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Materials, Coatings Dictionary Terms

coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy
Coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) is a powerful technique used in spectroscopy to probe molecular vibrations in...
metamaterial
Metamaterials are artificial materials engineered to have properties not found in naturally occurring substances. These...
Czochralski technique
Popular process for silicon and polycrystalline production that consists of an alteration of the original state of a...
sapphire crystal
Sapphire crystal refers to a transparent, single-crystal form of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) known as corundum. It is one of the...
coating materials
Optical coating materials refer to specialized materials applied to optical surfaces (such as lenses, mirrors, or prisms) to...
glass-melting furnace
A furnace used to heat glass materials. It may be a small laboratory-type furnace for small-scale experiments or large...
microphotofabrication
The formation of microimages for microreduction. The technique is used, for example, in the production of precision reticles...
topological photonics
Topological photonics is a branch of physics and optics that explores the application of topological concepts to the...
three-five
Referring to compound semiconductor materials combining one element that has three valence electrons with one or more that...
slurry
The name of the mixture of liquid and grinding or polishing compounds used in processing optical materials.
surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an analytical technique that combines the principles of Raman spectroscopy...
color center
A color center, in the context of materials science and condensed matter physics, refers to a specific type of...
micromachining laser systems
Micromachining laser systems are advanced tools that use laser technology to perform highly precise material removal and...
radiation trapping
That process by which radiation spontaneously emitted by a volume of optical materials is resonantly reabsorbed within the...
diode-pumped solid-state laser
A diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) is a type of laser system that uses semiconductor diode lasers to pump energy into...
photonic engine
A photonic engine refers to a device or system that utilizes photonics, or the science and technology of generating,...
long-wave infrared
Long-wave infrared (LWIR) refers to a specific range of the infrared spectrum. Infrared radiation is divided into three main...
piezoresistance
Piezoresistance is a phenomenon in materials science and physics where the electrical resistance of a material changes in...
nonlinear optical materials
Nonlinear optical materials are substances that exhibit optical properties that are not linearly proportional to the...
band-to-band photoluminescence
The emission of a photon by the return of an excited carrier from the conduction band to the valence band of a semiconductor...
lapping and polishing services
Lapping and polishing services involve specialized processes used to improve the surface finish and dimensional accuracy of...
GaAlAs laser
A GaAlAs laser is a type of semiconductor laser diode that emits light in the near-infrared region of the electromagnetic...
Weissenberg method
The Weissenberg method, named after the German physicist Karl Weissenberg, is a technique used in x-ray crystallography for...
spatially offset Raman spectroscopy
Spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) is a technique that extends traditional Raman spectroscopy by incorporating...
volumetric imaging
Volumetric imaging refers to the capture, visualization, and analysis of three-dimensional (3D) information from a volume of...
radiography
A photographic process using x-ray radiation or the g-rays of radioactive materials.
Fermi liquid state
The Fermi liquid state refers to a specific state of matter in quantum mechanics, particularly describing the behavior of...
photoelasticity
The process of determining, with the aid of plane-polarized light, the stress distribution in materials under complex...
circular dichroism
Circular dichroism (CD) is a spectroscopic technique used to study the structural characteristics of chiral (asymmetric)...
laser viewing cards
Laser viewing cards, also known as laser alignment cards or laser safety cards, are specialized cards or sheets designed to...
nanostructured glass
A unique glass made up of nano-structured materials to create millimeter sized monolithic glass space-variant polarization...
micro-optics
Micro-optics refers to the design, fabrication, and application of optical components and systems at a microscale level....
polarization
Polarization refers to the orientation of oscillations in a transverse wave, such as light waves, radio waves, or other...
optical probe
An optical probe is a device equipped with optical components such as lenses, fibers, or detectors, designed to transmit and...
ferromagnetism
The properties of certain materials that cause them to have relative permeabilities that exceed unity. This permeability...
laboratory instruments and supplies
Optical laboratory instruments and supplies are essential tools and materials used in laboratories for studying and...
microbubble resonator
A microbubble resonator is a device used in photonics and optical physics for the precise manipulation of light waves. It...
ultrasonic
Ultrasonic refers to sound waves with frequencies higher than the upper audible limit of human hearing, typically above...
thin-film coating
Thin-film coatings are layers of material applied to the surface of an object or substrate, typically to modify its optical,...
extreme ultraviolet
Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) refers to a specific range of electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum....
polymer
Polymers are large molecules composed of repeating structural units called monomers. These monomers are chemically bonded...
infrared light-emitting diode
An infrared light-emitting diode (IR LED) is a semiconductor device that emits infrared light when an electric current...
ion-assisted deposition
A technique for improving the structure density of thin-film coatings by bombarding the growing film with accelerated ions...
ultraviolet coatings
Ultraviolet (UV) coatings are specialized optical coatings designed to operate in the ultraviolet region of the...
laser damage threshold
The laser damage threshold refers to the maximum level of laser intensity that a material can withstand without experiencing...
die bonding
Die bonding is a critical process in semiconductor manufacturing and microelectronics assembly, where a semiconductor die or...
anisotropy
Anisotropy refers to the property of exhibiting different values or characteristics when measured in different directions....
GRIN lens
A GRIN (gradient index) lens is a type of optical lens that utilizes a gradient in refractive index across its volume rather...
hyperspectral imaging
Hyperspectral imaging is an advanced imaging technique that captures and processes information from across the...
free-electron laser
A free-electron laser (FEL) is a type of laser that generates coherent, high-intensity electromagnetic radiation by using a...
photoacoustic
Photoacoustic refers to the generation of acoustic (sound) waves following the absorption of light (usually laser pulses) by...
electrophotography
The photographic recording of an image formed by the alteration in electrical properties of the sensitive materials and...
piezoelectric transducers and ceramic materials
Piezoelectric transducers are devices that utilize the piezoelectric effect to convert electrical energy into mechanical...
neutral density coating
A coating applied to a neutral density glass that is designed to reduce the amount of light evenly across the transmitted...
heat sink
A heat sink for a laser is a device designed to absorb and dissipate the excess heat generated by the laser during...
enhanced Faraday effect
The occurrence of very large rotations in transparent materials at weak magnetic fields as predicted in the classical...
Laurent polarimeter
A Laurent polarimeter is an instrument used in optics for measuring the rotation of plane-polarized light caused by...
beamsplitter
A beamsplitter is an optical device used to divide a beam of light into two or more separate beams, typically by reflecting...
beta radiation
The high-speed electrons and positrons emitted by radioactive materials.
cryostat
A cryostat is a device used to maintain very low temperatures, typically below the boiling point of liquid nitrogen (77 K or...
petrographic microscope
A microscope equipped with a polarizer, an analyzer and a Bertrand lens to focus on the upper focal plane of the objective....
terahertz
Terahertz (THz) refers to a unit of frequency in the electromagnetic spectrum, denoting waves with frequencies between 0.1...
beamsplitter coatings
Beamsplitter coatings are specialized optical coatings applied to glass or other substrates to split incident light into two...
sol-gel
A gelatinous fluid that can be used as a porous thin-film coating for optical components, including laser beam collimators,...
whispering gallery mode
Whispering gallery mode (WGM) refers to a phenomenon in wave physics, particularly in optics, where waves, such as light or...
annealing
The process of heating and slowly cooling a solid material, like glass or metal, to stabilize its thermal, electrical or...
arc flash
An arc flash is a sudden release of electrical energy due to an electric arc — a continuous, high-current discharge of...
