover the entire visible spectrum out to the red.
aspheric mirrorAn aspheric mirror is an optical mirror surface that deviates from the shape of a perfect sphere, having a non-spherical...
optical coherence tomographyOptical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique used in medical and scientific fields to capture...
refracting prismA prism that often is used as a dispersing element in spectrographs and monochromators.
3D laser line profile sensorA 3D profile sensor, also known as a 3D profiling sensor or 3D depth sensor, is a technology that is used to capture and...
Rogovsky coilConductor element for use in integrated electro-optic systems that measures current flowing through it.
motion controllerIn optics, a motion controller refers to a device or system that precisely controls the movement of optical components, such...
image enhancement laserA semiconductor platelet laser that emits a coherent image by means of plane optical pumping over the platelet surface, and...
metasurfacesMetasurfaces are two-dimensional arrays of subwavelength-scale artificial structures, often referred to as meta-atoms or...
tristimulus valuesThe values of the three standard or matching stimuli necessary to provide a match with the light under trial, in a specified...
synchronous pumpingThe technique of generating ultrashort -- down to subpicosecond -- pulses by pumping a dye laser with mode-locked laser...
reference pointThe point of a chromaticity diagram that represents the chromaticity of a reference stimulus.
rare-earth elementsRare-earth elements (REEs) are a group of seventeen chemical elements found in the Earth's crust, characterized by their...
primary chromatic aberrationAlso referred to as primary color, this is the classic chromatic aberration of a single element caused by the variation of...
moiré topographyContour mapping technique that involves positioning a grating close to an object and observing its shadow on the object...
lateral colorLens aberration resulting in image size variation as a function of wavelength. See also chromatic aberration.
photon drag detectorAn infrared detector in which radiation passes through a doped germanium crystal, creating a voltage drop that can be...
magnetically focused image tubeA vacuum tube in which a magnetic field is superimposed onto the tube's electrical field. When the two fields are aligned,...
optically active materialA material that can rotate the polarization of light that passes through it. An optically active material exhibits different...
tessar lensA lens similar to the Cooke triplet anastigmat, with the rear crown achromatized for improved coverage and definition. It is...
photorefractive keratectomyA surgical procedure for correcting vision by reshaping the outer surface of the cornea through the use of a laser system.
phase-modulated sensorA phase-modulated sensor is a type of sensor that uses modulation of the phase of a signal to measure changes in a physical...
internal transmittanceThe ratio of the radiant power transmitted to the second surface of a medium to the corresponding radiant power that has...
nonselective radiatorAlso known as a gray body; a nonselective radiator is a thermal radiator that has a constant spectral emissivity with...
custom lapping and polishing servicesCustom lapping and polishing services involve specialized processes used to improve the surface finish and dimensional...
light-emitting diodeAn LED, or light emitting diode, is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs...
polarization-preserving fiberSingle-mode fiber that preserves the plane of polarization of the light launched into it as the beam propagates through its...
texelA contraction for "texture element." A base unit used in computer graphics that defines the surface of three-dimensional...
deformation constantAny of the constants that relate the tendency of the director to remain parallel to restoring torques throughout the media....
Huygenian eyepieceAn ocular having two planoconvex lenses that are formed from similar glass and that are separated by a space equal to half...
coherent fiber bundleA coherent fiber bundle (CFB), also known as a coherent fiber optic bundle, is an assembly of multiple optical fibers...
mass spectrographA device that uses electromagnetic fields to separate electrically charged particles according to their masses. As a beam of...
brightfieldBrightfield refers to a type of microscopy and imaging technique in which the specimen is illuminated with a white light...
step responseThe observed time dependence of the transmittance of a step of radiation through a given medium.
basebandThe simplest method of transmission on a local area network. The entire bandwidth of the cable is used to transmit a single...
ruby laserThe optically pumped, solid-state laser that uses sapphire as the host lattice and chromium as the active ion. The emission...
polychromatic acousto-optic modulatorA crystal-based device that combines and adjusts the intensities of multiple wavelengths of laser light in order to obtain...
optical design and engineering servicesOptical design and engineering services involve the development, customization, and optimization of optical systems and...
polymerPolymers are large molecules composed of repeating structural units called monomers. These monomers are chemically bonded...
bandpassThe range of frequencies that will pass through a filter or other device. Synonymous with passband.
synchrotronA synchrotron is a type of particle accelerator that uses magnetic fields to steer charged particles, typically electrons or...
tangential distortionOptical aberration such that image magnification varies with ray distance from the optical axis in a radial distortion.
proximity effectThe underexposure caused by the diffraction of light passing through small openings spaced closely together in masks used in...
spectral flow cytometrySpectral flow cytometry is an advanced flow cytometry technique that expands the capabilities of traditional flow cytometry...
parallel scanningParallel scanning refers to a method of acquiring data or images simultaneously from multiple sources or in parallel, rather...
computer visionComputer vision enables computers to interpret and make decisions based on visual data, such as images and videos. It...
novelty filterA filtering device that detects what is new in a scene of interest. Often compared to that of a temporal high pass filter,...
liquid gateAn immersion liquid used to treat polarizing filters to eliminate the effects of surface variations and to minimize the...
Kubelka-Munk theoryA two-flux theory in which the radiation is assumed to be composed of two oppositely directed radiation fluxes through a...
multi-axis alignmentMulti-axis alignment refers to the process of aligning or adjusting components or systems in multiple spatial dimensions or...
acoustical holographyThe optical reconstruction of image information contained in a sound field. First the diffraction pattern, formed by an...
resonatorA resonator is a device or system that exhibits resonance, which is a phenomenon that occurs when an external force or...
mode filterA device used in measuring the attenuation of multimode optical fibers. A short reference length of fiber when combined with...
transverse chromatic aberrationAn alternate term for lateral chromatic aberration. See chromatic aberration.
electrostatic analyzerA device that permits only electrons within a narrow velocity range to pass through it, while rejecting those above and...
optical extentMathematically defined as the product of etendue (or throughput) and the square of the refractive index, the optical extent...
tetragonalWith respect to crystals, having three mutually rectangular axes, only two of which are equal.
laser texturingLaser texturing is a manufacturing process that involves using a laser beam to selectively modify the surface of a material,...
chromatic adaptationChange of sensitivity of the eye leading to changed color perception.
astronomical telescopeAn astronomical telescope is a type of optical instrument designed to gather and magnify light from distant celestial...
right-angle prismA type of 45-90-45° prism used to bend a beam of light through a right angle with the surfaces forming the 90° angle...
thermal interface materialsThermal interface materials (TIMs) are substances or compounds used to enhance the thermal conductivity between two surfaces...
sample pointOn a chromaticity diagram, the point that denotes the chromaticity sample.
aperture diaphragmThe second adjustable iris diaphragm in an optical system. In the common microscope condenser system, it usually is located...
nonlinear optical materialsNonlinear optical materials are substances that exhibit optical properties that are not linearly proportional to the...
sapphire crystalSapphire crystal refers to a transparent, single-crystal form of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) known as corundum. It is one of the...
light pipeTransparent matter that usually is drawn into a cylindrical, pyramidical or conical shape through which light is channeled...
cut planeIn computer graphics, intersection of a plane with a three-dimensional object to create a sectional view.
probe cardA probe card is a testing device used in the semiconductor manufacturing industry to evaluate and test the electrical...
liquid crystal eyewearA wireless stereo imaging device used in conjunction with a monitor to produce a virtual interactive environment. Liquid...
biocularA term pertaining to devices (generally optical) designed for use with both eyes viewing through a single exit pupil. The...
effective data rateA characterization of the throughput performance of data storage systems; the EDR is the total of data retrieved divided by...
metalensA metalens, short for "metasurface lens," is a type of optical lens that uses nanostructured materials to manipulate light...
ductingPropagation of electromagnetic waves through the Earth's atmosphere in a path that conforms to the curvature of the Earth...
phase contrast microscopyPhase contrast microscopy is an optical microscopy technique that enhances the contrast of transparent and colorless...
organic light-emitting diodeAn organic light-emitting diode (OLED) is a type of light-emitting diode (LED) technology that utilizes organic compounds to...
dielectric cylindrical waveguideA waveguide made up of a dielectric material, such as plastic or mica, in a cylindrical form, through which the waves travel.
surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopySurface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an analytical technique that combines the principles of Raman spectroscopy...
photoelectric colorimeterA system having a photoelectric detector for the measurement of three quantities related by linear combination to...
ultrashort-pulse laserA laser capable of generating light pulses that last only a few femtoseconds. This can be achieved by nonlinear filtering to...
detector arrayA detector array refers to a collection of individual detector elements arranged in a two-dimensional grid or matrix format....
blackbody sourceA blackbody source, often simply referred to as a blackbody, is a theoretical or practical physical object that absorbs all...
Abney effectThe alteration and reduction of color with the addition of white light. The perceived color shift that occurs as the...
electron multiplication charge-coupled device cameraAn EMCCD (electron-multiplying charge-coupled device) camera is a type of scientific camera specifically designed for...
magnetic rotation spectroscopyTechnique in which the polarization rotation of light, and its relationship to the magnetic field strength can be analyzed...
optical densityA measure of the transmittance through an optical medium. Optical density equals the log to the base 10 of the reciprocal of...
luminous exitanceThe total luminous flux given out per unit area; i.e., the sum of the luminous emittance and any radiation that is reflected...
lamp housingA device designed to concentrate and direct a light source by enclosing the source in it and using a concave reflector to...
BCS theoryBardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory of superconductivity, based on the notion that electrons with opposite momentum and spin...
thermochromic materialA material that changes color as it is heated or cooled.
axisA straight line, real or imaginary, passing through a body and indicating its center; a line so positioned that various...
emulsion speedThe sensitivity of a photographic emulsion when exposed to light, provided that the film is developed through a standard...
injection moldingA method of producing high-quality plastic optics in large volumes by injecting the heated, liquified plastic at high...
ternaryMade up of three components; for instance yttrium, aluminum and garnet (YAG).
process lensA lens that is symmetrical and designed to work between 1:1 and about 4:1. It covers a field of about ±20° at f/8...
inside vapor-phase oxidationA method that produces low-loss optical fibers. A glass tube rotates while reactants pass through the tube and heat is...
binocular thresholdThe absolute luminance threshold for detection by the two eyes.
photolithographyPhotolithography is a key process in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices, integrated circuits, and...
secondary chromatic aberration
computer numerically controlled grindingComputer numerically controlled (CNC) grinding is a manufacturing process that utilizes computerized controls and precision...
cesium vapor lampA lamp that emits light as the result of the passage of an electrical current through ionized cesium vapor.
binary opticsOptical elements, often created by micromachining, lithography or vacuum deposition, that rely on diffraction of the...
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...
differential interference contrast microscopyDifferential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy, also known as Nomarski interference contrast microscopy, is an optical...
infrared instrumentAny of the photoelectric and thermal detectors, spectrographs and monochromators, thermographs, scanners, amplifier tubes,...
straight-path approximationThe determination of axially symmetric and asymmetric refractive-index distributions by use of interferometry carried out on...
atmospheric attenuationThe reduction in luminance of a light beam due to absorption and scattering as it passes through the atmosphere.
laser powder bed fusionLaser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a type of additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that uses a high-power...
diamond-turned opticDiamond turning refers to a precision machining process used to produce complex optical components, particularly lenses and...
halogen lampA halogen lamp, also known as a tungsten halogen, quartz-halogen, or quartz iodine lamp, is an incandescent lamp that uses a...
time smearThe elongation of a transmitted data pulse through a fiber optic due to the chromatic dispersion of the fiber material.
MSM photodiodeA metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodiode is a type of photodetector that consists of metal electrodes on a semiconductor...
lenticular color photographyA type of additive color photography using a lenticular structure impressed on a film base and a camera lens with a filter...
cross dispersionRecombination of only the light that is correctly dispersed by the first stage of a polychromator through its wide...
photoelectric readerAn input device for a computer that detects and reads the data, in the form of punched holes in cards, by light that is...
threshold1. In visual perception, the minimum value of stimulus that can be perceived on the average. 2. In optical detection...
donpishaA type of asynchronous shutter device that is used particularly in CCD sensor applications to capture an image of a...
Malus's lawA law that uses the square of the cosine between the plane of polarization of a beam of plane-polarized light and the plane...
thin filmA thin layer of a substance deposited on an insulating base in a vacuum by a microelectronic process. Thin films are most...
optical workThe degree to which the surface of a lens causes an incident ray of light to bend, or the amount of convergence or...
mercury vapor light sourceA lamp that has mercury in a tube or bulb that has first been evacuated. The electricity travels through the vapor between...
ospinOpsins are a group of light-sensitive proteins found primarily in the retinas of vertebrate and invertebrate eyes, as well...
Bose-Einstein condensateA Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) is a state of matter that forms at temperatures close to absolute zero. It is named after...
