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Optics Dictionary Terms

resonator
A resonator is a device or system that exhibits resonance, which is a phenomenon that occurs when an external force or...
optical gate
An optical gate typically refers to a device or system that controls the transmission of light, allowing it to pass through...
metalens
A metalens, short for "metasurface lens," is a type of optical lens that uses nanostructured materials to manipulate light...
chalcogenide
Chalcogenide refers to a class of compounds containing elements from group 16 of the periodic table, which includes sulfur...
incoherent
In optics, the term denoting the lack of a fixed phase relationship between two waves. If two incoherent waves are...
ion-beam sputtering
Ion-beam sputtering (IBS) is a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique used for depositing thin films onto substrates. It...
laser pointer
Handheld optical laser device containing a semiconductor or DPSS source. The output is corrected via internal collimating...
Schlieren optics
An optical system that records inhomogeneities within a medium by detecting the energy refracted by that portion of the...
entrance slit
The entrance slit, also known simply as the slit, is an essential component in optical instruments such as spectrometers and...
microlens array
A microlens array is a grid-like structure composed of numerous small lenses, typically arranged in a regular pattern. Each...
marking laser systems
Marking laser systems are advanced devices that use laser beams to create permanent marks, patterns, or engravings on...
fiber optics
The use of thin flexible glass or plastic fibers as wave guides — or "light pipes" — to channel light from one...
diverging lens
A diverging lens is a type of lens that causes parallel rays of light to spread out or diverge. It is thinner in the center...
photonics
The technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. The...
spatial light modulator
A spatial light modulator (SLM) is an optical device that modulates or manipulates the amplitude, phase, or polarization of...
temperature sensors
Temperature sensors in optics are crucial for monitoring and controlling thermal effects that can significantly impact...
acceptance pattern
The acceptance pattern, often used in the context of antennas and optical systems, refers to the spatial distribution of the...
Kerr soliton
A Kerr soliton refers to a specific type of soliton, a self-reinforcing wave packet, that arises in nonlinear optical...
axicon
An axicon is a type of optical component characterized by its conical shape and its ability to transform a collimated...
harmonic generation
Harmonic generation refers to a nonlinear optical process in which incoming photons interact with a material and produce new...
emergent ray
In optics, the light ray leaving a medium in contrast to the entering or incident ray.
microdisplay
A microdisplay is a miniature electronic display technology that is designed to project visual information onto a small...
computer-generated hologram
A computer-generated hologram (CGH) is a holographic image produced using computational methods and algorithms, rather than...
integration time
Integration time, in the context of optics, imaging systems, and sensor technology, refers to the duration over which a...
photon flux
Photon flux refers to the rate at which photons (particles of light) pass through a unit area per unit time. It is a measure...
tangent ogive
In optics, a shape often given to the leading edge of a projectile. In any side view it appears as a pointed arc, while any...
mode beating
In optics, "mode beating" refers to an interference phenomenon that can occur in laser systems with multiple longitudinal...
polarization
Polarization refers to the orientation of oscillations in a transverse wave, such as light waves, radio waves, or other...
mesoscope
In the field of optics and imaging, a mesoscope refers to an optical instrument that is designed to observe and capture...
liquid crystal light valve
A liquid crystal light valve (LCLV), also known as a spatial light modulator (SLM), is an optical device that modulates the...
aspheric lens
An aspheric lens is a type of lens whose surface profiles deviate from the traditional spherical shape. Unlike spherical...
light pattern
In optics, a pattern, such as the Buchmann-Meyer pattern, that may be viewed when the record surface is illuminated by a...
achromat
An achromat, in the context of optics, refers to a type of lens or lens system designed to reduce chromatic aberration....
magnetorheological finishing
Magnetorheological finishing (MRF) is a precision optics polishing technique used for shaping and finishing optical surfaces...
Matrix optics
The linear relationship between input and output optical fields for a given optical system or application that allows the...
automated optical inspection
Automated optical inspection (AOI) is a technology used in manufacturing processes, particularly in electronics, to...
visually coupled airborne systems simulator
A visual system including a tiny television tube and imaging optics, all contained in a helmet to be worn by pilots in...
germanium crystal
Germanium crystal refers to a crystalline form of the element germanium (Ge), which is a metalloid and semiconductor...
image jump
In optics, the term image jump refers to a displacement or shift in the apparent position of an image when a change occurs...
sapphire crystal
Sapphire crystal refers to a transparent, single-crystal form of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) known as corundum. It is one of the...
spectrum analyzers
In optics, spectrum analyzers are instruments used to analyze the spectral characteristics of light emitted or transmitted...
optofluidics
Optofluidics is an interdisciplinary field that combines principles from optics and fluidics to create devices and systems...
on-board optics
On-board optics refers to optical systems integrated into devices or platforms for various purposes, such as imaging,...
high-performance parallel interface
A very high bandwidth communication line often used in fiber optics.
soft coating
A term describing an antireflection coating that may be applied to optics that cannot tolerate the high temperatures usually...
prism
A prism is a geometric optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light. It is typically a solid, transparent...