Peltier cooler
A Peltier cooler, also known as a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) or thermoelectric module, is a solid-state device that uses...
lock-in amplifier
A lock-in amplifier is a specialized electronic instrument used to extract and measure small signals embedded in noise or...
thin-film deposition
Thin-film deposition is a process used to deposit a thin layer of material onto a substrate surface, typically ranging from...
microdensitometer
The fundamental tool of microdensitometry, the microdensitometer is an instrument used for the precise measurement of...
optical phase distortion
Optical phase distortion refers to a phenomenon where the phase of an optical wavefront is altered as it propagates through...
photonic cavity
A photonic cavity, also known as an optical cavity, is a structure that confines electromagnetic radiation within a certain...
swept-source Raman spectroscopy
swept-source Raman spectroscopy is an advanced analytical technique that combines the principles of Raman spectroscopy with...
hydrophobic
Hydrophobic is a term used to describe substances or materials that repel or do not readily interact with water. The word...
head-up display
A head-up display (HUD) is a transparent display technology that presents information directly in the field of view of a...
graphene
Graphene is a two-dimensional allotrope of carbon consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal...
edge-emitting LED
An edge-emitting light-emitting diode is a type of LED structure where light emission occurs primarily along the edge of the...
synchrotron
A synchrotron is a type of particle accelerator that uses magnetic fields to steer charged particles, typically electrons or...
etaloning
Etaloning is an optical phenomenon that occurs in imaging systems, particularly in devices such as spectrometers,...
opaque projector
An opaque projector is a device used for enlarging and projecting images from opaque objects such as printed pages,...
sapphire optical fiber
Sapphire optical fiber is a type of optical fiber made from single-crystal sapphire, which is a form of aluminum oxide...
stress birefringence
Birefringence of materials that is induced or altered by stress fields.
laser lenses
Laser lenses, also known as optical lenses for laser applications, are specialized lenses designed to manipulate and control...
absorbing wedge
An absorbing wedge is an optical device used to control the intensity of light passing through it by absorbing a portion of...
photonic crystals
Photonic crystals are artificial structures or materials designed to manipulate and control the flow of light in a manner...
active region
In the context of a laser diode, the active region is a critical part of the device where the primary light generation...
computer-generated holographic scanner
A phase reflection scanner that eliminates the need for a complex translation device while maintaining a high-energy-density...
III-V material
In semiconductor physics and materials science, the term "III-V materials" refers to compounds composed of elements from...
scribing and engraving laser systems
Scribing and engraving laser systems are types of laser equipment used for precision cutting, marking, and engraving on...
infrared optical material
The range of materials that, unlike glass, may be used in the infrared. Water-soluble salts, such as cesium iodide, and...
epitaxial
Epitaxial refers to the growth of a crystalline layer on a crystalline substrate in such a way that the orientation of the...
maser
A maser (microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) is a device that produces coherent electromagnetic...
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...
masks for evaporation/deposition
In the context of thin film deposition processes such as evaporation or sputtering, masks are used to selectively deposit...
depletion region
The region at the PN junction in a semiconductor radiation detector where the potential energies of the two materials create...
plasmon ion-assisted deposition
Plasmon ion-assisted deposition (PIAD) is a technique used in thin-film deposition processes, particularly in the production...
luminescence
Luminescence is the emission of light that occurs without the involved substance undergoing a significant increase in...
Casimir force
The Casimir force is a quantum phenomenon that results in an attractive force between two closely spaced uncharged...
isochromatic lines
1. Lines of the same color. 2. A term used in photoelastic stress analysis to refer to the interference fringes produced in...
microchannel plate
A microchannel plate (MCP) is a specialized electron multiplier device used in various applications such as particle...
telescope lens
A telescope lens is a primary optical component of a telescope system that gathers and focuses light to form an image. It is...
rhodamine
Rhodamine refers to a family of fluorescent organic dyes that are widely used in various fields, including biology,...
absorption spectrum
An absorption spectrum is a graphical representation of the absorption of light by a material as a function of wavelength,...
scanning electron microscopy
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is an advanced imaging technique used in microscopy to obtain high-resolution,...
etalon
An etalon is an optical device that consists of two parallel reflecting surfaces separated by a precise and known distance....
nondestructive testing
Any testing method for materials and components that does not damage or destroy the test sample. Some of the methods used...
color aging test
A test used to measure the degree of fading of different colored materials, especially those involving organic dyes, which...
astronomical mirror
An astronomical mirror, also known as a telescope mirror or primary mirror, is a key component of a reflecting telescope. It...
microheterogeneous systems
Extremely small organic and inorganic systems of molecules within a substance. In general, systems are colloidal size in...
near-infrared camera
A near-infrared (NIR) camera is an imaging device designed to capture images in the near-infrared region of the...
interstitial absorbing coating
An absorbing coating medium between fibers, used in some fused fiber optic plates to absorb unwanted light. Such coatings...
phonon
A phonon is a quantum of vibrational energy associated with the periodic motion of atoms or molecules in a crystalline...
mesoscope
In the field of optics and imaging, a mesoscope refers to an optical instrument that is designed to observe and capture...
safelight
Filtered light to which photographic or other photosensitive materials are not responsive; used to illuminate darkrooms when...
long-pass filter
A long-pass filter is an optical filter that allows longer wavelengths of light to pass through while blocking or...
3D printing
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), is a manufacturing process that builds three-dimensional objects...
acute bisectrix
The term acute bisectrix is used in mineralogy and crystallography to describe a specific optical property of minerals,...
nanoimprint lithography
Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) is a nanolithography technique used for fabricating nanoscale patterns on a substrate. It is a...
functional material
Functional materials refer to materials that possess specific properties or functionalities that make them suitable for...
spectroscopy laser systems
Spectroscopy laser systems are specialized setups that utilize lasers to study the interaction between light and matter....
amphoteric materials
Substances that exhibit the characteristics of both acids and bases and are capable of both P- and N-type conductivity.
diode laser
A diode laser is a type of laser that uses a semiconductor diode as the active medium to generate coherent light....
carbonization
Carbonization is a process in which organic materials are heated in the absence of air, leading to the decomposition of the...
actinic
Actinic refers to the property of radiation, particularly ultraviolet (UV) light, that can cause photochemical reactions. ...