Murty interferometerA form of shearing interferometer that contains a simple wedged (plane-parallel) glass plate with a nonzero optical path...
saturation1. The decrease of the absorption (or gain) coefficient of a medium near some transition frequency when the power of the...
flareNonimage-forming light, concentrated or diffuse, that is transmitted through the lens to the image. It is frequently the...
Weissenberg methodThe Weissenberg method, named after the German physicist Karl Weissenberg, is a technique used in x-ray crystallography for...
polygonal mirrorA polygonal mirror, also known as a multifaceted mirror or facet mirror, is a type of optical component used in various...
Judas opticsA small defocused Galilean telescope mounted in a hole in a door. Viewed from inside through the positive lens, a wide-angle...
orthorhombicHaving three unequal angles perpendicular to each other.
stereoscopyThe array of methods used in the transmission and reception of pictures and images with a three-dimensional appearance.
PockelsIn optics, the Pockels effect refers to the phenomenon where the refractive index of a material changes in response to an...
averaged threshold receiverA receiver for optical communications systems consisting of a symmetric binary, pulse-code-modulated transmitter, a...
allochromyAny fluorescence in which the wavelength of the emitted light differs from that of the absorbed light.
optical combinerAn optical combiner, in the context of optics and display technologies, refers to a device or component that combines...
intensified charge-coupled device cameraAn intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) camera is an advanced imaging device that combines the capabilities of both an...
jitter1. In relation to cathode-ray tube displays, errors in the signal's amplitude, phase or both that result in small, rapid...
twisted nematic phaseA form of liquid crystal widely used in displays, achieved by sandwiching a liquid crystal material between two substrates...
distortionA general term referring to the situation in which an image is not a true-to-scale reproduction of an object. The term also...
polarimetryThe measurement of the rotation of the plane of polarization of radiant energy, usually through the use of a polarimeter.
Callier effectThe selective scattering of light as it passes through a diffusing medium.
plasma acceleratorA plasma accelerator is a type of particle accelerator that uses electric fields and magnetic fields to accelerate charged...
photomultiplier tubeA photomultiplier tube (PMT) is a highly sensitive vacuum tube that detects and amplifies low levels of light. It is widely...
radiationThe emission and/or propagation of energy through space or through a medium in the form of either waves or corpuscular...
Rayleigh scatteringRayleigh scattering is a phenomenon that occurs when light waves interact with particles or molecules that are much smaller...
near-infrared spectroscopy cerebral oximetryA monitoring technique used to measure the oxygen saturation levels in the brains of patients, commonly in operating room...
anisophotic sourceA light source that emits an uneven distribution of radiant energy through the visible range.
triadIn a color cathode-ray tube, a grouping of three color dots (red, blue and green) that represent one pixel in the final...
infrared mappingThe process of mapping the infrared emittance of an area through the use of an infrared detector and related scanning...
wide-angle distortionA common aberration in lenses covering large fields of view; it results in images of objects near the edge of the field...
chromascopeAn instrument designed to analyze the optical effects of color.
stringWavy transparent line in a sheet of glass appearing as though a thread of glass had been incorporated into the sheet.
holographic interferogramThe three-dimensional interference pattern of fringes that is recorded on a holographic plate to facilitate the study of a...
phase-contrast microscopeA microscope that has an annular stop in the lower focal plane of the condenser, and a quarter-wave retarding and absorbing...
Fechner ratioThe differential luminance threshold divided by the luminance.
quantum dot light-emitting diodeQuantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) is a display technology that utilizes quantum dots, which are semiconductor...
Monte Carlo simulationSimulation of radiative transfer in which each photon is generated by a source and its path through the medium is...
Nicol prismA prism invented by William Nicol in 1828 that is made of calcite, the end faces of which are ground to an angle of 68°...
metaboliteA metabolite is any small molecule that is a product of metabolism, the chemical processes that occur within living...
entrance slitThe entrance slit, also known simply as the slit, is an essential component in optical instruments such as spectrometers and...
color-defective visionSituation in which the observer requires fewer than three independent stimuli to make color matches. Dichromats require only...
holographic gratingA holographic grating is a type of diffraction grating that is produced using holographic recording techniques. It consists...
burn-throughA detector's ability to sense an object on the opposite side of a thin but opaque barrier such as cardboard.
partial coherence theoryTotally coherent radiation is produced by a purely monochromatic point source. In the real world the energy will have a...
irisThe adjustable membrane located just in front of the crystalline lens within the eye. The iris gives the eye its color. See...
fiber photometryAn optical recording technique that uses light source(s), a beamsplitting cube, light detector(s) and an optical fiber...
photon couplingThe coupling of two circuits by the use of a light pipe through which photons are transmitted.
tripletA lens assembly made up of three lens elements that may or may not be cemented.
microbendingIn optical fiber, sharp but microscopic curvatures that create local axial displacements of a few microns and spatial...
nematic phaseA form of liquid crystal with an appearance of moving, threadlike structures, particularly visible when observed in thick...
tomosynthesisA variation of tomography in which several photographs of a patient are taken at different angles, and back-projection of...
unmanned aerial vehicleAn unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without a human pilot onboard. UAVs are remotely...
virtual realityVirtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment or experience that can be...
dichroic polarizerA polarizer that consists of dichroic polarizing material embedded in a plastic sheet, and that transmits light that is...
nanotubeA nanotube, also known as a nanotubule or simply a tube-like structure, is a nanoscale cylindrical structure composed of...
principal rayThe ray of an oblique pencil beam that passes through the center of the pupils. It is the effective axis of the oblique...
halo1. The faintly hued ring that is seen to surround a light source viewed through fog or light clouds. The size of scattering...
integramA reflection hologram using multiple color lasers that integrates various graphical techniques to allow the display of...
back-illuminated CCDA CCD that has been reduced in thickness by etching so that light passes through the back layers of the CCD. This type of...
quantumThe term quantum refers to the fundamental unit or discrete amount of a physical quantity involved in interactions at the...
focal planeA plane (through the focal point) at right angles to the principal axis of a lens or mirror; that surface on which the best...
absolute luminance thresholdThe minimum value of luminance for vision. The value may vary with age as well as dark adaption period. (Measured range...
snooperscopeAn instrument used for viewing in low levels of illumination by means of infrared radiation. A high-aperture lens forms an...
stencil CRT image generationThe projection of the image beam by a cathode-ray tube through a mask, where it is deflected through the suitable character...
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...
optical phase distortionOptical phase distortion refers to a phenomenon where the phase of an optical wavefront is altered as it propagates through...
free-electron laserA free-electron laser (FEL) is a type of laser that generates coherent, high-intensity electromagnetic radiation by using a...
volume hologramA three-dimensional hologram.
point processingIn digital image processing, a subcategory of frame processing that transforms pixel brightness and contrast through use of...
Peltier coolerA Peltier cooler, also known as a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) or thermoelectric module, is a solid-state device that uses...
lasing thresholdThe lowest excitation power level at which a laser's output is mainly the result of stimulated emission rather than...
modulated grating hologramA computer-generated, phase-and-amplitude, off-axis hologram made by a multi-exposure technique that uses three computer...
stereolithographyA method of creating real three-dimensional models by using lasers driven by CAD software. In contrast to the normal...
dye transfer methodThe subtractive imbibing process of transferring color prints on paper whereby the dyes from three separately prepared...
superchromatic correctionCorrection of an optical system at four separate wavelengths. This correction, longitudinal and lateral, is possible with...
quasi-monochromatic lightSingle wavelength source with a larger linewidth often containing multiple longitudinal modes.
photonics contract manufacturingPhotonics contract manufacturing refers to the outsourcing of the production of photonics-related components, devices, or...
CCD cameraA CCD camera, or charge-coupled device camera, is a type of digital camera that utilizes a CCD image sensor to capture and...
Doppler principleThe theory established by Christian J. Doppler in 1842 that states that the rate of change in distance between a perceiver...
binocularDesignating any instrument in which both eyes can be used to view the image to achieve a stereoscopic effect, or merely to...
optical fiberOptical fiber is a thin, flexible, transparent strand or filament made of glass or plastic used for transmitting light...
telecentric lensThere are three types of telecentric lenses:
-Image-space telecentric lenses are those in which the aperture stop is...
threshold testIn laser damage testing, the exposure of many sites of a sample to different intensities of laser irradiation to discover...
turbidityTurbidity is a measure of the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by the presence of suspended particles. These...
mode1. The characteristic of how light propagates through a waveguide that can be designated by a radiation pattern in a plane...
plastic opticsPlastic optics refers to optical components or systems that are made from transparent plastic materials, as opposed to...
lens elementOne optical element of a multielement lens. See optical element.
column chromatographyThe chromatography method in which the stationary phase is supported in or on an inert packing in a column, through which...
color scannerAn instrument that uses a beam of light to scan a color transparency, and three differently filtered photosensors to record...
spectrum analyzerA scanning device used to cyclically tune through a given frequency range to determine the amplitude-frequency distribution...
single-walled carbon nanotubesReferred to as SWCNTs, these cylindrical nanostructures composed of a folded sheet of graphene can be used as near-infrared...
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...
Ritchey-Chretien telescopeA form of Cassegrain telescope having a concave hyperbolic primary and a convex hyperbolic secondary. This form permits the...
chronophotographThe continuous record containing the series of pictures formed by chronophotographic methods.
retina cameraA special-purpose camera used by ophthalmologists to photograph the retina of the eye. The optical system operates through...
cameraA light-tight box that receives light from an object or scene and focuses it to form an image on a light-sensitive material...
photomicrographic cameraA still or motion-picture camera designed to photograph through a microscope. Photomicrographic equipment usually contains a...
shadow mask tubeA type of color-generating cathode-ray tube that uses a shadow mask, a thin perforated electrode, located close to the...
chromaticHaving the property of color.
microscope objectiveThe lens located at the object end of a microscope tube. A wide range of objectives is available, including simple...
photonA quantum of electromagnetic energy of a single mode; i.e., a single wavelength, direction and polarization. As a unit of...
magnetic fluidA fluid having three components: a carrier fluid, magnetite particles suspended by Brownian motion and a stabilizer to...
incandescent lampA lamp that emits light when an electric current passes through a resistant metallic wire situated in a vacuum tube.
quantum wellA quantum well is a structure in quantum mechanics that confines particles, such as electrons or holes, in one spatial...
Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory
circulatorA passive device, having three or more ports, in which input light from one port is coupled only to the next sequential port...
Rayleigh interferometerA device that is used to determine the index of refraction of a gas or liquid through the interference patterns formed by...
photodiode detectorA photodiode detector is a semiconductor device that converts light into an electrical current. It operates based on the...
photoresistPhotoresist is a light-sensitive material used in photolithography processes, particularly in the fabrication of...
flow chemistryFlow chemistry, also known as continuous-flow chemistry, is a chemical manufacturing process where reactions take place in a...
light fidelityLiFi, short for light fidelity, is a wireless communication technology that utilizes visible light or infrared light to...
unipolarRefers to the transistors in which the working current flows through only one type of semiconductor material, either P-type...
dialyteAn airspaced achromatic doublet telescope objective.
optical centerThe point on the optical axis of a lens that is the image of the nodal points. For any bundle of rays passing through the...
monomerA molecule that has the ability to chemically combine with other molecules to form a polymer, hence being capable of being...
light diffusionLight diffusion refers to the process by which light is scattered or spread out in various directions as it interacts with a...
metallographic microscopeA specially designed microscope for observing the etched surface of a polished metal specimen. The specimen is often laid...
assist gasA gas, such as oxygen, that improves the speed and efficiency of a laser cutter or welder when applied to the work surface,...
viaIn integrated circuits, a pathway, hole, or other passage through the substrate.
molded lensA molded lens is an optical lens manufactured using a molding process, typically involving the shaping of a material, such...
GaAlAs laserA GaAlAs laser is a type of semiconductor laser diode that emits light in the near-infrared region of the electromagnetic...
germanium crystalGermanium crystal refers to a crystalline form of the element germanium (Ge), which is a metalloid and semiconductor...
laser diode moduleA laser diode module is a compact device that incorporates a laser diode, optics, and often other components into a single...
CMOS cameraA CMOS camera refers to an imaging device that employs a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor to...
Keplerian astronomical telescopeA simple form of astronomical telescope that uses a fixed objective and a focusable eyepiece. The objective forms an...
virtual histologyVirtual histology refers to the use of digital technology and computational methods to simulate or recreate histological...
carrier injectionCarrier injection refers to the process of introducing charge carriers (either electrons or holes) into a semiconductor...
drift curveA technique used in astronomy that requires a radio telescope to be directed at a point in the sky west of the object under...
focal powerIn a symmetrical optical system this is a measure of the influence of the system upon the focus of a pencil of rays passing...
rayA geometric representation of a light path through an optical device; a line normal to the wavefront indicating the...