Rydberg atom
The term "Rydberg atom" refers to an atom in a highly excited state where one or more of its electrons are in a Rydberg...
first-order optics
tissue optics
The study of the optical properties of living tissue. Increased understanding of the behavior of light in this varied,...
plastic optics
Plastic optics refers to optical components or systems that are made from transparent plastic materials, as opposed to...
Ruticon
A ruticon is an opto-electronic device in which light going through it can be modulated by an electric field. The...
fresnel
A unit of frequency equivalent to 1012 cps. Named for Augustin Jean Fresnel, a French physicist known for his work in light...
micro-ring resonator
A micro-ring resonator is a compact optical device that utilizes the resonant behavior of light within a small ring-shaped...
linewidth
Linewidth, also known as spectral linewidth or line width, refers to a measure of the width of a frequency spectrum of a...
convergence
1. 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...
convex
Convex is an adjective used to describe a surface or shape that curves outward, bulges, or has a rounded and outwardly...
scratch resistant coating
Thin layers intended to prevent damage to plastic optics.
covered groove
A technique used in integrated optics where a groove is cut on a substrate surface and covered by a thin film to facilitate...
optical table
An optical table, also known as an optical bench or an optical breadboard, is a specialized platform used in optics...
spherical gradient
In gradient index optics, a gradient profile in which the refractive index varies symmetrically about a point.
quality control and inspection systems
Quality control and inspection systems in optics and photonics ensure that optical components and systems meet stringent...
attenuation
Attenuation refers to the gradual loss or reduction of intensity, force, or magnitude of a particular property as it...
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...
motorized positioning equipment
Motorized positioning equipment in optics and photonics refers to devices and systems that use motors to precisely control...
optical consulting services
Optical consulting services involve specialized expertise and support provided by optical engineering firms, consultants, or...
cleaning equipment
In optics, degreasers or ultrasonic arrangements used for removing pitch, cement or polishing material from lenses during...
optical parametric amplification
Optical parametric amplification (OPA) is a process in nonlinear optics where a weak signal beam is amplified by a much...
second-order nonlinear optical properties
Second-order nonlinear optical properties refer to a class of phenomena exhibited by certain materials in response to...
C-mount lens
A C-mount lens refers to a specific type of lens commonly used in machine vision, surveillance, microscopy, and other...
replicated optics
Optical components, usually reflectors, produced using proprietary techniques that transfer the precision of a master to a...
grating beamsplitter
A grating beamsplitter is an optical device that utilizes the principles of diffraction to split a beam of light into...
light sheet fluorescence microscopy
Also known as single plane illumination microscopy (SPIM), this process was designed for imaging of sensitive samples and...
Twyman-Green interferometry
Twyman-Green interferometry is a technique used in optics to measure the flatness or surface profile of optical components...
nonlinear polarization
Nonlinear polarization refers to the phenomenon where the polarization of a material responds nonlinearly to an applied...
dissonance
In optics, the production of maxima and minima by the superimposition of two sets of interference fringes from light of two...
phase mask
In optics and photolithography, a phase mask refers to a device that modifies the phase of light waves passing through it....
crystal optics
The study of the transmission of radiant energy through crystals, especially anisotropic crystals, and their effects on...
optical noise
Optical noise refers to undesirable fluctuations or disturbances in an optical signal that can affect the quality or...
attenuation-limited power
In fiber optics, the limitation on performance imposed by the amplitude of a received signal rather than distortion.
Kerr effect
The Kerr effect, named after the physicist John Kerr who first observed it in 1875, is a nonlinear optical phenomenon where...
bubble chamber optics
Specially designed optics for the observation and photographing of hydrogen in a bubble chamber.
computational imaging
Computational imaging refers to the use of computational techniques, algorithms, and hardware to enhance or enable imaging...
collective lens
A convex or positive lens that serves to collect energy and direct it into subsequent system optics.
free-space optics
Free-space optics (FSO), also known as optical wireless communication or optical wireless networking, refers to the...
quantitative oblique back illumination microscopy
Quantitative oblique back illumination microscopy (qOBM) is an advanced imaging technique used in microscopy to achieve...
object
The figure seen through or imaged by an optical system. It may contain structures, natural or artificial, or it may be the...