Brillouin microscopy
Brillouin microscopy is a non-invasive imaging technique that utilizes Brillouin scattering to measure the mechanical...
photovoltaic
Photovoltaic (PV) refers to a technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductors. The term...
holographic camera
A holographic camera, also known as a holographic imaging system or holographic recorder, is a specialized device used to...
organic light-emitting diode
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) is a type of light-emitting diode (LED) technology that utilizes organic compounds to...
transparent electrophotographic films
Imaging materials that generally consist of a polyester base, a transparent electrically conductive layer and an organic...
beam shaper
A beam shaper is an optical device or system designed to modify the spatial profile or intensity distribution of a laser or...
optical noise
Optical noise refers to undesirable fluctuations or disturbances in an optical signal that can affect the quality or...
in situ
In situ, from Latin meaning "in place," refers to a method or approach where measurements, observations, or experiments are...
diamond turning
Diamond turning, also known as diamond machining or diamond cutting, is a precision machining process used to produce...
adiabatic laser colorimetry
Adiabatic laser colorimetry is a technique used to measure the color of materials based on the principle of adiabatic...
linear positioning stage
A linear positioning stage, also known as a linear stage or translation stage, is a precision mechanical device used to...
additive manufacturing
Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a manufacturing process that involves creating three-dimensional...
impurity level
In the context of optical materials, the term "impurity level" refers to the presence of foreign atoms or molecules within...
optical testing instrument
An optical testing instrument is a device or system used to evaluate and measure the performance, quality, and...
optical modulator
An optical modulator is a device used to control or modify a property of light, such as its amplitude, phase, polarization,...
dielectric coating
A high-reflectance coating consisting of alternating layers of quarter-wave film of a higher refractive index and lower...
fluorescence microscopy
Fluorescence microscopy is a specialized optical imaging technique used in biology, chemistry, and materials science to...
dielectric
Exhibiting the characteristic of materials that are electrical insulators or in which an electric field can be sustained...
temperature sensors
Temperature sensors in optics are crucial for monitoring and controlling thermal effects that can significantly impact...
incoherent bundle
A bundle of filaments of optical glass or other transparent materials that transmit only light, not optical images. The...
optical gate
An optical gate typically refers to a device or system that controls the transmission of light, allowing it to pass through...
ball lens
A ball lens is a small, spherical optical component typically made of glass or other transparent materials. It is...
quantum sensing
Quantum sensing refers to a class of sensing technologies that leverage principles from quantum mechanics to enhance the...
fiber laser
A fiber laser is a type of laser in which the active gain medium is an optical fiber doped with rare-earth ions such as...
actinometer
An actinometer is a device used to measure the intensity of radiation, particularly solar radiation or light, often with a...
hybrid optical integrated circuit
Device in which the various circuit elements are fabricated in different substrate materials and then appropriately joined...
sclerometer
An instrument used to test the hardness of various materials. It measures the pressure on a standard point that is necessary...
germanium crystal
Germanium crystal refers to a crystalline form of the element germanium (Ge), which is a metalloid and semiconductor...
actinic glass
Actinic glass is a type of glass specifically designed to filter or block ultraviolet (UV) light and other forms of actinic...
infrared camera
An infrared camera, also known as a thermal imaging camera or IR camera, is a device that captures and visualizes the...
optical accumulator
An optical accumulator is a concept or device that collects and stores optical energy or data for subsequent use. This can...
sapphire window
A sapphire window refers to a transparent optical component made from sapphire crystal. Sapphire is a single-crystal form of...
photoconductivity
The conductivity increase exhibited by some nonmetallic materials, resulting from the free carriers generated when photon...
laser active elements
Laser active elements typically refers to the substances or materials within a laser system that play a critical role in the...
fluorescent screen
A fluorescent screen refers to a phosphorescent or fluorescent-coated surface that emits visible light when exposed to other...
PN junction
The transition boundary between P-type and N-type materials in a semiconductor.
accessible radiation
Accessible radiation refers to the portion of radiation from a source that can be reached or detected by humans,...
fiber optic spectrometer
A fiber optic spectrometer is a device used for measuring the spectral content of light. It utilizes optical fibers to...
nanopositioning
Nanopositioning refers to the precise and controlled movement or manipulation of objects or components at the nanometer...
flash photographic density filter
A filter, partially opaque to near-ultraviolet, visible and infrared radiation, that may be made by exposing and processing...
photomagnetic effect
The direct influence of light on the magnetic susceptibility of particular materials.
diffuse reflectance spectroscopy
Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) is a nondestructive analytical technique used to investigate the optical properties...
piezoelectric motion systems
Piezoelectric motion systems are mechanical systems that utilize piezoelectric materials to generate controlled motion or...
mirror coating
One or more thin-film layers of optical material deposited on a mirror blank/substrate in order to enhance the way that...
electron-beam evaporation
A method of thin-film deposition in which electrons boiled off a heated cathode are used to melt the coating material. If a...
hydrophilic
Hydrophilic is a term used to describe substances or materials that have an affinity for water. The word hydrophilic comes...
achirality
Achirality refers to the property of a molecule or object that is superimposable on its mirror image. In other words, an...
liquid/fluid optics
Liquid or fluid optics refers to the use of liquids to create or enhance optical systems. These systems leverage the unique...
photomultiplier tube
A photomultiplier tube (PMT) is a highly sensitive vacuum tube that detects and amplifies low levels of light. It is widely...
laser irradiation
Laser irradiation is a process that involves the use of focused laser beams to deliver energy to specific areas for medical,...
skyrmion
A skyrmion is a topologically stable, vortex-like configuration of spins in a magnetic material. These configurations are...
laser annealing
Laser annealing is a process that involves using a laser beam to heat and modify the microstructure of a material, typically...
interlayer attraction
Interlayer attraction refers to the attractive forces between adjacent layers of atoms or molecules in a material,...
light-emitting diode
An LED, or light emitting diode, is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs...
laser shock peening
Laser shock peening (LSP) is a surface treatment process used to enhance the mechanical properties and durability of...
slab-dielectric waveguide
A waveguide with a rectangular cross section that is composed entirely of dielectric materials.
material scattering
The total scattering attributable to the intrinsic properties of the materials through which an optical wave is propagating.
intrinsic detector
A photodetector composed of a photoconductive material that, when exposed to radiation, conducts without the aid of added...
planform bonding
A manufacturing process used to construct substrates for large optical components. Used with IR materials, planform bonding...
nonlinear polarization
Nonlinear polarization refers to the phenomenon where the polarization of a material responds nonlinearly to an applied...
optical cements and adhesive
Optical cements and adhesives are specialized materials used in the assembly and bonding of optical components in optical...
polarimeter
A polariscope with a half-shade device and an angular scale generally attached to the analyzer. It is used to measure the...
backscatter
Backscatter refers to the phenomenon in which radiation or waves are scattered backward, opposite to the direction of the...
metallographic polishing machine
A small optical polishing machine intended for polishing the surface of a metal specimen before etching for examination...
electron-beam recording
The recording of the information contained in a modulated electron beam onto photographic or silicon resin-coated materials....
flow channel
In various fields such as fluid dynamics, microfluidics, and biotechnology, a flow channel refers to a defined pathway...
lens
A lens is a transparent optical device that focuses or diverges light, allowing it to pass through and form an image. Lenses...
narcissus
A defect in infrared systems that appears as a dark circular area on a displayed image, caused by radiation reflecting into...
three-axis stage
A three-axis stage, also known as a three-axis positioning stage, is a precision mechanical device designed to control the...
laser mirrors
Laser mirrors are specialized optical components designed to reflect laser beams with high efficiency and minimal loss. They...
Lorentz oscillator model
The Lorentz oscillator model is a theoretical model used in physics to describe the response of a charged particle (such as...
magnetorheological
Magnetorheological (MR) materials, often referred to as MR fluids, are smart materials that undergo significant changes in...
fluorescence
Fluorescence is a type of luminescence, which is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other...
structural color
Structural color refers to coloration in materials that is not caused by pigments or dyes but is instead a result of the...
laser peening
Laser peening is a surface enhancement technique used to improve the mechanical properties of materials, particularly...
two-photon polymerization
Two-photon polymerization (TPP) is a technique used in additive manufacturing, specifically in the field of 3D printing. It...
optical manufacturing tools and machinery
Optical manufacturing tools and machinery encompass a wide range of equipment, instruments, and systems used in the...
quantum-ehanced metrology
Quantum-enhanced metrology refers to the use of quantum mechanics principles and techniques to enhance the precision and...
flexible display
A flexible display refers to a type of electronic visual display that is designed to be bendable, foldable, or rollable,...
metalens
A metalens, short for "metasurface lens," is a type of optical lens that uses nanostructured materials to manipulate light...
linear polarization
Linear polarization refers to the polarization state of light where the electric field oscillates in a single plane as the...
lattice
In photonics, a lattice refers to a periodic arrangement of optical elements or structures, often on a microscopic or...
chromatic aberration
Chromatic aberration is an optical phenomenon that occurs when different wavelengths (colors) of light are refracted by a...