Casimir forceThe Casimir force is a quantum phenomenon that results in an attractive force between two closely spaced uncharged...
fiber optic gyroscopeA fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) is a type of gyroscope that uses the interference of light waves to detect changes in...
broadband filterA broadband filter is an electronic or electromagnetic device designed to pass a range of frequencies or signals within a...
dichroic mirrorA dichroic mirror, also known as a dichroic beamsplitter or interference filter beamsplitter, is an optical device that...
Raman absorptionThe absorption of part of the photon energy by a molecule through which there is a slight energy change and the energy...
bipolarRefers to transistors in which the working current flows through two types of semiconductor material: N- and P-type. In...
gravitational lensThe effect of a powerful gravitational field on light traveling through the field. This effect is detectable in astronomical...
crystallogramThe photographic record of the diffraction pattern formed when x-rays pass through a crystal.
aerotriangulationIn aerial photography, the geometric method of indicating the three-dimensional location of ground points from a pair of...
genlockA device used to lock the internal synchronization generator of a television camera to an external source.
achromatic prismCemented prisms of differing refractive indices which refract incident light and, due to differing refractive indices, will...
red, green, blueRGB stands for red, green, blue, which are the primary colors of light used in additive color mixing. The RGB color model is...
electron opticsThe control of free electron movement through the use of electrical or magnetic fields, and use of this electron movement in...
binary thresholdingAn imaging technique that labels all gray pixels as either black or white before processing begins.
total image runoutImage displacement by a decentered lens, rotated on a chuck whose axis of rotation passes through the geometrical center of...
scintillation counterAn instrument designed to measure radiation indirectly through the use of several phosphors and a photomultiplier tube. The...
ultrasonic light diffractionThe optical diffraction spectra formed, or the method that produces them, when a light beam is transmitted through a...
point light source1. With respect to angular subtense, a source of light, such as a star, that is very small. In a lab, a point source may be...
Christiansen-effect filterA transparent powdered solid immersed in a liquid or plastic of similar refractive index but widely different dispersion;...
attenuatorAn electronic transducer, either fixed or adjustable, that reduces the amplitude of a wave without causing significant...
x-ray analysisThe series of processes used to identify and evaluate crystal structure by using crystalline solids to diffract x-rays. In...
modulated zone plateA zone plate produced by a computer and having a binary structure that can be etched into a chromium or quartz layer. It...
fiber optic cable assemblyA fiber optic cable assembly refers to a complete unit consisting of optical fibers, connectors, protective jackets, and...
prism chromatic resolving powerThe chromatic resolving power of a prism is invariably stated for the case in which parallel rays of light are incident on...
Sellmeier's equationAn equation that uses the wavelength of light passing through a medium, along with a set of coefficients, to calculate the...
split-image microscopeA mask-alignment microscope used to produce and inspect microcircuits in the electronics industry. It provides flat-field,...
atomic force microscopeAn atomic force microscope (AFM) is a high-resolution imaging and measurement instrument used in nanotechnology, materials...
monochromeMade up of a single color.
Coulomb scatteringThe scattering of charged particles, moving through matter, by the electrostatic force exerted by other charged particles.
tearingIn television, a lateral displacement of the lines from their normal position due to the instability of a synchronizing...
photocurrentThe current that flows through a photosensitive device, such as a photodiode, as the result of exposure to radiant power.
finderscopeA low-power telescope with a wide field of view, typically attached to a higher power telescope with a narrower field of...
outside vapor-phase oxidationA process for the production of optical fibers. A glass bait is rotated in a traversing flame of a reaction burner....
fiber optic preformA fiber optic preform is a cylindrical glass rod or tube used as the starting material for manufacturing optical fibers. It...
hot extrusionA method of manufacturing polycrystalline infrared-transmitting optical fiber by heating a single halide crystal billet and...
isochromaticHaving the same chromaticity or color.
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...
monochromatorA monochromator is an optical instrument used to isolate and select a narrow range of wavelengths from a broader spectrum of...
lens transmissionThe ratio of the intensities of a light bundle before and after passing through the lens.
nanostructured glassA unique glass made up of nano-structured materials to create millimeter sized monolithic glass space-variant polarization...
ultrasonic light modulatorAn instrument with a fluid that modulates a light beam traversing it because of the effect of ultrasonic waves passing...
lens mountThe metal tube that maintains the optical components of a lens in proper relationship. Some lenses are mounted in metal...
absolute purity thresholdLeast value of color value combinations which gives white light; minimum purity as determined to be white.
acousto-optic modulators and deflectorsAn acousto-optic modulator (AOM) is a device that utilizes the interaction between sound waves and light waves to modulate...
electron-beam recordingThe recording of the information contained in a modulated electron beam onto photographic or silicon resin-coated materials....
threshold contrastIn visual perception, the smallest difference in illumination perceived on the average.
adaptive opticsAdaptive optics (AO) is a technology used to improve the performance of optical systems by reducing the effects of...
levorotaryCharacterizes a substance whose plane of polarization is rotated counterclockwise as the observer looks through the material...
trichroismThe characteristic of displaying three colors when observed in as many separate directions.
dispersion-shifted fiberA dispersion-shifted fiber (DSF) refers to a type of optical fiber designed to minimize the effects of chromatic dispersion,...
open-dish methodA measurement method for reflectance by gas ionization in which light passes through a vapor before and after reflection....
optical nonlinearityThe phenomenon that makes nonlinear the mathematical expression for the electrical polarization of a medium through which...
quarter-wave plateA plate made of a double-refracting crystal having such a density that a phase difference of one-quarter cycle is formed...
synthetic interferometric imageAn imaging technique in which an object moving through an interference field formed in space scatters light and is spatially...
sonoradiographyThe diagnostic procedure that uses ultrasonic energy to probe the body and, with the help of laser beams, a reflecting...
pleochroismThe property exhibited by certain birefringent crystals in which the degree with which they transmit polarized light is...
lossy mediumA medium that scatters or absorbs radiation that passes through it.
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...
Seidel aberrationsSeidel aberrations refer to a set of monochromatic aberrations in optical systems, named after the German mathematician and...
Förster resonance energy transferFörster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a mechanism describing the transfer of energy between two closely spaced...
solid opticsOptical elements arranged with no spaces between, so that the light travels only through glass, not air.
distributed feedback laserA distributed feedback laser (DFB laser) is a type of semiconductor laser diode designed to emit coherent, narrow-bandwidth...
contrast thresholdThat contrast level that exists between two areas whose difference in brightness is just perceivable.
fluenceFluence is a term used in various scientific and technical disciplines to describe the amount of something per unit area....
electron-beam lithography systemAn electron-beam lithography (EBL) system is a sophisticated nanofabrication tool used in the semiconductor industry and...
liquid crystalLiquid crystals are a state of matter that exhibits properties intermediate between those of conventional liquids and solid...
electron micrographThe photographic recording of images produced by the electrons from an electron microscope. The electron beam carries the...
NTSC triangleThe triangle in a chromaticity diagram joining the chromaticities of the NTSC phosphors, and containing all chromaticities...
antireflection coatingAn antireflection coating (AR coating) is a thin film or coating applied to optical surfaces, such as lenses or windows, to...
grating beamsplitterA grating beamsplitter is an optical device that utilizes the principles of diffraction to split a beam of light into...
optical distanceThe physical length of the light path in a substance divided by the refractive index of that substance. See also equivalent...
near-infrared spectrometerA near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer is an analytical instrument used to measure the absorption, transmission, or reflection...
colorimeterA colorimeter is a device used to measure and quantify the color characteristics of an object or a light source. It provides...
hologramAn interference pattern that is recorded on a high-resolution plate, the two interfering beams formed by a coherent beam...
color spaceThe entire range of colors a specific color model can produce, represented as a three-dimensional solid.
Czochralski techniquePopular process for silicon and polycrystalline production that consists of an alteration of the original state of a...
Fourier imagesThe series of images formed when periodic objects are exposed to collimated monochromatic radiation and that result from...
quantum entanglementQuantum entanglement is a phenomenon in quantum mechanics where two or more particles become correlated to such an extent...
phase shiftingA technique used to generate a phase shift between reference and sample light beams. The phase shift can be performed...
gas filter correlationA technique for measuring the concentration of any gases. Identical infrared beams are alternately chopped, one passing...
triple mirrorAlso known as corner-cube reflector or retrodirective reflector. Three reflecting surfaces, perpendicular to each other,...
time-correlated single photon countingTime-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) is a technique used in photon counting applications, particularly in the...
facsimile synchronizingThe maintenance of the same scanning relationship between the transmitting scanning spot and receiving scanning spot for...
diaphragm shutterA shutter consisting of a ring of interweaving blades that open outward and allow light to pass when they are pivoted at...
liquid crystal on siliconLiquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) is a display technology that combines liquid crystal materials with silicon-based...
advanced driver assistance systemsAdvanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) refers to a set of safety features and technologies designed to assist drivers in...
PIN photodiodeA PIN photodiode is a type of photodetector or semiconductor device used to convert light signals into electrical signals....
optical density (photographic)The transmittance of a point on a photographic negative equal to the log to the base 10 of the reciprocal of the...
autofluorescenceAutofluorescence refers to the natural emission of fluorescence exhibited by certain biological structures or molecules when...
DIN systemThe logarithmic method of determining emulsion speeds developed by the German standards organization, Deutscher...
geosynchronous satelliteA man-made satellite that orbits 35,680 km from the Earth at a rate of one orbit per 24-hour period, thereby retaining its...
swept source optical coherence tomographySwept-source optical coherence tomography is an imaging technique used in medical diagnostics, particularly in...
microspectrophotometerA specialized spectrophotometer for use through a microscope on very small areas of an object.
rapid rectilinear lensA double meniscus system in which two achromatized meniscus lenses are arranged symmetrically on either side of the aperture...
RuticonA ruticon is an opto-electronic device in which light going through it can be modulated by an electric field.
The...
geometric phase shiftingA technique used to create an achromatic phase shift based on the principle of geometric phase. The phase shift is...
three-fiveReferring to compound semiconductor materials combining one element that has three valence electrons with one or more that...
conduction weldingA type of laser welding of thin materials using a defocused or low-power carbon dioxide laser beam. The energy is absorbed...
thresholdingThe process of defining a specific intensity level for determining which of two values will be assigned to each pixel in...
photovoltaic cellA photovoltaic cell, commonly known as a solar cell, is a semiconductor device that directly converts light energy into...
CMOS image sensorA CMOS image sensor, short for complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor image sensor, is a type of semiconductor device used...
Goldberg wedgeA neutral-colored gelatin wedge, cast between glass plates, that is used as an intensity scale in certain types of...
television monitorA television receiver that receives the signals generated by a television camera directly, or remotely through a radio...
reactive evaporationReactive evaporation refers to a process in thin-film deposition where a material is deposited onto a substrate through...
field of viewThe field of view (FOV) refers to the extent of the observable world or the visible area that can be seen at any given...
hueThe perceptual term for that aspect of color described by words such as red, yellow or blue. Achromatic colors, such as...
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...
maximum luminous reflectanceThe greatest luminous reflectance possible for a specified chromaticity.
sapphire optical fiberSapphire optical fiber is a type of optical fiber made from single-crystal sapphire, which is a form of aluminum oxide...
optical Fourier transformThe optical Fourier transform is a mathematical operation applied to optical signals that involves transforming a spatial...
passive-matrix OLED displayAn OLED display formed by creating an array of OLED pixels connected by intersecting anode and cathode conductors arranged...
thermal-infrared cameraA thermal-infrared camera, often referred to simply as a thermal camera, is a type of imaging device that detects infrared...
circular dichroismCircular dichroism (CD) is a spectroscopic technique used to study the structural characteristics of chiral (asymmetric)...
difference thresholdThe minimum of change in stimulation needed to effect an awareness of change in sensation that is statistically determined.
excitonAn exciton is a quasiparticle that represents the bound state of an electron and a hole in a solid-state material, typically...
slitAn aperture, usually rectangular in shape, with a large length-to-width ratio, and a fixed or adjustable shape through which...
photomaskA photomask, also known simply as a mask or reticle, is a key component in the photolithography process used in...
opticsOptics is the branch of physics that studies the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter...
frame rateFrame rate refers to the frequency at which consecutive images, or frames, are displayed in a video sequence. It is...
laser photocoagulatorOptical source intended to reduce bleeding as well as to abet wound or vessel healing through cauterization, used in eye...
allogyric birefringenceLeft- and right-hand circularly polarized beams that are produced at different velocities by passing plane-polarized light...