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...
infrared optic
Infrared optics refer to optical components and systems designed to manipulate and control infrared (IR) light, which lies...
meta-optics
Meta-optics, also known as metasurface optics or flat optics, is a branch of optics that involves the design, fabrication,...
optical Fourier transform
The optical Fourier transform is a mathematical operation applied to optical signals that involves transforming a spatial...
nanoimprint lithography
Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) is a nanolithography technique used for fabricating nanoscale patterns on a substrate. It is a...
tolerance field
In fiber optics, the annular region between two concentric circles; used to specify fiber cladding and core sizes.
dichroism
Dichroism refers to the property of certain materials to exhibit different colors or absorbance of light depending on the...
achromatic point
In color perception and vision an achromatic point refers to a color stimulus that appears neutral or without hue, often...
scanner
1. A device used to trace out an object and build up an image. One of the most common of these types is video scanning. The...
piezoelectric motion systems
Piezoelectric motion systems are mechanical systems that utilize piezoelectric materials to generate controlled motion or...
photon-rich
Photon-rich typically refers to an environment or situation where there is an abundance of photons present. In the context...
dioptrics
The branch of optics that deals with the study of the refraction of light, particularly by the transmitting medium of the...
static beam shaping
A technique for creating optimal performance in a system by producing a specific beam irradiance distribution, usually...
freeform optics
Freeform optics refers to the design and fabrication of optical surfaces that do not follow traditional symmetric shapes,...
quantum well
A quantum well is a structure in quantum mechanics that confines particles, such as electrons or holes, in one spatial...
diffractive optics
Optical elements that use diffraction to control wavefronts. Diffractive optical elements include diffraction gratings,...
Brillouin scattering
Brillouin scattering is a phenomenon in physics where an incident electromagnetic wave (usually light) interacts with...
single-photon avalanche diode
A single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) is a specialized type of photodetector designed to detect extremely weak optical...
optics
Optics is the branch of physics that studies the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter...
optogenetics
A discipline that combines optics and genetics to enable the use of light to stimulate and control cells in living tissue,...
leaky ray
In an optical waveguide, a ray for which geometric optics would predict total internal reflection at the core boundary, but...
Pockels
In optics, the Pockels effect refers to the phenomenon where the refractive index of a material changes in response to an...
topological photonics
Topological photonics is a branch of physics and optics that explores the application of topological concepts to the...
nonlinear crystal
A nonlinear crystal is a type of crystal that exhibits nonlinear optical properties when subjected to intense...
electro-optics
1. The branch of physics that deals with the use of electrical energy to create or manipulate light waves, generally by...
centration
Centration is the precise alignment of the optical center of a lens or optical element with its mechanical center or the...
plano
A plano in optics describes a lens, mirror, or other optical component that has one flat (plane) surface. The term is...
long-pass filter
A long-pass filter is an optical filter that allows longer wavelengths of light to pass through while blocking or...
optical grating
An optical grating, in the context of optics and physics, refers to a device with a periodic structure of closely spaced,...
ball lens
A ball lens is a small, spherical optical component typically made of glass or other transparent materials. It is...
heterostructures
A method used in integrated optics; formed by growing an epitaxial layer of active material, removing it from its base and...
masks for evaporation/deposition
In the context of thin film deposition processes such as evaporation or sputtering, masks are used to selectively deposit...
atmospheric optics
The analysis of the properties of radiation, such as light, when acted upon by variations in the atmosphere. Blue and red...
linear optics
Linear optics refers to the study and manipulation of light in a linear and deterministic manner, where the response of...
thin-film deposition equipment
Thin-film deposition equipment refers to machinery and tools used in the process of depositing thin layers of material onto...
Fizeau fringes
Fizeau fringes are interference fringes observed in an interferometer, specifically in a Fizeau interferometer. The Fizeau...
adaptive optics
Adaptive optics (AO) is a technology used to improve the performance of optical systems by reducing the effects of...
refractive index contrast
A measure of the relative difference in refractive index between two optical materials. Most commonly used in fiber optics...
laser coatings
Laser coatings, also known as optical coatings for laser applications, are specialized thin films or coatings applied to...
aplanatic points
Aplanatic points refer to specific points in an optical system where certain aberrations, such as spherical aberration or...
lambertian source plane
In optics, a plane that emits a flux proportional to the cosine of the angle of the normal; dense opal glass is an example.
image optics
Any form of lens, optical system (camera, telescope, microscope, etc.), or opto-electronics utilized for the purpose of...
anisotropy
Anisotropy refers to the property of exhibiting different values or characteristics when measured in different directions....
radial gradient
In gradient index optics, a gradient profile in which the index varies in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis....
magneto-optics
Magneto-optics refers to the study and manipulation of the interaction between magnetic fields and light (electromagnetic...
optical phase distortion
Optical phase distortion refers to a phenomenon where the phase of an optical wavefront is altered as it propagates through...
cold atom
Cold atoms refer to atoms that have been cooled to extremely low temperatures, typically in the microkelvin (µK) to...
surface
1. In optics, one of the exterior faces of an optical element. 2. The process of grinding or generating the face of an...
solar furnace
An optical system that is designed to produce a high temperature in a specified area by the optical direction and...