Nernst glower
A Nernst glower, also known simply as a Nernst lamp or Nernst filament, is a type of incandescent lamp or radiant heater...
achromatic prism
An achromatic prism is a type of prism designed to separate white light into its component colors (spectrum) without causing...
optical filter
An optical filter is a device that selectively transmits or blocks specific wavelengths, or colors, of light. Optical...
chemical sensing
Chemical sensing refers to the detection and measurement of specific chemical compounds or substances in various...
ytterbium laser
A ytterbium laser is a type of solid-state laser that employs ytterbium ions (Yb³+) as the dopant in the gain medium....
solar simulator
A solar simulator is a device used to replicate the spectrum and intensity of sunlight in a controlled environment for...
filovirus
Filoviruses are a family of viruses that are responsible for severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fevers in humans and...
slot modulator
In photonics, a slot modulator refers to a type of optical modulator that operates based on the principle of modifying the...
corrected lens
A compound lens, the dimensions and materials of which have been so chosen that the lens is appreciably free of aberrations.
polariscope
A combination of a polarizer and an analyzer that is used to detect birefringence or rotation of the plane of polarization...
conduction welding
A type of laser welding of thin materials using a defocused or low-power carbon dioxide laser beam. The energy is absorbed...
microelectromechanical systems
Microelectromechanical systems, or MEMS, refer to miniature devices or systems that integrate mechanical and electrical...
molecular motor
A molecular motor refers to a nano-sized device composed of organic molecules or other small-scale components that can...
spectral signature
A spectral signature, in the context of remote sensing and spectroscopy, refers to the unique pattern or characteristic...
multispectral imaging
Multispectral imaging is a technique that involves capturing and analyzing images at multiple discrete spectral bands within...
vacuum chamber
A vacuum chamber is a sealed enclosure from which air and other gases are removed to create a low-pressure environment,...
fiber optic attentuators
A fiber optic attenuator is a passive optical component designed to attenuate or decrease the intensity of an optical signal...
diamond-turned optic
Diamond turning refers to a precision machining process used to produce complex optical components, particularly lenses and...
phase mask
In optics and photolithography, a phase mask refers to a device that modifies the phase of light waves passing through it....
interband cascade laser
An interband cascade laser (ICL) is a type of semiconductor laser that operates based on interband transitions between...
ablation laser systems
Ablation laser systems are specialized devices that use laser energy to remove material from a surface through a process...
adhesion (thin-films)
Optical thin film adhesion specifically refers to the adhesion properties of thin films used in optical applications....
multilayer coating
A coating made up of many layers of material having alternating high and low refractive index. In this way, it is possible...
holographic tomography
Holographic tomography is an advanced imaging technique that combines holography and tomography to provide three-dimensional...
ultraviolet fiber optics
Ultraviolet (UV) fiber optics refers to optical fibers that are designed and optimized for the transmission of ultraviolet...
fluoride fibers
Fluoride fibers are optical fibers made from fluoride-based materials, typically fluoride glasses or crystalline fluoride...
modified chemical vapor deposition
Modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) is a technique used in the fabrication of optical fibers. It is a specialized form...
nanophotonics
Nanophotonics is a branch of science and technology that explores the behavior of light on the nanometer scale, typically at...
smart microscopy
Smart microscopy refers to the integration of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and...
laser cavity
A laser cavity, also known as an optical cavity or resonator, is a fundamental component of a laser system. It is a confined...
photoluminescence
Photoluminescence is a phenomenon in which a material absorbs photons (light) at one wavelength and then re-emits photons at...
phase contrast microscopy
Phase contrast microscopy is an optical microscopy technique that enhances the contrast of transparent and colorless...
oleophobic
Oleophobic is a term used to describe substances or materials that repel or resist oils. The word oleophobic comes from the...
bioluminescence
Bioluminescence is the natural phenomenon where living organisms produce light through a chemical reaction. In the context...
Rockwell hardness
Rockwell hardness (Rc) refers to a method for measuring the hardness of a material, primarily metals, using an indentation...
piezoelectric
Piezoelectricity is a property exhibited by certain materials in which they generate an electric charge in response to...
tungsten diselenide
Tungsten diselenide (WSe2) is a member of the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) family, composed of tungsten (W) and...
sputtering target
A sputtering target is a solid material used in the process of physical vapor deposition (PVD), specifically sputtering....
microcomb
A microcomb, short for microresonator frequency comb, is a novel photonic device that generates a precise series of evenly...
ferroelectric materials
Ferroelectric materials are a type of dielectric materials that exhibit spontaneous electric polarization, meaning they...
calorimetry
Calorimetry is a branch of science that involves the measurement of heat flow in physical or chemical processes. It...
light diffusion
Light diffusion refers to the process by which light is scattered or spread out in various directions as it interacts with a...
silicon carbide light-emitting diodes
Silicon carbide (SiC) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor devices that emit light when an electric current is...
two-six
Referring to compound semiconductor materials combining one element with two valence electrons and one or more with six....
particle acceleration
Particle acceleration refers to the process by which charged particles, such as electrons or protons, gain kinetic energy...
sapphire
Sapphire refers to a crystalline form of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) that is used in various optical and photonic applications...
cleanroom
An area in which airborne particulates can be monitored and controlled so that given size particles do not exceed a...
acrylic
Acrylic refers to a type of synthetic polymer material known for its versatility, clarity, and durability. It is commonly...
laser lithotripter
A laser device intended for crushing urinary tract stones so they can be flushed from the body. Light is introduced via...
machine vision lens
A machine vision lens is a specialized optical lens designed for use in machine vision systems, which are used for automated...
GaN distributed feedback lasers
GaN (gallium nitride) distributed feedback (DFB) lasers refer to a specific type of semiconductor laser based on Gallium...
optical materials
Optical materials refer to substances or compounds specifically chosen for their optical properties and used in the...
optics
Optics is the branch of physics that studies the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter...
reactive evaporation
Reactive evaporation refers to a process in thin-film deposition where a material is deposited onto a substrate through...
blackbody source
A blackbody source, often simply referred to as a blackbody, is a theoretical or practical physical object that absorbs all...
fiber optic cable assembly
A fiber optic cable assembly refers to a complete unit consisting of optical fibers, connectors, protective jackets, and...
beta fluorography
The use of a short-duration electron beam to record high-speed events that occur in microscopic objects made of materials...
optical coatings
Optical coatings are thin layers of materials applied to optical components, such as lenses, mirrors, filters, and prisms,...
carrier injection
Carrier injection refers to the process of introducing charge carriers (either electrons or holes) into a semiconductor...
terahertz spectrometer
A terahertz spectrometer is a scientific instrument used to measure and analyze the properties of materials in the terahertz...
marking laser systems
Marking laser systems are advanced devices that use laser beams to create permanent marks, patterns, or engravings on...
orange peel
In the context of imaging, particularly digital imaging and printing, "orange peel" refers to a texture or visual distortion...
fluorescence and phosphorescence spectroscopy
Fluorescence and phosphorescence spectroscopy are techniques used to study the emission of light (photons) by molecules...
microphotonics
The technology of manipulating light on a micro scale. In optical communications, this is usually accomplished using two or...
photochromic
Photochromic refers to a property exhibited by certain materials, typically organic compounds or dyes, which undergo...
laser marking
Laser marking is a process in which a laser beam is used to mark or engrave a surface by altering its properties or...
superresolution
Superresolution refers to the enhancement or improvement of the spatial resolution beyond the conventional limits imposed by...
active element
In various fields of science and technology, an active element typically refers to a component or substance that actively...