Er:YAG laserAn Er:YAG laser is a type of solid-state laser that uses a crystal made of erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet...
attenuationAttenuation refers to the gradual loss or reduction of intensity, force, or magnitude of a particular property as it...
optoacousticOptoacoustic, or photoacoustic, refers to a phenomenon and related techniques that involve the generation of acoustic waves...
holographic interferometryThe interferometric analysis of a complex object by utilizing the three-dimensional hologram. By causing a laser beam to...
birefringenceBirefringence is an optical property of certain materials that causes them to exhibit different refractive indices for light...
separation filtersThree filters used in making a color print of a color negative, red, green and blue-violet, respectively. Each filter...
cross sectionCalculation of the probability of an interaction between two types of particles, such as light absorption, excitation or...
flame photometerAny of a number of instruments that uses a flame to vaporize a solution of the chemical being analyzed so that light may be...
star topologyIn local area networking, arrangement of the satellite nodes around a central node through which all routing of network data...
clockA signal, generated by an oscillator, that provides the means of synchronization of operations in a data communications...
infrared opticInfrared optics refer to optical components and systems designed to manipulate and control infrared (IR) light, which lies...
asynchronous transfer modeA method of data multiplexing that can provide large, instantaneous bandwidths for busy traffic while permitting slow...
scattering coefficientThe portion of light scattered when traveling through a unit thickness of material.
spiculeA feature in the chromosphere of the sun formed by a jet of gas that reaches from the chromosphere into the corona and has...
Bohr's frequency relationThe law given by the formula:
that is, the frequency of radiation emitted or absorbed by a system when E2 and E1...
plane densitometerAn instrument designed to give precise and rapid detection of changes in tumor growth as well as the location of small...
calcium fluorideAn optical material used in place of crown glass to produce lenses with extraordinary correction of chromatic aberrations....
thin-film coatingThin-film coatings are layers of material applied to the surface of an object or substrate, typically to modify its optical,...
camera shutterAn apparatus, designed for use with a camera, that is used to rapidly open the path from lens to film, to maintain the...
haze factorThe ratio between the luminescence of an object and the luminescence of the scattering medium through which it is being...
polarizationPolarization refers to the orientation of oscillations in a transverse wave, such as light waves, radio waves, or other...
optical tweezersOptical tweezers refer to a scientific instrument that uses the pressure of laser light to trap and manipulate microscopic...
Czerny-Turner designA form of monochromator optical system consisting of two spherical concave mirrors used in conjunction with a movable...
fluorescent light sourceA tube containing mercury vapor and lined with a phosphor. When current is passed through the vapor the strong ultraviolet...
electron-gun systemAn electron-gun system is an assembly used to generate and control a focused beam of electrons. Electron guns find...
modulator crystalA nonlinear crystal used to modulate a polarized beam of light by means of the Pockels effect. A Pockels cell is used as a...
axial gradientIn gradient index optics, a gradient profile in which the refractive index varies along the direction of light propagation,...
phase maskIn optics and photolithography, a phase mask refers to a device that modifies the phase of light waves passing through it....
pointer eyepieceA Huygenian eyepiece containing a pointer at its focal plane that is used -- when viewing an object through the eyepiece --...
Nd:YAG laserNd:YAG laser refers to a solid-state laser that utilizes neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:Y3Al5O12) as the gain...
design and engineering consulting servicesDesign and engineering consulting services refer to professional services provided by specialized firms or individuals to...
eye test apparatusInstruments used by ophthalmologists and optometrists to study the eye. There are, for instance, the ophthalmoscope to...
lensA lens is a transparent optical device that focuses or diverges light, allowing it to pass through and form an image. Lenses...
metal componentAn accurate metal prism or plane parallel plate that is cemented to an optical element and remains with it during a series...
galvanoluminescenceThe emission of radiant energy produced by the passage of an electrical current through an appropriate electrolyte in which...
correlated color temperatureTemperature of the blackbody having chromaticity nearest to that of the test source on a specified chromaticity diagram.
echelle gratingA specialized form of diffraction grating consisting of assembled glass plates of equal thickness that resemble a flight of...
front porchIn communcations and video signals, the portion of a composite signal between the leading edge of the horizontal blanking...
ghost1. A faint second image caused by reflection that is sometimes seen when observing through an optical instrument. 2. With...
isochromatic lines1. Lines of the same color. 2. A term used in photoelastic stress analysis to refer to the interference fringes produced in...
crystalline axesThe axes of symmetry in a crystal structure. See also biaxial crystal; uniaxial crystal.
light throughput efficiencyThe fraction of incident light power in an optical modulator that is available to the output beam.
color correctionThe reduction in longitudinal, lateral and secondary chromatic aberrations in a lens or lens system.
fiber-based confocal luminescence microscopeA microscope in which laser light is delivered through single-mode fibers that replace the pinhole usually used in confocal...
electrolysisConduction of an electric current through a chemical compound in its natural state, solution or as a molten, to decompose...
dichroic coatingA dichroic coating, also known as a dichroic filter or dichroic mirror, is an optical coating designed to selectively...
infraredInfrared (IR) refers to the region of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths longer than those of visible light, but...
terahertz spectrometerA terahertz spectrometer is a scientific instrument used to measure and analyze the properties of materials in the terahertz...
microcombA microcomb, short for microresonator frequency comb, is a novel photonic device that generates a precise series of evenly...
powder cameraA camera system that uses a fine powder to diffract x-rays from the specimen. A beam of monochromatic x-rays passes through...
energy-sharing laserA laser that distributes its output power among two, three or four optical fibers simultaneously.
acoustophotorefractive effectThe change in refractive index that occurs as acoustic vibrations are transmitted through an optical material.The index...
nonradiative transitionA nonradiative transition refers to a process in which an electron or an atom undergoes a change in its energy state without...
distribution temperatureTemperature of the blackbody having a spectral power distribution approximately proportional to the test source at all...
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...
fluorochromeThe combination of the organic dye in a stained specimen and the antibodies produced that is detected by exposure to light.
cadmium linesThe three lines in the spectrum of cadmium that have the purest radiations and that were first used by Michelson to...
electric lampAny lamp whose emission of radiant energy is dependent upon the passage of an electrical current through the emissive medium.
modified chemical vapor depositionModified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) is a technique used in the fabrication of optical fibers. It is a specialized form...
optical filterAn optical filter is a device that selectively transmits or blocks specific wavelengths, or colors, of light. Optical...
attenuated total reflectance spectroscopyAttenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy is a technique used in analytical chemistry to obtain IR spectra of samples....
flying spot microscopeA microscope that uses a flying spot scanner, directed through the eyepiece, as a light source to determine the features of...
embedded laserThe term "embedded laser" typically refers to a laser device that is integrated or embedded into a larger system or...
x-ray lithographyA method of projecting integrated circuit patterns on a silicon wafer using x-ray wavelengths focused through a special mask.
colloidA particle that will not normally diffuse through animal or vegetable membrane. Larger than most inorganic compounds,...
optical tableAn optical table, also known as an optical bench or an optical breadboard, is a specialized platform used in optics...
zonal aberrationSpherical or chromatic aberration in a lens having a wide aperture. It is present because the refracting power varies for...
antiguideA waveguide that has a core with a lower refractive index than the refractive index of the cladding. This structure can...
correspondence theoryBohr's formulation that every new theoretical principle must correspond to the salient classical predecessor. The principle...
transmission electron microscopeA transmission electron microscope (TEM) is a powerful microscopy technique that uses a beam of electrons to create...
spectrosensitometerA sensitometer having a continuously controlled monochromator to measure spectral sensitivity and contrast of photographic...
complementary wavelengthAlso called complementary dominant wavelength. On a chromaticity diagram, the wavelength on the spectrum locus that lies on...
infrared detectorAn infrared detector is a device that is used to detect and measure infrared radiation, which lies beyond the visible...
infrared searchlightAn infrared source combined with reflecting projection optics to illuminate a target making it visible when observed through...
infrared light sourceAn infrared light source is a device that emits light in the infrared spectrum, which lies beyond the visible spectrum of...
electric-discharge lampA lamp that uses the transmission of an electric current through a gas or vapor to produce illumination. Neon, mercury and...
field1. In raster scan television, one of the two scans that are interlaced to make up a frame. 2. See field of view.
laser speckleSparkling granular pattern that is observed when an object diffusely reflects coincident laser light. Speckle appears as an...
fluoro-immunosensorA fiber optic device that uses a HeNe laser, beamsplitter, monochromator and photomultiplier to detect trace levels of...
soleil compensatorAn optical compensator similar to the Babinet compensator, but which produces a phase-change consistent throughout its...
laser-mediated gene transferLaser-mediated gene transfer refers to a technique in molecular biology and genetic engineering that utilizes lasers to...
concave and convex spherical mirrorConcave and convex spherical mirrors are types of curved mirrors that have surfaces shaped like segments of spheres. These...
Rockwell hardnessRockwell hardness (Rc) refers to a method for measuring the hardness of a material, primarily metals, using an indentation...
lens meridianA line passing through the center of a lens surface, from edge to edge.
photoelectric pyrometerAn instrument used to measure the temperature of a source through the use of photoelectric cells to detect and measure the...
kinoformLens which, by altering the phase, efficiently images through a holographic process.
threshold currentThe minimum driving current corresponding to lasing threshold at a specified temperature. (Ith).
fiber optic sensorA fiber optic sensor is a device that uses optical fibers to detect and measure physical, chemical, biological, or...
electron image tubeA cathode-ray tube that increases the brightness or size of an image or forms a visible image from invisible radiation. The...
fiber optic transceiverA fiber optic transceiver, often simply referred to as an "optical transceiver," is a device used in fiber optic...
four-wave mixingA phenomenon that occurs in WDM and DWDM systems when three closely spaced signal wavelengths near the zero-dispersion...
wedge spectrographA spectrograph in which the flux density transmitted through the entrance aperture is regulated by an optical wedge or...
micrometer1. The SI unit of length equal to 10-6 m. Also called micron. 2. A screw thread device used to make accurate physical linear...
actinicStimulating light used for the production of energy through photosynthesis, solar cell or other light senstitive device.
visibility meter1. An instrument used to determine the visual range in an environment. 2. A type of photometer that artificially reduces an...
auto-iris lensA device for automatic exposure control in which a motor-driven diaphragm adjusts the aperture in response to a signal from...
photochromatic compoundA chemical compound that exhibits a reversible change in its absorption spectrum upon irradiation with given wavelengths of...
optical glassOptical glass refers to a type of glass specifically engineered and manufactured for use in optical components and systems,...
scintillation phosphorA phosphor that has the ability to convert into light emission a portion of energy lost by ionization when a charged...
electrosensitive recordingA technique that uses the passage of an electrical current through a recording medium to produce a permanent image on that...
stereo compilationExtraction of three-dimensional measurements from a stereo pair of photographs.
beamsplitterA beamsplitter is an optical device for dividing a beam into two or more separate beams. A simple beamsplitter may be a very...
dichroic ratioThe ratio between two given absorption coefficients.
image brightnessThe apparent luminance of the image as seen through an optical system. This brightness of the image is determined by the...
edge enhancementIn image processing, any operation that strengthens information about the edges of objects displayed. Three types of spatial...
chromatic resolving powerThe ability of the instrument to separate wavelengths that are close together, numerically equal to the ratio of the shorter...
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...
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...
achromatAn achromat, in the context of optics, refers to a type of lens or lens system designed to reduce chromatic aberration....
neutral density coatingA coating applied to a neutral density glass that is designed to reduce the amount of light evenly across the transmitted...
pipelineIn image processing and elsewhere, generally an adjective to describe an assembly-line arrangement for performing a task....
maximum luminous efficiencyThe greatest luminosity possible for a specified chromaticity.
sonoptographyThe process whereby sound waves are employed to form a three-dimensional image of an object. The process involves generally:...
coelostatA plane mirror mounted on a polar axis that lies parallel to the plane of the mirror. When the mirror is rotated once in 48...
Debot effectThe conversion of an internal latent image into a surface latent image through exposure to infrared radiation. The converse...
dichroscopic eyepieceAn eyepiece used in a polariscope or polarizing microscope to give a comparison view of the same object under illumination...
electric dichroism spectroscopyThe use of a krypton laser system for the measurement of small molecules aligned by an electric field, by analyzing the...
metabolic imagingMetabolic imaging refers to the visualization and quantification of metabolic processes within living organisms, tissues, or...
linear image sensorA linear image sensor is a type of solid-state electronic device used to capture and convert light into electrical signals....
color facsimile transmissionThe transmission of a color photograph by separating the colors into varying intensities of red, blue and green, and then...
Porro prismA 45-90-45° reflecting prism whose surfaces form the 90° angle reflecting the light beam through a total angle of 180°. The...
scanning coherent slope microscopyMeasures by heterodyning interferometry the local slope of a vibrating sample. The method allows the reconstruction of a...
Young's two-slit interferenceThe method by which Thomas Young in 1802 disproved Newton's corpuscular theory of light by the formation of interference...
Petzval lensA high-speed, narrow-field lens consisting of two achromats spaced about the aperture stop. Its uses include portrait...
xenon flashtubeA high-intensity source of incoherent white light in which a capacitor is discharged through a tube of xenon gas; often used...