concave
Concave is an adjective used to describe a surface or shape that curves inward or has a hollow or recessed appearance. In...
optomechanical
Optomechanical refers to the integration of optical and mechanical systems or components. In optomechanical systems, optics...
thin-film coating
Thin-film coatings are layers of material applied to the surface of an object or substrate, typically to modify its optical,...
matrix optics
 diamond-turned optic
Diamond turning refers to a precision machining process used to produce complex optical components, particularly lenses and...
concave and convex spherical mirror
Concave and convex spherical mirrors are types of curved mirrors that have surfaces shaped like segments of spheres. These...
phase-modulated sensor
A phase-modulated sensor is a type of sensor that uses modulation of the phase of a signal to measure changes in a physical...
laser pen
Device consisting of a laser diode, beam-correcting optics and collimating optics in a single housing. Also called a...
phase
In optics and photonics, "phase" refers to a property of electromagnetic waves, such as light, that describes the position...
half bandwidth
The term half bandwidth (HBW) generally refers to the width of a spectral band or frequency range at half of its maximum...
rainbow hologram
Essentially, a hologram of a hologram, in which the first-generation hologram is masked with a narrow slit. During image...
intensified charge-coupled device camera
An intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) camera is an advanced imaging device that combines the capabilities of both an...
invisibility cloak
An invisibility cloak is technology that would render an object or individual invisible to the observer. In scientific...
photoelastic
In optics, the double refraction that is produced when stress is applied to a transparent material. Plastics, which are...
metaphotonics
Metaphotonics is an emerging field at the intersection of photonics, metamaterials, and nanotechnology. It involves the...
Sisyphus cooling
Sisyphus cooling is a technique used in atomic physics to achieve ultracold temperatures of atoms or molecules by exploiting...
optical combiner
An optical combiner, in the context of optics and display technologies, refers to a device or component that combines...
nano
An SI prefix meaning one billionth (10-9). Nano can also be used to indicate the study of atoms, molecules and other...
exposure
In optics, the total radiant energy incident on a surface-per-unit area. It is equal to the integral over time of the...
near-field scanning
A measurement technique used to determine the spatial distribution profile of an electrical or optical quantity of interest...
toric lens
A lens having one or more toric surfaces. A toric surface is one having a maximum power in one meridian and a minimum power...
isolator
In the context of electronics and optics, an isolator refers to a device that allows the transmission of signals in one...
Dammann grating
A Dammann grating is a type of diffractive optical element (DOE) used to create an array of equally spaced,...
beam optics
 double-clad fiber
Double-clad fiber (DCF) is a specialized optical fiber that features two concentric cladding layers surrounding a core. The...
magnitude
In astronomy, the relative brightness of a celestial body. Originally a scale from 1 to 6, where 1 represented the brightest...
diffractive optical processors
Diffractive optical processors are optical devices that utilize diffractive optics principles to perform various...
optical
Pertaining to optics and the phenomena of light.
bandwidth-limited operation
In fiber optics, the limitation on performance imposed by the system bandwidth rather than the amplitude of the signal.
micro-optic gyroscope
A thin-film device that integrates optics and electronics on a single chip to provide a passive-ring resonator gyroscope...
Laurent polarimeter
A Laurent polarimeter is an instrument used in optics for measuring the rotation of plane-polarized light caused by...
autocollimator
An autocollimator is an optical instrument used for measuring small angular deviations with high precision. It operates on...
integrated optics
A thin-film device containing miniature optical components connected via optical waveguides on a transparent dielectric...
resolution
1. In optics, the ability of a lens system to reproduce the points, lines and surfaces in an object as separate entities in...
Fizeau interferometer
A Fizeau interferometer is an interferometric device that uses the principle of interference to measure the surface flatness...
linear positioning stage
A linear positioning stage, also known as a linear stage or translation stage, is a precision mechanical device used to...
electron optics
The control of free electron movement through the use of electrical or magnetic fields, and use of this electron movement in...
volume Bragg gratings
Volume Bragg gratings (VBGs) are specialized optical elements that consist of periodic variations in refractive index...
sputtering equipment
Sputtering equipment is machinery used in the process of physical vapor deposition (PVD), specifically sputtering....
wave optics
Also referred to as physical optics - the area of optics in which the wave nature of light is essential when defining its...
Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor
The Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor is an optical device used for measuring the wavefront aberrations of an optical system....
freeform mirrors
Freeform mirrors refer to reflective optical components that deviate from traditional symmetric or rotationally symmetric...
metasurfaces
Metasurfaces are two-dimensional arrays of subwavelength-scale artificial structures, often referred to as meta-atoms or...
angular spectrum approach
The angular spectrum approach is a mathematical and computational technique used in the field of optics to analyze and...
automatic profiling
In fiber optics, the use of a detector to study the range of refractive indices achieved at various wavelengths. This...
solid optics
Optical elements arranged with no spaces between, so that the light travels only through glass, not air.
polishing jig
In fiber optics, a device used to polish a biconic plug to a specified length and surface finish. Also called a polishing...
supercontinuum
Supercontinuum refers to a broad spectrum of light that spans a wide range of wavelengths, typically from the visible to the...
laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an analytical technique that uses a high-powered laser pulse to ablate a...
pressurization
Injecting a gas (usually nitrogen) with a very low moisture content into the body of an optical instrument to create a...
x-ray optics
The study of the physics of x-rays, where the x-rays exhibit properties similar to those of lightwaves. Also called Roentgen...
vapor-phase axial deposition
A process by which high-quality fiber optics are made. See axial vapor-phase deposition.
terahertz spectrometer
A terahertz spectrometer is a scientific instrument used to measure and analyze the properties of materials in the terahertz...
frequency comb
A frequency comb is a precise and regular series of equally spaced spectral lines, or frequencies, that are generated with...
lapping and polishing services
Lapping and polishing services involve specialized processes used to improve the surface finish and dimensional accuracy of...
silicon photodiode
A silicon photodiode is a semiconductor device that converts light into an electrical current. It is a type of photodetector...
cladding glass
In fiber optics, the glass that is found around the glass core of the fiber, and that has a lower refractive index than the...
lensless microscopy
Lensless microscopy, also known as computational or holographic microscopy, is an imaging technique that captures and...
focal length
The focal length of a lens is the distance between the lens's optical center (or principal point) and the image sensor or...
acousto-optics
Acousto-optics is a branch of physics that deals with the interaction of sound waves (acoustic waves) and light waves...
active optics
Active optics refers to a technology used in telescopes and other optical instruments to improve the quality of images by...
Gaussian beam optics
The area of optics that deals with the propagation of Gaussian laser beams in free space, or any general medium - i.e....
divergence
1. In optics, the bending of rays away from each other. 2. In lasers, the spreading of a laser beam with increased distance...
concave grating
A reflecting grating ruled on a concave spherical surface that not only disperses the light but focuses the spectrum. The...
lattice
In photonics, a lattice refers to a periodic arrangement of optical elements or structures, often on a microscopic or...
intensified vidicon
A standard direct-readout vidicon tube linked by fiber optics to an intensifier for increased sensitivity.
color center
A color center, in the context of materials science and condensed matter physics, refers to a specific type of...
figure
In optics, the geometrical form of an optical surface.
Judas optics
A small defocused Galilean telescope mounted in a hole in a door. Viewed from inside through the positive lens, a wide-angle...
neutralization
In optics, the process of combining two lenses having equal and opposite powers to produce a result having no power.
refracting sphere
A transparent sphere that has an index of refraction that is different from that of the medium surrounding it; used in...
custom optic
A custom optic refers to an optical component that is designed, manufactured, and tailored to meet specific requirements or...
laser
A laser, which stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation," is a device that produces coherent and...
coated optics
Optical elements that have been coated with one or more layers of dielectric, or metallic material. These coatings serve to...
photon jet
A photon jet is a narrow, highly collimated beam of light that is formed when light interacts with small dielectric...
Gaussian optics
1. That branch of optics that illustrates the theory in which q is substituted for sin q in Snell's law. Effective results...
infrared searchlight
An infrared source combined with reflecting projection optics to illuminate a target making it visible when observed through...
high-density storage
Extensive data storage in the form of bits, with the use of high-resolution photographic materials and optics, and generally...
pluggable optics
Pluggable optics, also known as pluggable transceivers or optical transceivers, are modular devices used in optical...
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...
laser damage threshold
The laser damage threshold refers to the maximum level of laser intensity that a material can withstand without experiencing...
polariton
A polariton is a quasiparticle resulting from the strong coupling between photons (light particles) and certain types of...
retroreflection
Retroreflection is a phenomenon in optics where light is reflected back toward its source, typically in a direction nearly...
Fresnel reflection
Fresnel reflection refers to the reflection of light at the interface between two different media with different refractive...
massive optics
Optical components exceeding 24 in. in diameter. The components are usually glass, acrylic or polystyrene and are used for...
nonlinear optics
Nonlinear optics is a branch of optics that studies the optical phenomena that occur when intense light interacts with a...
spatially offset Raman spectroscopy
Spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) is a technique that extends traditional Raman spectroscopy by incorporating...
micromachining laser systems
Micromachining laser systems are advanced tools that use laser technology to perform highly precise material removal and...
micro-optics
Micro-optics refers to the design, fabrication, and application of optical components and systems at a microscale level....
molecular motor
A molecular motor refers to a nano-sized device composed of organic molecules or other small-scale components that can...
absorption
Absorption is the process by which a material takes in energy from electromagnetic radiation (such as light, heat, or sound)...
octave
In optics, an octave typically refers to a range of frequencies or wavelengths that spans a factor of 2. In other words,...
fluence
Fluence is a term used in various scientific and technical disciplines to describe the amount of something per unit area....
optical modulator
An optical modulator is a device used to control or modify a property of light, such as its amplitude, phase, polarization,...