3D profiling
3D profiling, also known as three-dimensional profiling, refers to the process of capturing, analyzing, and visualizing the...
exciton
An exciton is a quasiparticle that represents the bound state of an electron and a hole in a solid-state material, typically...
second-order nonlinear optical properties
Second-order nonlinear optical properties refer to a class of phenomena exhibited by certain materials in response to...
laser reflow soldering
Use of a laser to solder joints by melting the solder coatings on the mating components.
cylindrical lens
A cylindrical lens is an optical component that has different curvatures along its two orthogonal axes, resulting in a shape...
vacuum
In optics, the term vacuum typically refers to a space devoid of matter, including air and other gases. However, in...
Nd:YAG laser
Nd:YAG laser refers to a solid-state laser that utilizes neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:Y3Al5O12) as the gain...
accessible emission
Accessible emission typically refers to the portion of emitted radiation (light, particles, etc.) from a source that can be...
spectrum analyzers
In optics, spectrum analyzers are instruments used to analyze the spectral characteristics of light emitted or transmitted...
photochemical
The term photochemical pertains to chemical processes or reactions that are initiated or influenced by the absorption of...
atomic force microscope
An atomic force microscope (AFM) is a high-resolution imaging and measurement instrument used in nanotechnology, materials...
adhesive (optical)
An intermolecular substance that serves to hold materials together. Two types are used in the optical industry: one, which...
soft coating
A term describing an antireflection coating that may be applied to optics that cannot tolerate the high temperatures usually...
acetone
Optic surface cleaning liquid that may be applied to glass, crystal, dielectric and metal surfaces; however, may not be...
quantum efficiency
Quantum efficiency (QE) is a measure of the effectiveness with which a device or system, typically in the context of...
FTIR spectrometer
FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectrometer is a powerful analytical instrument used to obtain an infrared spectrum of...
achromatism
Achromatism refers to the optical property of a lens, prism, or optical system that minimizes or eliminates chromatic...
retroreflectivity
Retroreflectivity refers to the property of a surface or material to reflect light back to its source, regardless of the...
active-matrix OLED display
An active matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display is a type of flat-panel display technology that combines the...
low-loss fiber
Optical fiber that transmits a greater percentage of input light than does high-loss step-index fiber. Low-loss fiber...
phase conjugation
The use of a reflective device, which can be fashioned from a variety of materials including gases, solids, dyes, aerosols,...
mechanical splice
A fiber splice accomplished by fixtures or materials, rather than by thermal fusion. Index matching material may be applied...
negative-refraction metamaterial
An artificial material, engineered to have a negative refractive index value, such that light or any other form of...
fluorescence lifetime imaging
Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) is an advanced imaging technique that provides information about the lifetime of...
gallium nitride
Gallium nitride (GaN) is a compound made up of gallium (Ga) and nitrogen (N). It is a wide-bandgap semiconductor material...
Raman spectrometer laser systems
Raman spectrometer laser systems are specialized instruments used to perform Raman spectroscopy, a technique that provides...
indium phosphide
Indium phosphide (InP) is a compound semiconductor material composed of indium (In) and phosphorus (P). It belongs to the...
infrared detector
An infrared detector is a device that is used to detect and measure infrared radiation, which lies beyond the visible...
laser texturing
Laser texturing is a manufacturing process that involves using a laser beam to selectively modify the surface of a material,...
plasmonics
Plasmonics is a field of science and technology that focuses on the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and free...
thermal interface materials
Thermal interface materials (TIMs) are substances or compounds used to enhance the thermal conductivity between two surfaces...
resistance heater
A crucible made of electrically resistive material through which a current is passed to heat the material inside, which then...
laser coatings
Laser coatings, also known as optical coatings for laser applications, are specialized thin films or coatings applied to...
epitaxial deposition
Epitaxial deposition is a process used in semiconductor manufacturing and materials science to grow a thin crystalline...
anisotropic
Anisotropic is a term used to describe a material or substance that exhibits different properties or behaviors in different...
micro-robotics
Micro-robotics refers to the field of robotics that involves the design, development, and application of miniature robotic...
blue diode laser
A blue diode laser is a type of semiconductor laser that emits light in the blue wavelength range of the electromagnetic...
translucent
Pertaining to materials having the property of reflecting a part and transmitting a part of the incident radiation.
electromagnon
An electromagnon is a quasiparticle excitation that combines aspects of both magnetism and electric polarization in a...
invisibility cloak
An invisibility cloak is technology that would render an object or individual invisible to the observer. In scientific...
spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is a technique used in the study of interactions between matter and electromagnetic radiation. It involves...
biophotonics
The technology that deals with the interaction of organic materials with light and other forms of radiant energy whose...
gallium arsenide phosphide
Gallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) is a semiconductor alloy composed of gallium (Ga), arsenic (As), and phosphorus (P). It...
refractive index contrast
A measure of the relative difference in refractive index between two optical materials. Most commonly used in fiber optics...
dichroic coating
A dichroic coating, also known as a dichroic filter or dichroic mirror, is an optical coating designed to selectively...
computer polarization holography
A technique used to store wavefront information on thin polarization information-recordable materials by controlling the...
inline inspection
Inline inspection involves performing quality checks, measurements, or tests on products or materials while they are being...
dark box
A lightproof box used for storing photosensitive materials.
dichroic mirror
A dichroic mirror, also known as a dichroic beamsplitter or interference filter beamsplitter, is an optical device that...
scintillation crystal
A scintillation crystal, also known simply as a scintillator, is a material that emits light when it interacts with ionizing...
photocathodes
Photocathodes are specialized materials or surfaces that exhibit the photoelectric effect, wherein the absorption of photons...
near-infrared spectrometer
A near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer is an analytical instrument used to measure the absorption, transmission, or reflection...
magnon
A magnon is a quasiparticle representing a quantized spin wave in a magnetic material. In other words, it is a collective...
image intensifier
An image intensifier, also known as an image intensification tube or image intensification device, is a specialized...
guided wave
A wave in which energy is focused near a boundary separating materials having different properties. Propagation of the wave...
emission spectroscopy
Emission spectroscopy is a technique used to study the emission of electromagnetic radiation (light) by atoms, molecules, or...
chirped mirrors
Chirped mirrors are optical devices designed to manipulate the spectral properties of ultrashort laser pulses. They consist...
volume Bragg gratings
Volume Bragg gratings (VBGs) are specialized optical elements that consist of periodic variations in refractive index...
spatter
Of evaporative coatings, a condition resulting when small chunks of material fly from the hot crucible onto the substrate...
brightfield
Brightfield refers to a type of microscopy and imaging technique in which the specimen is illuminated with a white light...