Abbe illuminationImage of a uniform source through the sample of a microscope image system. Light from the sample plane is reimaged by the...
thermal lensingDistortion of an optical component as a result of heat, which can influence the divergence and the mode quality of a beam...
bandgapIn semiconductor physics, the term bandgap refers to the energy range in a material where no electronic states are allowed....
syncAbbreviation of "synchronization.'' In television, the timing signals used to drive the scanning process. Horizontal...
spatially coherent radiationThe correlation of radiation between the phases of monochromatic radiation emanating from two separate points.
augmented realityAugmented reality (AR) is a technology that integrates digital information, typically in the form of computer-generated...
sun synchronousCharacterizes an Earth-orbiting satellite whose orbit plane is near polar and positioned at an altitude that allows it to...
pulse compressionA means of achieving higher peak powers and more efficient harmonic generation by narrowing the pulse width and thus...
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...
coringA mass-relieving method whereby material is removed through the sides of a reflector in a direction parallel to the surface....
angular spectrum approachThe angular spectrum approach is a mathematical and computational technique used in the field of optics to analyze and...
aberration sensor (wavefront sensor)Designed for the function of optical wavefront analysis. Shack-Hartmann camera aberration sensors use a lens array to image...
fluorophosphate glassA special laser glass made primarily of fluoride compounds that exhibits extremely low refractive index and allows greater...
polarimetric analysisThe determination of a substance's identity or quantity through the analysis of its optical rotation. For example, the...
cassetteA container designed to hold recording material (film, video- and audiotape) so that when it is loaded into a recording...
Gauss lensA telescope objective with excellent spherochromatic correction, consisting of a meniscus crown and a meniscus flint, both...
Cooper pairsThe coupled pairs of electrons that carry supercurrents through the body of a superconductor, relative to a coherent...
insertion lossThe total optical power loss caused by the insertion of an optical component such as a connector, splice or coupler into a...
three-level laserA laser having a material, such as ruby, that has an energy state structure of three levels: the ground state (1) wherein...
Munsell notationAlphanumerical description of color according to Munsell hue, value and chroma.
achromatismUse of achromatic design; the correction of chromatic aberration; without color or hue (grey, black and white)
linear positioning stageA linear positioning stage, also known as a linear stage or translation stage, is a precision mechanical device used to...
paraboloidal mirrorA concave mirror that has the form of a paraboloid of revolution. The paraboloidal mirror may have only a portion of a...
laser interferometerAn interferometer that uses a laser as its light source. The purely monochromatic nature of the laser results in improved...
card readerA system that generally uses a photodetector to decode punched cards for information, or for input to a computer, by sensing...
crimp sleeveA crimped metal cylinder that holds the connector to the cable through the cable's strength member.
semiconductorA semiconductor is a type of material that has electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator. In...
optical time-domain reflectometryA method for characterizing a fiber wherein an optical pulse is transmitted through the fiber, and the resulting light...
lay lengthIn a fiber optic cable, the longitudinal length required for the transmission media, wrapped around a central member, to...
telescope lensA telescope lens is a primary optical component of a telescope system that gathers and focuses light to form an image. It is...
simple magnifierA short focal length (less than five inches) positive lens used to produce a magnified image of the object being viewed....
maserAn acronym for microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Predecessor to the laser, the maser or...
bulk nonreciprocal deviceA device that functions throughout the continuous radiation of a linearly polarized plane wave, and whose nonreciprocity...
path-reversal principleThe criterion maintaining that if light follows a specific path through an optical system, it will, if reversed, traverse...
relative brightnessA figure of merit corresponding to the amount of light seen by a viewer through binoculars. A higher number indicates a...
hydrophilicHydrophilic is a term used to describe substances or materials that have an affinity for water. The word hydrophilic comes...
ray tracingRay tracing is a rendering technique used in computer graphics to simulate the way light interacts with objects in a scene....
synchronous detectorA detector sensitive only to signals close to or at a particular frequency that is the same as the frequency of a control...
magneto-optic shutterA type of high-speed photographic shutter that uses Faraday rotation to produce exposure times as fast as 1 microsecond. It...
extreme ultravioletExtreme ultraviolet (EUV) refers to a specific range of electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum....
rectilinear propagationStraight line travel. This denotes the fact that light travels in a straight line when traveling through a medium with a...
beam attenuatorA device designed to decrease flux density or power per unit area of a light beam through absorption and scattering of the...
Lummer-Gehrcke plateA high-resolution spectroscopic device commonly used in the early 20th century as a component of double-beam...
Joule-Thomson coolerA detector cooling device in which a gas under high pressure escapes through an expansion valve in the tank; as the escaped...
pathogenA pathogen is a biological agent, such as a virus, bacterium, fungus, protozoan, or parasite, that causes disease in its...
spectrophotometerA spectrophotometer is a scientific instrument used to measure the intensity of light at various wavelengths in the...
structured lightThe projection of a plane or grid pattern of light onto an object. It can be used for the determination of three-dimensional...
Christiansen effectThe monochromatic transparency effect produced by the immersion of a finely powdered substance (e.g., glass or quartz) into...
crystal opticsThe study of the transmission of radiant energy through crystals, especially anisotropic crystals, and their effects on...
fiber-coupled LEDA fiber-coupled LED (light-emitting diode) refers to an LED device that is optically coupled to an optical fiber for the...
recording cameraA type of camera that incorporates a tiny mirror that oscillates in accordance with incoming signals. An illuminated slit is...
polystyreneA plastic used in molded optical components. Styrene elements can be combined with acrylic elements to produce achromatic...
anaglyphAn image that can be studied three-dimensionally through a pair of complementary color filters composed of two superimposed...
delay distortionThe distortion created because the different frequencies of a signal have different propagation velocities through a medium.
Fabry-Perot fringesThe series of rings when monochromatic light passes through a Fabry-Perot interferometer.
measuring wedgeA wedge in a rangefinder or heightfinder used to displace the image produced by one telescope so that it coincides with that...
optical materialsOptical materials refer to substances or compounds specifically chosen for their optical properties and used in the...
photonic crystalsPhotonic crystals are artificial structures or materials designed to manipulate and control the flow of light in a manner...
monochromatic lightLight consisting of a single wavelength or a very narrow band of wavelengths.
adapter1. In optics, the housing, usually cylindrical, that contains the lenses and iris diaphragm of a camera. 2. In fiber optics,...
indium gallium arsenide cameraAn InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide) camera is a type of imaging device that utilizes InGaAs sensors to capture images in the...
photonicsThe technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. The...
quantitative phase imagingQuantitative phase imaging (QPI) is an advanced imaging technique used in microscopy to measure and analyze the optical...
wedgeAn optical element having plane-inclined surfaces. Usually the faces are inclined toward one another at very small angles....
astronomical mirrorAn astronomical mirror, also known as a telescope mirror or primary mirror, is a key component of a reflecting telescope. It...
rolling shutter artifactsRolling shutter artifacts are distortions or visual anomalies that can occur in images or videos captured by cameras with...
hyperspectral imaging cameraA hyperspectral imaging camera is a sophisticated imaging device capable of capturing and processing data across a wide...
electrochromic displayType of solid-state display tube in which the readout surface is coated with a material that changes color when positively...
image orthiconA camera tube widely used in television broadcasting. It consists of three sections within a single vacuum envelope. 1. A...
machine vision systemA machine vision system is an integrated combination of hardware and software components designed to capture, process, and...
Michelson-Morley experimentAn optical experiment carried out conclusively in 1887 that demonstrated that the ether, a hypothetical medium postulated by...
heterochromatic lightRadiation consisting of more than a single wavelength in the visible region of the spectrum.
neodymium:YAGLiterally, neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet. A cylindrical rod of yttrium-aluminum-garnet doped with neodymium that is the...
double-pass transmittance hologramA hologram having an object wave that has been transmitted through the transparent object media to a mirror, reflected again...
quantum cascade laserA quantum cascade laser (QCL) is a type of semiconductor laser that operates based on the principles of quantum mechanics....
double-beam spectrophotometerA spectrophotometer in which the beam emitted by the radiation source is split into beams that travel through the sample and...
phase-locked loopA circuit that uses feedback to synchronize the phase of a voltage-controlled oscillator with the phase of an incoming or...
photogrammetryPhotogrammetry is a technique used to obtain accurate three-dimensional measurements of objects and environments through the...
laser damage thresholdThe laser damage threshold refers to the maximum level of laser intensity that a material can withstand without experiencing...
short wavelength infraredShort wavelength infrared (SWIR) refers to the portion of the infrared spectrum that encompasses wavelengths roughly between...
plasmon ion-assisted depositionPlasmon ion-assisted deposition (PIAD) is a technique used in thin-film deposition processes, particularly in the production...
laser line filterA narrow linewidth optically transmissive or reflective component intended for use with a highly monochromatic or single...
Dove prismA form of prism invented by H.W. Dove. It resembles half of a common right-angle prism in which a ray entering parallel to...
lambda servicesTerm for service offered by a vendor who leases a particular wavelength to a customer through DWDM technology. Lambda...
machine visionMachine vision, also known as computer vision or computer sight, refers to the technology that enables machines, typically...
coincidence rangefinderAn optical instrument used to determine the distance to a target being viewed. Two similar optical systems view the target...
equivalent air pathWhen a block of glass (prism, window, filter, etc.) is placed into a converging light bundle, it increases the physical...
grating monochromatorAn optical instrument used to isolate a narrow bandwidth of optical radiation using a diffraction grating as the dispersive...
ionizing radiationGenerally, any radiation that can form ions, either directly or indirectly, while traveling through a substance.
three-photon microscopyThree-photon microscopy is an advanced imaging technique that belongs to the family of multi-photon microscopy methods. It...
electron probe microanalysisAn analytical technique used to determine the nature of extremely small samples by forming the x-ray spectrum of the samples...
thermal dissociationA technique for detecting free radicals by their electronic spectra. The material to be studied is placed in a...
spherical aberrationSpherical aberration is an optical aberration that occurs when light rays passing through a lens or curved optical surface...
optical path differenceThe relative path difference (or phase shift) traveled between two rays that pass through different mediums from the same...
opaque projectorAn opaque projector is a device used for enlarging and projecting images from opaque objects such as printed pages,...
anthropomorphicHaving human characteristics or behavior.
idiochromaticPertaining to the possession of photoelectric characteristics as a result of the properties of the true crystal and not of...
Wiener experimentAfter putting a thick photographic emulsion on a front-faced mirror, and exposing the emulsion to monochromatic incident...
fanA set of rays through a lens originating at a common point and contained in one plane.
nanophotonicsNanophotonics is a branch of science and technology that explores the behavior of light on the nanometer scale, typically at...
Bunsen screenA photometer screen that contains a diaphragm of paper or parchment with a translucent central spot of oil or paraffin.
diffuserAn optical diffuser is an optical component or material designed to scatter or diffuse light that passes through it. It is...
near-field regionThe area closest to an aperture or source where the diffraction pattern differs substantially from that observed at an...
phase conjugationThe use of a reflective device, which can be fashioned from a variety of materials including gases, solids, dyes, aerosols,...
extinction ratioThe ratio of the power of a plane-polarized beam that is transmitted through a polarizer placed in its path with its...
galvanometric scannerA galvanometric scanner, also known as a galvanometer scanner or galvo scanner, is a type of optical scanning device used to...
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...
hydrogelA hydrogel is a three-dimensional network of polymer chains that are hydrophilic, meaning they have a strong affinity for...
laser peeningLaser peening is a surface enhancement technique used to improve the mechanical properties of materials, particularly...
mirror mountA mirror mount is a mechanical device used to secure and precisely position mirrors in optical systems. Mirrors are...
fluorescence decay systemA device, also called a fluorescence lifetime instrument, that measures decay curves of fluorescing samples. It generally...
light sheet fluorescence microscopyAlso known as single plane illumination microscopy (SPIM), this process was designed for imaging of sensitive samples and...
throughput
stereomicroscopeWide-field, low-magnification device that consists of two compound microscopes focused on a single object, producing an...
nonlinear scatteringDirect conversion of a photon from one wavelength to a lower energy photon of another wavelength(s) due to inelastic...
thyratronAn arc discharge tube having a grid that is used to start the discharge through an atmosphere of inert gas or vapor at low...
light fieldThe term light field refers to the spatial distribution of light rays traveling in all directions through a given space. It...
epitaxial equipmentEpitaxial equipment refers to a set of specialized tools and systems used in the process of epitaxy, which is the growth of...
reflection gratingA reflection grating is an optical component that consists of a series of closely spaced, parallel reflecting surfaces or...
chromatographyThe chemical method of separating compounds dissolved in one phase (usually mobile) through its equilibration with a second...
cylindrical lensA cylindrical lens is an optical component that has different curvatures along its two orthogonal axes, resulting in a shape...