Rabi oscillations
Rabi oscillations are a fundamental phenomenon in quantum mechanics that describe the periodic and reversible exchange of...
kinematic mount
A mount for an optic element or optics assembly, designed so that all six degrees of freedom are singly constrained. This...
near-eye display
A near-eye display (NED) is a type of display technology designed to be positioned close to the user's eyes, typically...
atom optics
The area of optics in which the wave nature of a particle is exploited to carry out very accurate interferometry and other...
spectroradiometer
A spectroradiometer is a device used to measure the intensity of light at different wavelengths across the electromagnetic...
laser optics
Laser optics refers to a broad category of optical components and systems designed for manipulating and controlling laser...
dust extinction
In atmospheric optics, the almost total blocking of light transmission in the atmosphere due to the scattering and...
second-harmonic generation
Second-harmonic generation (SHG) is a nonlinear optical process that occurs when two photons with the same frequency combine...
optical encoder
A device designed to measure linear or rotary motion by detection of the movement of markings on a transparent medium past a...
diffraction
Diffraction is a fundamental wave phenomenon that occurs when a wave encounters an obstacle or aperture, causing the wave to...
optical testing instrument
An optical testing instrument is a device or system used to evaluate and measure the performance, quality, and...
phase matching
Phase matching is a crucial concept in the field of optics, particularly in nonlinear optics and the generation of coherent...
beam shaper
A beam shaper is an optical device or system designed to modify the spatial profile or intensity distribution of a laser or...
transverse mode
In the context of optics and lasers, a transverse mode refers to a specific spatial pattern of the electric field within the...
dual-chirped optical parametric amplification
Dual-chirped optical parametric amplification (DC-OPA) is an advanced technique in ultrafast laser technology used to...
quantum optics
The area of optics in which quantum theory is used to describe light in discrete units or "quanta" of energy known as...
vacuum
In optics, the term vacuum typically refers to a space devoid of matter, including air and other gases. However, in...
microbubble resonator
A microbubble resonator is a device used in photonics and optical physics for the precise manipulation of light waves. It...
optical design and engineering services
Optical design and engineering services involve the development, customization, and optimization of optical systems and...
electro-optic modulator
An electro-optic modulator (EOM) is a device used to modulate the amplitude, phase, or polarization of light waves using an...
ultrafast pulsed laser
An ultrafast pulsed laser is a type of laser that emits extremely short pulses of light with durations typically on the...
acousto-photorefractive effect
The acousto-photorefractive effect refers to a phenomenon in which acoustic waves (sound waves) interact with light waves...
optical accumulator
An optical accumulator is a concept or device that collects and stores optical energy or data for subsequent use. This can...
gradient-index profile
The term gradient-index profile refers to a specific type of refractive index distribution within an optical material. In...
adhesion (thin-films)
Optical thin film adhesion specifically refers to the adhesion properties of thin films used in optical applications....
Mach-Zehnder interferometer
A Mach-Zehnder interferometer is an optical device used to measure the phase difference between two collimated beams of...
GRIN lens
A GRIN (gradient index) lens is a type of optical lens that utilizes a gradient in refractive index across its volume rather...
achromatic
Achromatic refers to something that is without color or lacking in chromatic coloration. In optics and color theory, it...
teloscopy
Teloscopy, while not a commonly used term, could be understood in the context of principles related to telescopes and their...
geometric optics
A field of physics that deals with light as if it truly were composed of rays diverging in various directions from the...
laser diode module
A laser diode module is a compact device that incorporates a laser diode, optics, and often other components into a single...
phase screen
A phase screen, in the context of optics and wave optics, refers to a surface or medium that introduces a phase delay to an...
physical optics
The branch of science that treats light as a wave phenomenon wherein light propagation is studied by wavefronts rather than...
minimum spot size
The smallest linear diameter to which a laser or other beam of radiant energy is capable of being focused, depending on the...
cladding mode
A mode that is confined by virtue of a lower-index medium surrounding the cladding. Cladding modes, in the terminology of...
infrared coatings
Infrared coatings, also known as IR coatings, are specialized optical coatings designed to manipulate the transmission,...
micro ion milling
Process developed for the production of high-resolution patterns in electro- and magneto-optics. These high-generation...
linear receive optics
Linear receive optics typically refers to the optical components and systems used in the reception (detection) of linearly...
liquid crystal on silicon
Liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) is a display technology that combines liquid crystal materials with silicon-based...
diode laser
A diode laser is a type of laser that uses a semiconductor diode as the active medium to generate coherent light....
ceramics
In optics and photonics, ceramics refer to advanced ceramic materials that possess unique optical properties, making them...
breakout cable
A breakout cable, also known as a fan-out cable or breakout assembly, is a type of cable that combines multiple individual...
transmission
In optics, the conduction of radiant energy through a medium. Often denotes the percentage of energy passing through an...