Mie scattering
Mie scattering, named after the German physicist Gustav Mie, refers to the scattering of electromagnetic radiation (such as...
reflective spectroscopy
Reflectance spectroscopy is a technique used to analyze the reflective properties of materials across various wavelengths of...
micro-ring resonator
A micro-ring resonator is a compact optical device that utilizes the resonant behavior of light within a small ring-shaped...
substrate
A substrate refers to a material or surface upon which another material or process is applied or deposited. In various...
rare earth dopants
Rare earth dopants refer to elements from the lanthanide series, also known as rare earth elements, that are intentionally...
Grittington test
A method of determining the abrasion resistance of very hard materials by passing a weighted wiper blade across them in a...
Schottky diode
A Schottky diode is a type of semiconductor diode characterized by its low forward voltage drop and fast switching speed. It...
hydrogel
A hydrogel is a three-dimensional network of polymer chains that are hydrophilic, meaning they have a strong affinity for...
evaporation coating
Coating carried out in a sealed chamber evacuated by a mechanical pump in series with an oil diffusion pump to a pressure...
optical emission spectroscopy
In dry etching, a method of characterizing the composition of solid materials such as metal. Atoms in the OES technique are...
quantum dot thin films
Quantum dot thin films refer to thin layers or coatings composed of quantum dots deposited onto a substrate surface. Quantum...
antireflection coating
An antireflection coating (AR coating) is a thin film or coating applied to optical surfaces, such as lenses or windows, to...
selective laser melting
Selective laser melting (SLM) is an additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that belongs to the powder bed...
dichalcogenide
Dichalcogenides are a class of compounds composed of two atoms of a chalcogen element bonded to a single atom of a metal or...
ray tracing
Ray tracing is a rendering technique used in computer graphics to simulate the way light interacts with objects in a scene....
epitaxy
A well controlled thin films technique for growing films with good crystal structure in ultra high vacuum environments at...
cathode radiant sensitivity
Cathode radiant sensitivity refers to the ability of a photocathode to convert incident radiant energy, typically in the...
multiline laser system
A multiline laser system refers to a type of laser that is capable of emitting multiple discrete wavelengths or spectral...
hermetic bonding
The total fusion and sealing of materials, or usually an enclosure, to ensure that they are airtight.
tip-enhanced Raman scattering
Tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) is a powerful technique that combines Raman spectroscopy with the enhanced spatial...
Rugate filters
A Rugate filter is a type of optical filter that is designed to have a continuously varying refractive index profile...
microscopy
Microscopy is a scientific technique that involves the use of microscopes to observe and study objects that are too small to...
photodetector
A photodetector, also known as a photosensor or photodiode, is a device that detects and converts light into an electrical...
ultraviolet reflectance
Ultraviolet reflectance refers to the ability of a material or surface to reflect UV light. Ultraviolet light is...
laser diode module
A laser diode module is a compact device that incorporates a laser diode, optics, and often other components into a single...
biomimicry
Biomimicry, or biomimetic design, is the practice of emulating natural processes, systems, and structures found in...
fluorescence correlation spectroscopy
Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is a powerful analytical technique used to study the dynamics and interactions...
sputtering equipment
Sputtering equipment is machinery used in the process of physical vapor deposition (PVD), specifically sputtering....
absorption peak
An absorption peak refers to a sharp increase or spike in the absorption of electromagnetic radiation at a particular...
ablative wall flashlamp
An ablative wall flashlamp typically refers to a type of flashlamp used in certain high-energy laser systems. ...
optoelectronics
Optoelectronics is a branch of electronics that focuses on the study and application of devices and systems that use light...
wafer
In the context of electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, a wafer refers to a thin, flat disk or substrate made of a...
laser materials processing
Laser materials processing refers to a diverse set of manufacturing techniques that utilize lasers to modify, cut, weld,...
Brillouin scattering
Brillouin scattering is a phenomenon in physics where an incident electromagnetic wave (usually light) interacts with...
dewetting
Dewetting is a phenomenon in materials science and physics where a thin film or coating spontaneously undergoes a process of...
lens blank
A lens blank is a piece of optical material in a raw, unfinished state, typically in the form of a disk or block, from which...
metaphotonics
Metaphotonics is an emerging field at the intersection of photonics, metamaterials, and nanotechnology. It involves the...
nanotechnology
The use of atoms, molecules and molecular-scale structures to enhance existing technology and develop new materials and...
quantum confinement
Quantum confinement refers to the phenomenon in quantum mechanics where the motion of charge carriers, such as electrons or...
thermal imaging
Thermal imaging is a technology that detects infrared radiation (heat) emitted by objects and converts it into an image,...
absorption spectroscopy
Absorption spectroscopy is a fundamental analytical technique used to study the interaction between electromagnetic...
polarizing coating
A coating made up of particular birefringent materials having polarizing properties. It may be used, in some cases, to...
heat affected zone
The heat-affected zone (HAZ) refers to the portion of a material, typically metal, that experiences changes in its...
corner cube
A corner cube, also known as a corner reflector or retroreflector prism, is a type of optical device used to reflect light...
differential interference contrast microscopy
Differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy, also known as Nomarski interference contrast microscopy, is an optical...
coated optics
Optical elements that have been coated with one or more layers of dielectric, or metallic material. These coatings serve to...
cryogenically cooled LWIR camera
A cryogenically cooled long-wave infrared (LWIR) camera is a specialized thermal imaging device designed to detect infrared...
darkroom
A room that is light-tight, permitting total darkness or illumination with a safelight when working with photosensitive...
microfluidics
Microfluidics is a multidisciplinary field that involves the manipulation and control of very small fluid volumes, typically...
short wavelength infrared
Short wavelength infrared (SWIR) refers to the portion of the infrared spectrum that encompasses wavelengths roughly between...
Mohs hardness
Material hardness scale that is used to characterize the scratch resistance of various materials. This surface hardness...
activity (radioactivity)
Radioactivity refers to the spontaneous emission of radiation from the nucleus of an unstable atom. This emission occurs as...
q-switched operation
Q-switched operation, or q-switching, is a technique used in lasers to produce short and intense pulses of light. The term...
hyperspectral resolution
Hyperspectral resolution refers to the level of detail or granularity in the spectral information captured by a...
actinic radiation
Actinic radiation refers to electromagnetic radiation that has enough energy to induce photochemical reactions. This type of...
nanoparticle photonic resonator absorption microscopy
Nanoparticle photonic resonator absorption microscopy is a microscopy technique that combines the principles of photonic...
twisted intramolecular charge transfer
Twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) is a phenomenon observed in certain organic molecules containing...
linear plastic
A term for thermoplastic optical materials; that is, those in which the polymer chains remain linear after heating and...
liquid crystal on silicon
Liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) is a display technology that combines liquid crystal materials with silicon-based...
pulse video thermography
A noncontact, nondestructive method of measuring defects in thin composite materials, using a xenon flashtube to generate...
spin coating
Spin coating is a widely used technique in the fabrication of thin films and coatings, particularly in microelectronics,...
optofluidics
Optofluidics is an interdisciplinary field that combines principles from optics and fluidics to create devices and systems...