Geiger counterAlso called Geiger-Müller counter. An instrument designed to detect and measure radioactivity through the use of a...
stereoscopic visionVision in depth of three dimensions as a result of the spacing of the eyes. This spacing allows the eyes to see objects from...
apparent luminanceThe perceived brightness of an object being viewed at some distance, especially through an optical instrument.
equidensitometry1. The use of an electronic microdensitometer to measure points of equal density on a photographic deposit. 2. A technique...
metrologyMetrology is the science and practice of measurement. It encompasses the theoretical and practical aspects of measurement,...
microlens arrayA microlens array is a grid-like structure composed of numerous small lenses, typically arranged in a regular pattern. Each...
voxelAn element within a three-dimensional data set image.
thermoelectric coolingA refrigeration method based on the Peltier effect. When an electric current passes through a thermocouple of two dissimilar...
drift scanAn astronomical scanning technique for capturing images of stars without moving the sensor. To perform a drift scan, a CCD...
dispersionDispersion refers to the phenomenon where different wavelengths (colors) of light travel at different speeds when passing...
nodal pointsOf all the rays passing through a lens from an off-axis object point to its corresponding image point, there is always one...
Nipkow disc scannerA device consisting of a disc with a spiral arrangement of holes that is used to convert visible patterns into electrical...
Nernst glowerA Nernst glower, also known simply as a Nernst lamp or Nernst filament, is a type of incandescent lamp or radiant heater...
electronicsThat branch of science involved in the study and utilization of the motion, emissions and behaviors of currents of...
tunnelingAn observed effect of the ability of certain atomic particles to pass through a barrier that they cannot pass over because...
diffractive opticsOptical elements that use diffraction to control wavefronts. Diffractive optical elements include diffraction gratings,...
fiber optic imaging bundleA fiber optic imaging bundle is a specialized optical device composed of multiple optical fibers bundled together. Each...
contourographyThe generation, usually by a cathode-ray oscilloscope, of a two-dimensional image having a three-dimensional appearance.
filament transformerA transformer that is designed to regulate the amount of current that passes through an electron tube's filament.
Glan-Foucault prismA type of birefringent polarizing prism that transmits the extraordinary ray and removes the ordinary ray through total...
convolutional neural networkA powerful and flexible machine-learning approach that can be used in machine vision to help solve difficult problems....
quantum key distributionQuantum key distribution (QKD) is a method of secure communication that utilizes principles from quantum mechanics to...
image intensifierAn image intensifier, also known as an image intensification tube or image intensification device, is a specialized...
lasercavingA machining process that uses a laser to cut three-dimensional molds or models.
modulation transfer function analysis/measurement equipmentMTF analysis/measurement equipment refers to instruments and tools used to measure and analyze the modulation transfer...
volumetric imagingVolumetric imaging refers to the capture, visualization, and analysis of three-dimensional (3D) information from a volume of...
scientific CMOS cameraA scientific CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) camera is a type of digital camera specifically designed for...
arcuate displacementDisplacement in a direction perpendicular to that of the intended displacement, as in a translation stage with simple...
color perception test equipmentEquipment for testing an observer's color vision. Some tests require the identification or ordering of colored samples. The...
surface waveA wave that is guided by the interface between two different media or by a refractive index gradient in the medium. The...
crystalA solid with a structure that exhibits a basically symmetrical and geometrical arrangement. A crystal may already possess...
raster scan displayA display in which regeneration takes place serially at a fixed speed in a set pattern through the scan lines.
trinoscopeA color-television viewing system with three kinescopes, three lenses and three deflection yokes used to form the red, green...
mixed-signal oscilloscopeA mixed-signal oscilloscope (MSO) is a type of electronic test instrument that combines the capabilities of both a...
quantum confinementQuantum confinement refers to the phenomenon in quantum mechanics where the motion of charge carriers, such as electrons or...
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...
crystal counterAn instrument that is used to detect high-energy particles by the pulse of the current formed when a particle passes through...
ultraviolet densitometryA technique, involving spectrophotometry in the ultraviolet, that is designed to determine the colors of thin-layer...
microchannel coolingA method of heat removal in which liquid passes through small channels with high packing densities.
solitonAny isolated wave that propagates without dispersion of energy. Specifically to photonics, an ultrashort pulse of laser...
fluorescence lifetimeFluorescence lifetime refers to the average time it takes for a fluorophore, a molecule that absorbs light at one wavelength...
photochromicPhotochromic refers to a property exhibited by certain materials, typically organic compounds or dyes, which undergo...
Gordon-Haus effectTemporal jitter at a signal's receiver when amplified noise causes frequency shifts, as with a soliton traveling through an...
amplified spontaneous emissionBroadband radiation emitted by a laser that does not transmit through the optical element. It can be removed by filtering.
die bondingDie bonding is a critical process in semiconductor manufacturing and microelectronics assembly, where a semiconductor die or...
transmission lossThe decrease in power that occurs when an optical beam or signal is transmitted through a system.
sheet gratingA three-dimensional grating designed with thin metal sheets to remain opaque to all but one specific and predetermined wave.
laserA laser, which stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation," is a device that produces coherent and...
Munsell color systemFounded by professor Albert Munsell. In the field of colorimetry, the Munsell color system is a color space that identifies...
well plateA well plate, also known as a microplate or microtiter plate, is a flat plate with multiple small wells or depressions...
laser gyroscopeCounter propagating beams imaged along the same path in order to detect rotation. Precise rotation is measured through...
modulation spectroscopyA method of spectral analysis in which some property of the sample is varied and the corresponding change is measured. The...
inductance heaterA device used in thin-film deposition; the material to be evaporated is placed in a crucible that is heated inductively by...
retroreflectorA retroreflector is an optical device or structure that reflects incident light or electromagnetic waves back to their...
coherent radiationRadiation in which the phase relationship between any two points in the radiation field has a constant difference, or is...
optical testing instrumentAn optical testing instrument is a device or system used to evaluate and measure the performance, quality, and...
aptamerAn aptamer is a short, single-stranded DNA or RNA molecule that can bind to a specific target molecule with high affinity...
scintillation1. The variation in intensity of a light beam as it travels through the atmosphere. 2. In radiation physics, a light flash...
single-molecule spectroscopyAn advanced technique that allows the detection of one molecule within a crystal or a cell through optical excitation....
focal lengthThe focal length of a lens is the distance between the lens's optical center (or principal point) and the image sensor or...
ophthalmoscopeAlso referred to as a funduscope, an ophthalmoscope is a specialized instrument used by ophthalmologists for observing and...
power flow equationOptical fiber channel characterization scheme based on three assumptions; the discrete mode spectrum can be replaced by a...
diopter movementThe adjustment of the eyepiece of an instrument to provide accommodation for the eyesight differences of individual...
telephotometerAn instrument used to measure the luminance (brightness) of a distant object. The object is viewed through a small...
zone axisAlso known as zonal axis. The axis positioned through the center of a crystal that is parallel to a zone edge.
convergence1. In optics, the bending of light rays toward each other, as by a convex or positive lens. 2. Turning in the eyes to view a...
azimuthal polarizationAzimuthal polarization refers to a specific polarization state of light where the electric field vector of the...
microstereologyMicroscopic investigation of two-dimensional areas of a three-dimensional object that can be quantitatively evaluated by...
accelerometerAn accelerometer is a sensor or transducer that measures the rate of change of velocity of an object, or in simpler terms,...
neutron drip linePrediction based on observations of nuclear masses in the valley of stability that indicates the maximum number of electrons...
mediumAny substance or space through which electromagnetic radiation can travel.
prismA prism is a geometric optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light. It is typically a solid, transparent...
scanning electron microscopyScanning electron microscopy (SEM) is an advanced imaging technique used in microscopy to obtain high-resolution,...
hair-trigger operationTriggering a laser at a predetermined time by pumping it to a level just below its threshold and then using an auxiliary...
spectroscopySpectroscopy is a technique used in the study of interactions between matter and electromagnetic radiation. It involves...
tungsten lampAn evacuated bulb containing a tungsten filament that is heated by passing an electric current through it. In domestic light...
threshold voltage1. Voltage at which a PN junction begins to pass a current. 2. In a solid-state lamp, the voltage at which light is first...
asynchronous transmissionA mode of data transmission whereby each bit of information is generated separately, with some stop/start code to indicate...
electron deviceAny device in which the passage of electrons through a vacuum, gas or semiconductor is the principal means of conduction.
Erfle eyepieceA telescopic eyepiece comprising five or six simple lenses in the form of three doublets or two doublets and a singlet.
Ultraviolet-CUltraviolet-C (UV-C) refers to a specific range of ultraviolet radiation with shorter wavelengths than those of visible...
apertureAn opening or hole through which radiation or matter may pass.
laser pattern generationProduction of a repeated image of a transmitted beam through a diffractive optical element such as a holographic card or...
diffractionAs a wavefront of light passes by an opaque edge or through an opening, secondary weaker wavefronts are generated,...
contouringSelection of specific brightness values or minimum threshold levels as contingencies for the display of digital data.
static beam shapingA technique for creating optimal performance in a system by producing a specific beam irradiance distribution, usually...
minimum angle of deviationThe smallest angle through which light is bent by an optical element or system. In a prism, the angle of deviation is a...
opal glassA material consisting of very small colorless particles imbedded in a clear glass matrix. It is available in two forms:...
abrasivePowder used to produce a smooth optical surface through abrasive polishing. Compounds may produce a surface finish specified...
acousto-optic tunable filterA bulk crystalline optic which permits the propagation of light through a volume of index altered material. The variation in...
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...
trichromacyThe basis of color vision in the human eye. Three types of cones have been identified, each having a unique spectral...
rim rayA ray of an image-forming bundle that passes through the edge of the entrance pupil or aperture stop. Usually used in...
sputtering equipmentSputtering equipment is machinery used in the process of physical vapor deposition (PVD), specifically sputtering....
unijunction transistorA three-terminal semiconductor having only one PN junction and a stable, open-circuit, negative-resistance property.
isolatorIn the context of electronics and optics, an isolator refers to a device that allows the transmission of signals in one...
fluorescent screenA fluorescent screen refers to a phosphorescent or fluorescent-coated surface that emits visible light when exposed to other...
infrared lensAn infrared lens is an optical component specifically designed and optimized for transmitting, focusing, or manipulating...
magneto-opticsMagneto-optics refers to the study and manipulation of the interaction between magnetic fields and light (electromagnetic...
lens testing equipmentLens testing equipment refers to a range of specialized tools and instruments used to evaluate the optical performance,...
color photographic filmFilm that produces color negatives or transparencies by the use of three emulsions, one coated over the other, that are each...
optical caliperA device for measuring linear dimensions. The optical caliper generally consists of two circularly mounted mirrors whose...
ultrasonic cross gratingA two- or three-dimensional space grating formed when ultrasonic beams with varied paths of propagation intersect.
Touschek effectEffect whereby two electrons lose synchronism with the accelerating field and are lost during synchronous radiation. The...
analytical phototriangulationThe use of photographs taken from specially placed cameras, to develop, through computation, a spatial solution of the...
luminescenceLuminescence is the emission of light that occurs without the involved substance undergoing a significant increase in...
phaseIn optics and photonics, "phase" refers to a property of electromagnetic waves, such as light, that describes the position...
dichroscopeA device used to investigate the dichroism of crystals.
photoemulsionIn photolithography, an opaque material used in masks that has a lower optical density and grainier composition than chrome.
Polarization ImagingA subsurface imaging technique based upon the polarization of light reflected off an object. The polarization of reflected...
mercury arcAn electric arc that is formed in mercury vapor through which an electric current flows. The intensity of the illumination...
movement parallax thresholdThe unequal angular velocities of two objects moving at equal speeds but at different distances from the observer, which are...
vacuum chamberA vacuum chamber is a sealed enclosure from which air and other gases are removed to create a low-pressure environment,...
computer-generated hologramA computer-generated hologram (CGH) is a holographic image produced using computational methods and algorithms, rather than...
cathode modulationThe amplitude modulation through the application of modulating voltage to the cathode circuit.
magnetic resonance imagingAn imaging technique used in radiology that is based on the principles of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to produce...
machine vision lensA machine vision lens is a specialized optical lens designed for use in machine vision systems, which are used for automated...
sun-tracking concentratorControlled beam technology that introduces beams of sunlight through holes in a roof that are relayed throughout the...
C-mountA standard lens interface initially made for 16mm movie cameras and now used primarily on closed-circuit television cameras....
laser Doppler velocimeterDevice which determines particle velocity through the measurement of scattered interference of a beam pair from a single...
electro-optic deflectionThe effect whereby a light beam is deflected by a birefringent prism when its polarization is changed by voltage applied to...
piezoelectric transducers and ceramic materialsPiezoelectric transducers are devices that utilize the piezoelectric effect to convert electrical energy into mechanical...
Linnik interference microscopeA Michelson-type interference microscope used to produce interference patterns of reflective specimens through the...
spectrofluorometerAn automatic scanning instrument that is used to study a substance's fluorescence over a wide range of wavelengths. It...
Young's constructionA method of graphical ray tracing through a boundary surface dividing two media of differing indices of refraction.
back focal lengthThe distance from the final optic within a system to the rear image point of the system. See focal length.