PIN photodiode
A PIN photodiode is a type of photodetector or semiconductor device used to convert light signals into electrical signals....
fiber optic spectrometer
A fiber optic spectrometer is a device used for measuring the spectral content of light. It utilizes optical fibers to...
equivalent wavelength
In surface height measurement of optics with steep slopes, the use of two short visible wavelengths to synthesize a longer,...
thermograph
The instrument used to collect thermal radiation information on an object by scanning. It consists basically of a detector,...
remote laser welding
A robotic process commonly employed by automakers that enables high-speed and flexible production throughput by using...
nanopositioning
Nanopositioning refers to the precise and controlled movement or manipulation of objects or components at the nanometer...
laser tube
The device, usually made of glass or a similar material, that contains the resonant cavity and optics of a gas laser.
integrated photonics
Integrated photonics is a field of study and technology that involves the integration of optical components, such as lasers,...
adapter (optical adapter)
An optical adapter typically refers to a device or component used in optical systems to facilitate connections between...
blue diode laser
A blue diode laser is a type of semiconductor laser that emits light in the blue wavelength range of the electromagnetic...
buffer
1. In fiber optics, a protective material applied as an optical fiber cover that has no optical function. 2. In image...
metamaterial
Metamaterials are artificial materials engineered to have properties not found in naturally occurring substances. These...
photon sieve
A photon sieve is an optical device used in the field of optics and imaging. It's designed to focus and shape light,...
lateral shearing interferometer
A lateral shearing interferometer is an optical device used in interferometry to measure phase differences between two beams...
sputtering target
A sputtering target is a solid material used in the process of physical vapor deposition (PVD), specifically sputtering....
holography
Holography is a technique used to capture and reconstruct three-dimensional images using the principles of interference and...
mandrel
A shaft, spindle or any object generally passed through a workpiece to hold, support or shape a particular piece during its...
cutoff wavelength
1. In detector technology, the long wavelength at which detector response falls to a set percentage (usually 20 or 50...
flow cytometry
Flow cytometry is a powerful technique used in biology and medicine for the quantitative analysis of the physical and...
meteorological optics
modulation
In general, changes in one oscillation signal caused by another, such as amplitude or frequency modulation in radio which...
transposition
In optics, the changing of the relative curves of a lens without changing its refractive value.
vacuum apparatus
Equipment dependent on the effects of a vacuum. The principal applications in optics are in the coating of lenses and...
pyramid error
Pyramid error in optics refers to an aberration in the shape of an optical surface, particularly in the context of mirrors....
mode locking
Mode locking is a technique used in optics and laser physics to generate short pulses of light with extremely high peak...
space-division multiplex
In fiber optics, the condition in which each fiber of a bundle carries a separate channel.
liquid/fluid optics
Liquid or fluid optics refers to the use of liquids to create or enhance optical systems. These systems leverage the unique...
Mie scattering
Mie scattering, named after the German physicist Gustav Mie, refers to the scattering of electromagnetic radiation (such as...
wavefront
A wavefront refers to the continuous surface or boundary representing points in a wave that are in phase, meaning they have...
image
In optics, an image is the reconstruction of light rays from a source or object when light from that source or object is...
delta error
The term delta error (delta-E) generally refers to the difference or change in error between two values or states. The word...
extreme ultraviolet
Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) refers to a specific range of electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum....
nonlinear optical materials
Nonlinear optical materials are substances that exhibit optical properties that are not linearly proportional to the...
normalized frequency
Also referred to as the V number in fiber optics; the normalized frequency is a dimensionless quantity, denoted by the...
nanophotonics
Nanophotonics is a branch of science and technology that explores the behavior of light on the nanometer scale, typically at...
geometric image
The position and shape of the image of a point source, as predicted by geometric optics alone. The geometric image is to be...
momentum transfer
In physics, momentum transfer is the amount of momentum transferred from one particle to another during particle collision...
paraxial
Characteristic of optical analyses that are limited to infinitesimally small apertures. Also called first-order or Gaussian...
interferometer
An interferometer is a scientific instrument that utilizes the principle of interference to measure differences in the path...
optical perturbation
Optical perturbation refers to any disturbance or alteration in the characteristics of light as it propagates through or...
mode-locked lasers
Mode-locking is a technique used in lasers to produce ultrashort pulses of light with durations on the order of picoseconds,...
deep multiphoton microscopy
Deep multiphoton microscopy is an advanced imaging technique used in biological and biomedical research to visualize...
laser triangulation
A technique that uses a solid-state laser and a detector to determine an object's relative distance to the system. The laser...
infrared scanner
An optical system used to collect infrared energy from a scene using scanning optics with a point or line detector, as...
coating materials
Optical coating materials refer to specialized materials applied to optical surfaces (such as lenses, mirrors, or prisms) to...