nanoplasmonics
Nanoplasmonics is a branch of nanophotonics that focuses on the study and manipulation of optical phenomena at the nanoscale...
read-out integrated circuit
A read-out integrated circuit (ROIC) is an electronic device used in imaging systems, particularly in infrared (IR) and...
polymerization
Process of synthesizing long molecular chain materials (polymers) by reaction of many small molecules (usually thousands)...
argon-fluoride excimer laser
An argon-fluoride (ArF) excimer laser is a type of ultraviolet laser that operates using a mixture of argon and fluorine...
prism
A prism is a geometric optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light. It is typically a solid, transparent...
cord
A threadlike inclusion within a blank of optical glass. Rarely found in quality optical materials.
advanced photon source
An accelerator at the Argonne National Laboratory, providing powerful x-ray beams for materials research applications.
active-matrix liquid crystal display
An active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) is a type of flat-panel display technology that utilizes an array of...
attosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopy
Attosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopy (APAP) is an advanced technique in ultrafast spectroscopy that allows...
pitch polishing compound
Pitch for polishing mixed with other materials to give it the right viscosity so that it will follow the fine-ground lens...
flow chemistry
Flow chemistry, also known as continuous-flow chemistry, is a chemical manufacturing process where reactions take place in a...
excimer laser
An excimer laser is a type of ultraviolet laser that emits short pulses of light in the ultraviolet spectrum. The term...
nanotube
A nanotube, also known as a nanotubule or simply a tube-like structure, is a nanoscale cylindrical structure composed of...
ion-beam sputtering
Ion-beam sputtering (IBS) is a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique used for depositing thin films onto substrates. It...
gold colloid aggregates
Gold colloid aggregates refer to clusters or assemblies of gold nanoparticles suspended in a liquid medium. These aggregates...
optical table
An optical table, also known as an optical bench or an optical breadboard, is a specialized platform used in optics...
phase matching
Phase matching is a crucial concept in the field of optics, particularly in nonlinear optics and the generation of coherent...
cold coating
A method of applying antireflection coatings to optics that avoids the elevated temperatures normally used. A cold coating...
chemical vapor deposition equipment
Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) equipment refers to a class of specialized apparatus used in the process of chemical vapor...
noncontact automatic inspection systems
Noncontact inspection systems are advanced measurement and inspection technologies that evaluate the properties and...
mid-wave infrared
MWIR stands for mid-wave infrared, referring to a specific range of wavelengths within the infrared spectrum. Infrared...
homogenous light
Homogeneous light refers to light that is uniform in intensity and color across a given area or space. In other words,...
laser crystal
A laser crystal, also known as an active medium or gain medium, is a solid-state material used in the construction of...
infrared optic
Infrared optics refer to optical components and systems designed to manipulate and control infrared (IR) light, which lies...
monochromator
A monochromator is an optical instrument used to isolate and select a narrow range of wavelengths from a broader spectrum of...
retroreflection
Retroreflection is a phenomenon in optics where light is reflected back toward its source, typically in a direction nearly...
drawing tower
A system for fabricating optical fiber, consisting of a furnace that heats the materials, a polymer coating stage, a...
scanning electron microscope
A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a powerful imaging instrument used in scientific research, materials...
actinic focus
Actinic focus refers to the point or plane within an optical system where ultraviolet (UV) light or other actinic radiation...
solar simulation
The simulation of solar radiation in the infrared and ultraviolet spectrum for the analysis of extraterrestrial sunlight and...
laser kiss cutting
Laser kiss cutting is a technique used in manufacturing and fabrication processes, particularly in industries like...
polariton
A polariton is a quasiparticle resulting from the strong coupling between photons (light particles) and certain types of...
aspheric lens
An aspheric lens is a type of lens whose surface profiles deviate from the traditional spherical shape. Unlike spherical...
actinism
Actinism refers to the property of radiation, particularly light, that enables it to produce photochemical effects. This...
laser sintering
Laser sintering is an additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that involves using a laser to selectively fuse...
nonlinear crystal
A nonlinear crystal is a type of crystal that exhibits nonlinear optical properties when subjected to intense...
quantum dots
A quantum dot is a nanoscale semiconductor structure, typically composed of materials like cadmium selenide or indium...
triboluminescence
Luminescence that arises from friction and that usually occurs in crystalline materials.
grenz rays
The soft x-rays used in the industrial radiography of materials having too small a range of densities to produce an image...
high-density storage
Extensive data storage in the form of bits, with the use of high-resolution photographic materials and optics, and generally...
birefringence
Birefringence is an optical property of certain materials that causes them to exhibit different refractive indices for light...
hyperspectral imaging camera
A hyperspectral imaging camera is a sophisticated imaging device capable of capturing and processing data across a wide...
deep-ultraviolet laser
A deep-ultraviolet (DUV) laser is a type of laser that emits light in the deep ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic...
laser powder bed fusion
Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a type of additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that uses a high-power...
absorption lens
An absorption lens is a type of optical lens that not only focuses or diverges light but also significantly absorbs certain...
plastic optics
Plastic optics refers to optical components or systems that are made from transparent plastic materials, as opposed to...
Photoelastic equipment and supplies
Photoelastic equipment and supplies refer to instruments and materials used in photoelasticity, a technique used to analyze...
spectrosensitometer
A sensitometer having a continuously controlled monochromator to measure spectral sensitivity and contrast of photographic...
photovoltaic cell
A photovoltaic cell, commonly known as a solar cell, is a semiconductor device that directly converts light energy into...
infrared lens
An infrared lens is an optical component specifically designed and optimized for transmitting, focusing, or manipulating...
magneto-optics
Magneto-optics refers to the study and manipulation of the interaction between magnetic fields and light (electromagnetic...
chalcogenide
Chalcogenide refers to a class of compounds containing elements from group 16 of the periodic table, which includes sulfur...
doping
In the context of materials science and semiconductor physics, doping refers to the intentional introduction of impurities...
infrared spectrophotometer
A spectrophotometer having a prism or, more frequently, a grating for the study and recording of infrared spectra. It...
axial gradient technology
A method of designing lasers whereby the laser rod is cut into elliptical discs and cooled by running water over the disc...
perovskite
The term perovskite refers to a specific crystal structure commonly found in various materials. Perovskite structures have a...
quality control and inspection systems
Quality control and inspection systems in optics and photonics ensure that optical components and systems meet stringent...
heterojunction
A heterojunction is a junction formed between two different semiconductor materials with differing band gaps. These...
radioactivity detector
An instrument used to detect radioactive materials: alpha particles or helium nuclei; beta particles or free electrons; and...
second-harmonic generation
Second-harmonic generation (SHG) is a nonlinear optical process that occurs when two photons with the same frequency combine...
diffuser
An optical diffuser is an optical component or material designed to scatter or diffuse light that passes through it. It is...
laser ablation
Laser ablation is a process that involves the removal or erosion of material from a target surface using laser energy. This...
sensitometry
Primarily the measurement of photographic sensitivity of certain materials such as photographic film. It refers to the...
etching liquid
An acid used to etch the surfaces of particular materials. For glass, hydrofluoric acid is used either as a liquid or a...
nanoLED
An LED (light-emitting diode) is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs...
dual-axis laser
Dual-axis laser is a laser device or system capable of emitting laser beams along two orthogonal axes (typically X and Y...
well plate
A well plate, also known as a microplate or microtiter plate, is a flat plate with multiple small wells or depressions...