Kerr solitonA Kerr soliton refers to a specific type of soliton, a self-reinforcing wave packet, that arises in nonlinear optical...
lithographyLithography is a key process used in microfabrication and semiconductor manufacturing to create intricate patterns on the...
near-field scanning optical microscopeA scanning probe microscope that analyzes the surface of a specimen by recording the intensity of light as it is focused...
chromatic aberrationChromatic aberration is an optical phenomenon that occurs when different wavelengths (colors) of light are refracted by a...
synchronous optical networkA standard for fiber optic telecommunications interfaces, with a 1300-nm data link operating over single-mode fiber at data...
stereomicroscopyThe use of a specialized optical microscope designed to provide a more three-dimensional view of a sample. Stereomicroscopy...
laser outputThe laser output refers to the generated and emitted light produced by a laser system. This output is characterized by...
neuromorphicNeuromorphic refers to the design and development of computing systems or devices that are inspired by the structure and...
dispersive powerA measure of the dispersive properties of a glass. The relative dispersion is defined as:
where C, D, and F refer to the...
polychromatic illuminationLight that is a mixture of wavelengths.
Stirling engineAn engine in which work is performed by the expansion of a gas at high temperature; heat for the expansion is supplied...
Einstein coefficientsThree proportional coefficients labeled Am, Bmn, and Bnm, that respectively characterize the rate of spontaneous emission,...
color-translating microscopeA type of compound microscope that uses three visible wavelengths to translate details produced by invisible radiation.
Raman effectWhen light is transmitted through matter, part of the light is scattered in random directions. A small part of the scattered...
structured illumination microscopyStructured illumination microscopy (SIM) is an advanced optical imaging technique used in microscopy to enhance the...
optical continuous wave reflectometerAn instrument used to measure backscatter as well as optical return loss and reflectance within an optical fiber system by...
holographic particle velocimetryA method of measuring flow velocity by seeding the flow with neutrally buoyant particles and using a pulsed laser to...
stereoscopic photographyThe photographing of a scene from positions corresponding to the locations of both eyes. A viewing device is used to present...
spot diagramA method of evaluating image quality whereby a large number of rays are traced through a lens from a single object point,...
vertical transmitted illuminationWith respect to microscopy, light that is directed through the specimen by a substage condenser.
cascade methodA heterochromatic photometric process using successive comparison of similar chromaticities and the calculation of relative...
microchannel plateA microchannel plate (MCP) is a specialized electron multiplier device used in various applications such as particle...
point cloudA point cloud is a set of data points in a three-dimensional coordinate system, where each point represents a specific...
metal vapor laserDevices in which the lasing medium is a vapor of metal atoms or ions, sometimes mixed with another gas. Metal vapor lasers...
polarizing filterA filter that polarizes light passing through it. It is possible to fabricate sheets of plastic or gelatin that contain...
femtosecond laserA femtosecond laser is a type of laser that emits ultrashort pulses of light with durations on the order of femtoseconds,...
in phaseThat state determining that two waves of like frequency will travel through their maximum and minimum values of the same...
lock-in amplifierA lock-in amplifier is a specialized electronic instrument used to extract and measure small signals embedded in noise or...
threshold wavelengthThe greatest wavelength of radiation for a specified surface for the emission of electrons.
conduction bandA partially filled or empty energy band through which electrons can move easily. The material can therefore carry an...
comb filterA filter that passes a series of wavelength regions that are at equal distances from one another, such that its output...
optical chopperA mechanical or electrical-electromagnetic device for periodically interrupting or blocking abeam of light for a brief known...
seed1. In glass, a solid inclusion having a small diameter. 2. A particular, single crystal that, after undergoing the...
longitudinal field modulatorPockels cell or dynamic optical retarder in which the electrical field is applied in a direction parallel to that of light...
gain-switchingGain-switching is a technique used in lasers to generate short pulses of light by modulating the gain of the laser medium....
nonlinear optical effectA class of optical phenomena that can be viewed only with nearly monochromatic, directional beams of light, such as those...
image jumpIn optics, the term image jump refers to a displacement or shift in the apparent position of an image when a change occurs...
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...
profilometryMeasurement of surface roughness or quality through the use of a diamond-pointed stylus connected to a coil in an electric...
angle of deviationThe angle through which a ray of light is deviated by a refracting or reflecting surface, or a prism; the angle between an...
chromophoreA naturally occurring pigment in tissue that may selectively absorb certain wavelengths and can be used to aid in targeting...
electric CO laserAn electrically excited laser having carbon monoxide as the lasing material and in which lasing occurs in a partial...
equiluminous colorsColors differing only in chromaticity but not in luminance.
bremsstrahlungElectromagnetic radiation that is emitted by an electron as it is accelerated or decelerated while moving through the...
holographic tomographyHolographic tomography is an advanced imaging technique that combines holography and tomography to provide three-dimensional...
fluorescence correlation spectroscopyA powerful method, referred to as FCS, for determining the average diffusion coefficients of fluorescent molecules in...
Z-scanA technique for determining the nonlinear optical properties of a sample material by moving the sample through a focused...
reflection coefficientParametric measurement for elliptical fiber and cable expressed as a ratio of the two-directional flow of power through the...
maximum luminous transmittanceThe greatest luminous transmittance possible for a specified chromaticity.
photostatic cameraA type of copying camera in which the object is placed on a horizontal easel and photographed by a horizontal camera above...
primary colorsA set of three colored lights which, when mixed, give the sensation of white light. The set used in color television, for...
broadband dielectric mirrorsBroadband dielectric mirrors, also known as broadband mirrors, are optical coatings designed to efficiently reflect or...
chromoendoscopyA technique of using dyes during endoscopy to improve tissue differentiation. Dyes such as methylene blue, Toluidine blue...
electronic flash unitA small xenon-filled tube with metal electrodes fused into the ends. The gas flashes brilliantly when a condenser is...
induction linear acceleratorA device used to accelerate the electrons in a free-electron laser by supplying electrical energy to the electron beam...
scintillation detectorA scintillation detector is a radiation detection device that utilizes scintillation crystals to detect and measure ionizing...
photoelectric colorimetryThe measurement and analysis of color using a photoelectric instrument having three filters with broad spectrum bands.
mid-wave infraredMWIR stands for mid-wave infrared, referring to a specific range of wavelengths within the infrared spectrum. Infrared...
strain viewerA viewer that uses the transmittance of polarized light through glass or a similar medium to examine strained regions. See...
neuromorphic vision sensorA neuromorphic vision sensor is a type of imaging device designed to mimic the structure and functioning of the human visual...
optical manufacturing tools and machineryOptical manufacturing tools and machinery encompass a wide range of equipment, instruments, and systems used in the...
sondeA ruggedized scintillation counter used in oil well logging. The cylindrical housing contains a gamma ray source, a...
projection moire topographyA contour mapping technique that involves projection of a grating onto an object to produce a shadow grating that is...
binary on-offSignal used in optical transmission systems to generate currents in a detector that are decoded with reference to a...
chromaticity coordinatesProportions of standard primaries (tristimulus values) required for a color match; ratios of each tristimulus value of a...
angular apertureThe angle between the most divergent rays that can pass through the lens to form an image. In a birefringent crystal light...
monochromaticComposed of one color; having only one wavelength of radiation.
hololensA series of permanent holograms in dichromated gelatin formed by opening total page-composer apertures and setting a point...
near-field scanningA measurement technique used to determine the spatial distribution profile of an electrical or optical quantity of interest...
chromatic vision
monochromatic illuminator
Dobson spectrophotometerA spectrophotometer that measures the amount of ozone in the atmosphere through a comparison of solar energy at two...
spectral order (diffraction grating)When, for example, a beam of monochromatic light passes through a diffraction grating, the emergent rays that have remained...
holmium laserHolmium lasers are a type of medical laser that utilizes holmium-doped crystals as the gain medium. The term holmium laser...
MEMS fiber optic switchA MEMS fiber optic switch is a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device designed to selectively route optical signals...
photon sieveA photon sieve is an optical device used in the field of optics and imaging. It's designed to focus and shape light,...
calorimetryCalorimetry is a branch of science that involves the measurement of heat flow in physical or chemical processes. It...
apochromatic systemAn optical system that is corrected chromatically for three colors simultaneously.
laser crystalA laser crystal, also known as an active medium or gain medium, is a solid-state material used in the construction of...
optical axisThe imaginary line passing through both the centers of curvatures of the optical surfaces of a lens or mirror; the optical...
material scatteringThe total scattering attributable to the intrinsic properties of the materials through which an optical wave is propagating.
nanoimprint lithographyNanoimprint lithography (NIL) is a nanolithography technique used for fabricating nanoscale patterns on a substrate. It is a...
inverse bremsstrahlungCollisional absorption of energy that occurs in inertial confinement fusion systems when hydrodynamic expansion of the...
monochromatic filterA filter that transmits a single spectral line emitted by a line source.
angle of refractionThe angle formed between a refracted ray and the normal to the surface. This angle lies in a common plane with the angle of...
FTIR spectrometerFTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectrometer is a powerful analytical instrument used to obtain an infrared spectrum of...
Fizeau toothed wheelA device used to measure the speed of light by adjusting the rotation of a toothed wheel so that light passing through one...
Planckian locusLocus of points on a chromaticity diagram that includes the chromaticities of blackbody radiators.
dichroicExhibiting the quality of dichroism.
pulse spreadingVariations in a signal passing through an optical fiber caused by the effect on the pulse of the fiber's material and mode...
heterochromatic photometryLight measurement by comparison of the luminances of unlike chromaticities.
Brillouin scatteringBrillouin scattering is a phenomenon in physics where an incident electromagnetic wave (usually light) interacts with...
nanoLEDAn LED (light-emitting diode) is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs...
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...
electron cyclotron maserA maser that relies on the fact that electrons in orbital motion in high-magnetic fields will emit energy at the cyclotron...
fluorite objectiveAn objective that uses the mineral fluorite in its construction to reduce the secondary spectrum. It is usually intermediate...
receiver primariesAlso known as display primaries. Colors formed by a television receiver that are of constant chromaticity and variable...
deflection yokeA metal coil or coils wrapped around the outside of the neck of a cathode-ray tube. Current passing through the coils...
optoelectronicsOptoelectronics is a branch of electronics that focuses on the study and application of devices and systems that use light...
optical rotation1. The angular displacement of the plane of polarization of light passing through a medium. 2. The azimuthal displacement of...
solar simulatorA solar simulator is a device used to replicate the spectrum and intensity of sunlight in a controlled environment for...
terminated crossbarAn optical matrix that does not require perfection in both states of the crosspoint, so that all the optical switches can be...
stereoscopic televisionA television system in which the images produced appear three-dimensional.
ultrasonic cameraA device that uses a piezoelectric crystal to convert ultrasonic sound waves, transmitted through a subject, into a voltage...
photochromatic intervalThe discrepancy between the absolute luminance threshold and the photochromatic threshold.
laser triangulationA technique that uses a solid-state laser and a detector to determine an object's relative distance to the system. The laser...
test cubeA device used to detect elevation, pyramid and resolution errors in prisms and other components by bringing them into...
bulk acoustic waveA sound wave that travels through a piezoelectric material.
interferometric calorimetryHeat measurement method in which the sample is made part of the interferometer and the temperature increase is determined by...
Photoelastic equipment and suppliesPhotoelastic equipment and supplies refer to instruments and materials used in photoelasticity, a technique used to analyze...
machine learningMachine learning (ML) is a subset of artificial intelligence (AI) that focuses on the development of algorithms and...
pixelA pixel, short for "picture element," is the smallest controllable element of a digital image or display. It is a...
Raman shifterA device that changes the frequency of light by inducing the Raman effect on a beam passing through it.
horizontal chromatographyA type of paper chromatography that produces a chromatogram that is horizontal instead of vertical.
mesopic visionVision at intermediate levels of luminance between photopic and scotopic vision, where both retinal cones and retinal rods...
corner cubeA corner cube, also known as a corner reflector or retroreflector prism, is a type of optical device used to reflect light...
mode beatingIn optics, "mode beating" refers to an interference phenomenon that can occur in laser systems with multiple longitudinal...
chemical vapor depositionChemical vapor deposition is a process of applying dopants to a glass bait by flame reactions of gaseous compounds. See also...
monoclinicWith respect to a crystal, a monoclinic crystal consists of three unequal axes, two of which intersect each other obliquely...
lidarLidar, short for light detection and ranging, is a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances and...
scanning electron microscopeA scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a powerful imaging instrument used in scientific research, materials...
CID cameraCID, or charge injection device, camera refers to a type of imaging device that utilizes a specific kind of solid-state...
ultrafast pulsed laserAn ultrafast pulsed laser is a type of laser that emits extremely short pulses of light with durations typically on the...
microenvironmental control systemEquipment that supports microscopic live-cell imaging by managing the gas, media perfusion, temperature and other factors to...
quantum efficiencyQuantum efficiency (QE) is a measure of the effectiveness with which a device or system, typically in the context of...
synchrotron radiationRadiation emitted by electrons when they travel in circular orbits at speeds close to that of light. Synchrotron radiation...
total internal reflection fluorescenceTotal internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy is an advanced fluorescence microscopy technique that leverages the...