APD detector
An APD detector, or avalanche photodiode detector, is a type of photodetector used to detect light or optical signals by...
cold coating
A method of applying antireflection coatings to optics that avoids the elevated temperatures normally used. A cold coating...
strain
In optics, the mechanical tension, compression or shear in optical glass due to internal stress caused by improper cooling...
optoelectronics
Optoelectronics is a branch of electronics that focuses on the study and application of devices and systems that use light...
motion controller
In optics, a motion controller refers to a device or system that precisely controls the movement of optical components, such...
paraboloidal mirror
A concave mirror that has the form of a paraboloid of revolution. The paraboloidal mirror may have only a portion of a...
reflective
The term reflective is an adjective that describes the ability of a surface or material to reflect light or other forms of...
hard coating
Usually a dielectric coating on glass or plastic optics; a coating that is comparable in hardness to glass itself.
stimulated Brillouin scattering
In Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS), an incident photon (usually laser light) interacts with acoustic phonons in a...
hygroscopic
In fiber optics, a material whose properties, usually of transmission, are distinctly affected by the absorption of water...
bellows
In optics, a collapsible structure situated between the lens and film of a camera to allow variation of the distance between...
optics of material
The area of optics that deals with the interaction of light with a given material. The optical properties of material are...
laser guide star
An artificial star used to aid in adaptive optics imaging of the sky. The guide star is provided from a telescope system on...
collector
A positive lens located at or close to an intermediate image plane. The collector refracts off-axis light bundles, directing...
diffractive lens
Any optical device that utilizes diffraction in an image-forming capability. Familiar diffractive lenses are zone plates,...
nanoplasmonics
Nanoplasmonics is a branch of nanophotonics that focuses on the study and manipulation of optical phenomena at the nanoscale...
vortex phase plate
A vortex phase plate is an optical device designed to impart a phase singularity, commonly referred to as a vortex or phase...
multi-axis alignment
Multi-axis alignment refers to the process of aligning or adjusting components or systems in multiple spatial dimensions or...
structural color
Structural color refers to coloration in materials that is not caused by pigments or dyes but is instead a result of the...
thin-film deposition
Thin-film deposition is a process used to deposit a thin layer of material onto a substrate surface, typically ranging from...
binary optics
Optical elements, often created by micromachining, lithography or vacuum deposition, that rely on diffraction of the...
machine vision system
A machine vision system is an integrated combination of hardware and software components designed to capture, process, and...
Geometrical optics
The area of optics in which the propagation of light is described by geometrical lines (or rays) governed by Fermat's...
beam table
Laser light show effects equipment including optics and mechanical devices that reflect, position or distort the laser beam,...
optical aberration
Optical aberration refers to imperfections or deviations from ideal optical behavior in an imaging system, such as a lens or...
physiological optics
The study of visual perception by the sense of sight.
reactive evaporation
Reactive evaporation refers to a process in thin-film deposition where a material is deposited onto a substrate through...
chemical vapor deposition equipment
Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) equipment refers to a class of specialized apparatus used in the process of chemical vapor...
whispering gallery mode
Whispering gallery mode (WGM) refers to a phenomenon in wave physics, particularly in optics, where waves, such as light or...
distributed feedback laser
A distributed feedback laser (DFB laser) is a type of semiconductor laser diode designed to emit coherent, narrow-bandwidth...
lithium triborate nonlinear crystal
Lithium triborate, commonly abbreviated as LBO, is a nonlinear optical crystal widely used in various applications involving...
fiberless optics
 axial gradient
In gradient index optics, a gradient profile in which the refractive index varies along the direction of light propagation,...
catoptrics
Catoptrics is the field of optics concerned with the reflection of light from reflective surfaces such as mirrors. It...
plasmonics
Plasmonics is a field of science and technology that focuses on the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and free...
Q-switching
Q-switching, short for "quenching-switching," is a technique used in lasers to generate short, high-energy pulses of light....
fused quartz and silica
Fused quartz and silica are closely related materials, both composed primarily of silicon dioxide (SiO2), but they are...
dispersion
Dispersion refers to the phenomenon where different wavelengths (colors) of light travel at different speeds when passing...
saturable absorber
A saturable absorber is a type of optical device that exhibits variable absorption properties depending on the intensity of...
Ti:sapphire laser
A Ti:sapphire laser is a type of solid-state laser that utilizes a titanium-doped sapphire crystal as the gain medium. The...
ultraviolet fiber optics
Ultraviolet (UV) fiber optics refers to optical fibers that are designed and optimized for the transmission of ultraviolet...

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