saturable absorber
A saturable absorber is a type of optical device that exhibits variable absorption properties depending on the intensity of...
high-power laser windows
High-power laser windows are specialized optical components designed to transmit laser beams while withstanding the high...
attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy
Attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy is a technique used in analytical chemistry to obtain IR spectra of samples....
pyrolysis
A process that employs heat to remove polyimide plastic coatings from silica optical fibers and capillary tubing.
surface-enhanced Raman scattering
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful analytical technique that enhances the Raman scattering signal of...
reagent
A reagent is a substance or compound that is used in a chemical reaction to bring about a specific transformation or to...
bin picking
Bin picking, also known as bin picking automation or bin picking robotics, refers to the automated process of selecting and...
quantum well
A quantum well is a structure in quantum mechanics that confines particles, such as electrons or holes, in one spatial...
laser optics
Laser optics refers to a broad category of optical components and systems designed for manipulating and controlling laser...
beam-addressable technology
The application of reversible writing with a laser beam on particular storage materials. In one method, an amorphous film is...
actinochemistry
Actinochemistry refers to the branch of chemistry that studies the chemical effects of radiation, particularly light, on...
terahertz radiation
Electromagnetic radiation with frequencies between 300 GHz and 10 THz, and existing between regions of the electromagnetic...
liquid marble
Liquid marble refers to a unique form of microscale liquid encapsulation, where small droplets of liquid are coated with a...
on-board optics
On-board optics refers to optical systems integrated into devices or platforms for various purposes, such as imaging,...
ceramics
In optics and photonics, ceramics refer to advanced ceramic materials that possess unique optical properties, making them...
electro-optic modulator
An electro-optic modulator (EOM) is a device used to modulate the amplitude, phase, or polarization of light waves using an...
dichroism
Dichroism refers to the property of certain materials to exhibit different colors or absorbance of light depending on the...
fiber optic preform
A fiber optic preform is a cylindrical glass rod or tube used as the starting material for manufacturing optical fibers. It...
detector array
A detector array refers to a collection of individual detector elements arranged in a two-dimensional grid or matrix format....
nonlinear optics
Nonlinear optics is a branch of optics that studies the optical phenomena that occur when intense light interacts with a...
Fresnel reflection
Fresnel reflection refers to the reflection of light at the interface between two different media with different refractive...
fluorescence lifetime
Fluorescence lifetime refers to the average time it takes for a fluorophore, a molecule that absorbs light at one wavelength...
reflective
The term reflective is an adjective that describes the ability of a surface or material to reflect light or other forms of...
dispersion
Dispersion refers to the phenomenon where different wavelengths (colors) of light travel at different speeds when passing...
infrared coatings
Infrared coatings, also known as IR coatings, are specialized optical coatings designed to manipulate the transmission,...
ultraviolet light sources
Ultraviolet (UV) light sources are devices that emit light in the ultraviolet spectrum, which ranges from about 10 nm to 400...
azobenzene
Azobenzene is a chemical compound consisting of two phenyl rings linked by a N=N double bond. It is well-known for its...
absorption hologram
An absorption hologram is a type of hologram in which the image is formed by variations in the absorption of light within...
vibrational spectroscopy
Vibrational spectroscopy is a type of spectroscopy that involves the study of the vibrational states of molecules. It is...
endoscope
An endoscope is a medical device used for visualizing and examining the interior of hollow organs, body cavities, or...
didymium glass
Glass tinted with mixed oxides of neodymium and praseodymium that, unlike most solid materials, have absorption bands that...
nonpolarizing prisms
Nonpolarizing prisms are optical components designed to split or combine light beams without altering their polarization...
harmonic generation
Harmonic generation refers to a nonlinear optical process in which incoming photons interact with a material and produce new...
InGaAs photodiode
An InGaAs photodiode refers to a photodetector device that is constructed using a semiconductor material composed of a...
YAG crystal
A YAG crystal refers to a solid-state crystal made of yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), which is a synthetic crystalline...
infrared reflector
An optical component coated to reflect infrared radiation. Gold, silver and aluminum are typical coating materials.
ellipsometry
Ellipsometry is an optical technique used to characterize the properties of thin films and surfaces. It is based on the...
Raman scattering
Raman scattering, also known as the Raman effect or Raman spectroscopy, is a phenomenon in which light undergoes inelastic...
welding laser systems
Welding laser systems refer to specialized equipment used for joining materials through the application of a high-energy...
broadband dielectric mirrors
Broadband dielectric mirrors, also known as broadband mirrors, are optical coatings designed to efficiently reflect or...
optical memory
Optical memory is a type of data storage technology that uses light to read and write information. It typically involves the...
Verdet constant
A factor of an equation of the Faraday effect, which is the rotation of the plane of light polarization by transparent...
GaN-based LEDs
Gallium nitride-based light-emitting diodes (GaN-based LEDs) are semiconductor devices that emit light when an electric...
fused quartz and silica
Fused quartz and silica are closely related materials, both composed primarily of silicon dioxide (SiO2), but they are...
idiochromatic
Pertaining to the possession of photoelectric characteristics as a result of the properties of the true crystal and not of...
cutting laser systems
Cutting laser systems are advanced machines that use focused laser beams to cut, engrave, or mark materials with high...
scientific CMOS camera
A scientific CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) camera is a type of digital camera specifically designed for...
flat optical-quality mirrors
Flat optical-quality mirrors are highly precise reflective surfaces used in various optical applications where the quality...
coagulation
Coagulation refers to the process of transforming a liquid, particularly blood or a solution containing dispersed particles,...
biomedical laser systems
Biomedical laser systems refer to specialized laser devices and equipment used in medical and biological applications for...
carbon fullerenes
Carbon fullerenes are a class of carbon-based molecules composed entirely of carbon atoms arranged in a hollow, closed,...
femtosecond laser
A femtosecond laser is a type of laser that emits ultrashort pulses of light with durations on the order of femtoseconds,...
quantum dot light-emitting diode
Quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) is a display technology that utilizes quantum dots, which are semiconductor...
Kerr effect
The Kerr effect, named after the physicist John Kerr who first observed it in 1875, is a nonlinear optical phenomenon where...
lab-on-a-chip
A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) is a miniaturized device that integrates various laboratory functions and capabilities onto a single,...
Pockels cell
A Pockels cell, also known as an electro-optic modulator, is an optical device used to control the polarization of light by...
light sectioning
Technique for measuring the volume bulk of materials as they move along a conveyor with an accuracy of better than 1...
calcium tungstate
White, tetragonal crystals used in the production of luminous coatings.
transmission electron microscope
A transmission electron microscope (TEM) is a powerful microscopy technique that uses a beam of electrons to create...
reticle
A reticle, also known as a reticule or graticule, is a pattern or set of markings placed in the focal plane of an optical...
solid-state laser
A solid-state laser is a type of laser that uses a solid gain medium (as opposed to a liquid or gas) to produce coherent...
tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
A spectroscopic technique that combines the high chemical specificity of Raman scattering and signal sensitivity provided by...
achromatic lens
An achromatic lens is a type of optical lens designed to minimize chromatic aberration, which is the inability of a lens to...
bandgap
In semiconductor physics, the term bandgap refers to the energy range in a material where no electronic states are allowed....
Murty interferometer
A form of shearing interferometer that contains a simple wedged (plane-parallel) glass plate with a nonzero optical path...

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