Amici prismAlso known as roof prism. A type of prism designed by G.B. Amici. It consists of a roof edge produced upon the long...
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...
kinescopeA cathode-ray tube that serves as a picture tube in a television receiver. The signal representing the picture intensity is...
endoscopeAn endoscope is a medical device used for visualizing and examining the interior of hollow organs, body cavities, or...
ablation thresholdThe minimum energy required to induce atomic and molecular separation or displacement due to incident intense laser...
oblique illuminationA common technique in microscopy, oblique illumination is one in which the object is illuminated by a light source that is...
sextantA handheld navigational instrument used to measure the elevation angle of celestial bodies such as the sun. An image of the...
optical switchingOptical switching refers to the process of controlling the routing or transmission of optical signals within a network using...
digital holographic microscopyDigital holographic microscopy (DHM) is an advanced imaging technique that combines holography and digital image processing...
atmospheric windowA range of wavelengths within which radiation transmitted through the atmosphere suffers relatively little absorption by...
Raman spectroscopyRaman spectroscopy is a technique used in analytical chemistry and physics to study vibrational, rotational, and other...
population inversionThe condition in which there are more atomic systems in the upper of two energy levels than in the lower, so stimulated...
photoacoustic imagingAbbreviated PAI. An imaging modality with a hybrid technique based on the acoustic detection of optical absorption from...
spherical microintegrated lensA tiny lens (as small as 100 µm in diameter) used to focus light on charge-coupled devices, formed by heating a...
angle of deflectionThe angle through which a beam is deflected.
optical spectrum1.) Generally, the electromagnetic spectrum within the wavelength region extending from the vacuum ultraviolet at 40 nm to...
electromagnetic radiationRadiation emitted from vibrating charged particles. A combination of oscillating electrical and magnetic fields that...
cathode-ray tubeA vacuum tube with an electron gun at one end and a fluorescent screen at the other. Electrons emitted from a heated...
atomic absorption spectrometerAn atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) is an analytical instrument used to determine the concentration of specific chemical...
particle accelerationParticle acceleration refers to the process by which charged particles, such as electrons or protons, gain kinetic energy...
split lensA close-up lens, semicircular in shape, that is mounted in front of a conventional lens focused at infinity. The result is...
chromosphereA layer between the corona and the photosphere of the sun; its emission is overwhelmed by light emitted by the underlying,...
convexConvex is an adjective used to describe a surface or shape that curves outward, bulges, or has a rounded and outwardly...
electron diffractionThe bending of an electron stream that occurs when the stream travels through a medium such as very thin metal foil.
Jansky noisePhrase applied to any noise of extraterrestrial origin, named for the engineer who discovered the phenomenon.
visual axisAn imaginary line between the object, through the nodal point of the eye, and the fovea, or point of finest retinal acuity.
diffraction efficiencyDiffraction efficiency is a measure of how effectively a diffractive optical element (DOE) or diffraction grating directs...
laser trappingA technique for confining atoms, molecules or small particles within one or more laser beams. This can be accomplished...
chrominanceThe difference between any color and a reference color having equal luminance and a specified chromaticity.
ionization gaugeA type of radiation detector that depends on the ionization produced in a gas by the passage of a charged particle through...
undulator magnetA device used in a free-electron laser to convert the electron-beam's energy into microwave laser radiation by creating a...
complementary colorsColors that produce an achromatic color when additively mixed.
masks for evaporation/depositionIn the context of thin film deposition processes such as evaporation or sputtering, masks are used to selectively deposit...
objectThe figure seen through or imaged by an optical system. It may contain structures, natural or artificial, or it may be the...
comparison spectrumIn analysis, a reference spectrum, having predetermined wavelengths, that is used to determine the wavelengths of another...
microfluidicsMicrofluidics is a multidisciplinary field that involves the manipulation and control of very small fluid volumes, typically...
inertial fusion energyInertial fusion energy (IFE) refers to a proposed method of generating electricity by harnessing the energy released from...
Lenard tubeAn electron-beam tube designed so that the beam can be carried through a portion of the wall of an evacuated enclosure.
transmissionIn optics, the conduction of radiant energy through a medium. Often denotes the percentage of energy passing through an...
spectrum locusOn a chromaticity diagram, the line on which fall the chromaticities of the pure spectrum colors.
image definition areaIn computer graphics, the coordinated two-dimensional or three-dimensional area of increased resolution where graphics...
brightness resolutionThe degree to which a pixel in a digital image represents the analog brightness of the corresponding point in the original...
null processCommonly performed in spectroscopy, the optical null process is a method for radiation detection whereby physical detectors...
composite videoA type of video signal in which the luminance and chrominance portions of the signal, or the luma and chroma, have been...
aberrationA departure from ideal paraxial imaging behavior. The distortion of an optical field wavefront as it is propagated through...
laser guide starAn artificial star used to aid in adaptive optics imaging of the sky. The guide star is provided from a telescope system on...
blackbody locusWith respect to a chromaticity diagram, this is the locus of points that represent the chromaticities of blackbodies...
nonselective sensorA radiometric device or system having uniform responsivity relative to all of the radiation parameters, or relative to one...
halation1. In a cathode-ray tube, the glow surrounding a bright spot that appears on the fluorescent screen as the result of the...
CCD image sensorA CCD image sensor, or charge-coupled device image sensor, is a type of electronic device used to convert optical images...
radioautographThe photographic image of a thin specimen having a radioactive isotope that, formed through contact between the specimen and...
pseudocolorIn image processing, generating a color image from monochrome data by assigning a color to each of the gray levels.
polymerase chain reactionThe polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a widely used molecular biology technique used to amplify a specific segment of DNA...
microficheA small card (10 x 15 cm) that has been treated with a photographic emulsion to record and store the microimages of...
mandrelA shaft, spindle or any object generally passed through a workpiece to hold, support or shape a particular piece during its...
autocollimatorAn autocollimator is an optical instrument used for measuring small angular deviations with high precision. It operates on...
printerA photographic enlarger with a fixed negative plane and a fixed paper plane, often using a roll of paper that is advanced...
free-space opticsFree-space optics (FSO), also known as optical wireless communication or optical wireless networking, refers to the...
atomic clockAn atomic clock is a highly precise timekeeping device that uses the vibrations or oscillations of atoms as a reference for...
aperture stopA physical constraint, often a lens retainer, that limits the diameter of the axial light bundle allowed to pass through a...
fusion ignitionFusion ignition refers to the point in a controlled nuclear fusion reaction where the energy released by the fusion...
anomalous trichromatismColor vision whereby abnormal proportions of three colors are needed for color matching.
plastic optical fiberPlastic optical fiber (POF) is a type of optical fiber made from transparent plastic, typically polymethylmethacrylate...
second-harmonic generation microscopyA nonlinear label-free imaging technique commonly used during surgical procedures for the visualization of collagen fibers...
etendueA product of the area of a light beam (normal to its direction of propagation) and the solid angle that the beam includes;...
dark operate modeAn operate mode in which the sensor is programmed to perform a task such as generating output when the light level falls...
three-filter densitiesIntegral densities that are measured relative to arbitrarily selected red, green and blue filters.
grain isolating diaphragmIn a microscope, the diaphragm located between the Bertrand lens and the eyepiece, which is closed during conoscopic viewing...
neutral density wedgeA strip or annulus of glass coated with a semitransparent material such as inconel. The coating thickness, and as a result...
light modulatorA device that is designed to modulate a beam of light, usually from a laser source, by acting upon the beam directly. The...
fused quartz and silicaFused quartz and silica are closely related materials, both composed primarily of silicon dioxide (SiO2), but they are...
liquid crystal light valveA liquid crystal light valve (LCLV), also known as a spatial light modulator (SLM), is an optical device that modulates the...
self-phase modulationSelf-phase modulation (SPM) is a nonlinear optical phenomenon that occurs when an intense laser beam passes through a...
chromatic difference of magnification
impurity levelIn the context of optical materials, the term "impurity level" refers to the presence of foreign atoms or molecules within...
imageIn optics, an image is the reconstruction of light rays from a source or object when light from that source or object is...
chromaticity diagramThe plane diagram produced by plotting one of the three chromaticity coordinates (X,Y,Z) against another. The most common...
high-voltage electron microscopeAn imaging device whose technology contributes three specific advantages: ability to study large solid specimens that...
aspheric lensAn aspheric lens is a type of lens whose surface profiles deviate from the traditional spherical shape. Unlike spherical...
oscillation thresholdPoint at which a laser's material gain is equal to, or greater than, the circuit losses.
micro-ring resonatorA micro-ring resonator is a compact optical device that utilizes the resonant behavior of light within a small ring-shaped...
absorption peakAn absorption peak refers to a sharp increase or spike in the absorption of electromagnetic radiation at a particular...
Gregorian telescopeA telescope with an ellipsoidal secondary concave mirror that reflects rays from a parabolic primary mirror through an...
optical activityThe capacity of a chiral substance such as a crystal or molecule to rotate the plane of polarized light that is transmitted...
micro-optical coherence tomographyMicro-optical coherence tomography (micro-OCT) is an imaging technique that is an adaptation of optical coherence tomography...
diffraction fanningThe formation of a fan of light or energy rays in a beam as the beam passes through an extremely narrow aperture.
diffraction gratingA diffraction grating is an optical component consisting of a surface with a periodic structure of equally spaced, parallel...
optical air massA measure of the optical path length for light traveling from the sun or other celestial source through Earth's atmosphere...
holographic cameraA holographic camera, also known as a holographic imaging system or holographic recorder, is a specialized device used to...
infrared spectrophotometerA spectrophotometer having a prism or, more frequently, a grating for the study and recording of infrared spectra. It...
excimer laser coronary angioplastyExcimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) refers to a medical procedure used in the treatment of coronary artery disease....
lumaThe luminance portion of a composite video signal, i.e., the portion of the signal that corresponds to the brightness of the...
photochromismThe reversible change in the absorption spectrum of certain compounds upon irradiation with a given wavelength of light.
internet of thingsThe internet of things (IoT) refers to a network of interconnected physical devices, vehicles, appliances, and other objects...
compensating eyepieceA microscope eyepiece designed for use with apochromatic objectives. Since apochromatic objectives are undercorrected for...
oil-on plateA polished plano-parallel plate that is contacted to an unpolished glass surface to permit see-through analysis of the...
APD detectorAn APD detector, or avalanche photodiode detector, is a type of photodetector used to detect light or optical signals by...
ultrasonic imagingThe formation and display of three-dimensional images by ultrasonic energy. In one technique, the energy pulses from an...
excitation purityOn the CIE chromaticity diagram, the distance from the achromatic point to the sample point, divided by the distance from...
thin-film deposition equipmentThin-film deposition equipment refers to machinery and tools used in the process of depositing thin layers of material onto...
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...
tunnel luminescenceLight that is emitted from a phosphor film applied to the surface of a three-layer thin film, respectively metal, oxide and...
binocular microscopeA microscope designed with two eyepieces (oculars), permitting the use of both eyes when viewing through the instrument.
phase matchingPhase matching is a crucial concept in the field of optics, particularly in nonlinear optics and the generation of coherent...
diffusion pumpA vacuum pump in which heated oil or another substance is forced through jets as a vapor that collides with gas molecules...
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...
achromaticColor correcting; chromatic aberration corrected.
optical grating reflectance evaluatorA device for measuring diffraction grating efficiency at any angle of incidence, consisting of a reflectometer wherein the...
principal sectionA plane passing through a crystal that has the optic axis of the crystal and the light ray under consideration.
telescope mountThe base used to hold an astronomical telescope. It may be either altazimuth, with horizontal and vertical axes of rotation,...
electrolytic shutterA high-speed shutter, similar to a Kerr cell, that uses the birefringence produced in a liquid during the passage of an...
photobiomodulationA light therapy that utilizes nonionizing light sources, including lasers, LEDs, and broadband light, in the visible and...
spinthariscopeA device through which scintillations are observed or counted through a magnifying lens system.
laser cloud mapperA scanning laser radar system applied to transmission and concentration analysis in three dimensions of clouds as well as...
optical design softwareOptical design software refers to specialized computer programs used by optical engineers, physicists, and designers to...
GigEGigE, short for gigabit Ethernet, refers to a standard for high-speed Ethernet communication, capable of transmitting data...
cooled infrared detectorAn infrared detector that achieves a specified sensitivity through the application of certain cryogenic temperatures.
YAG crystalA YAG crystal refers to a solid-state crystal made of yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), which is a synthetic crystalline...
diode laserA diode laser is a type of laser that uses a semiconductor diode as the active medium to generate coherent light....
mirageThe distortion of an object's true image as the result of abnormal atmospheric disturbances along the path traveled by the...
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