STEM Dictionary Terms
input/outputI/O stands for input/output. In computing, it refers to the communication between a computer system or program and its...
Raman effectWhen light is transmitted through matter, part of the light is scattered in random directions. A small part of the scattered...
PIN photodiodeA PIN photodiode is a type of photodetector or semiconductor device used to convert light signals into electrical signals....
neuromorphic vision sensorA neuromorphic vision sensor is a type of imaging device designed to mimic the structure and functioning of the human visual...
virtual histologyVirtual histology refers to the use of digital technology and computational methods to simulate or recreate histological...
system on chipAbbreviated SoC. A single chip containing all the electronic circuits required for a complete, working product. SoCs are...
scanning headA device composed of a light source and phototube used to scan a moving strip of material in photoelectric side-register...
Foucault knife-edge testThe Foucault test is performed by moving a knife edge laterally into the image of a small point source. The eye, or a...
smart bombA bomb guided to its target by some form of electro-optical system.
identification friend or foe systemA system that transmits and receives identification codes to facilitate the discrimination between enemy and friend in a...
frame rateFrame rate refers to the frequency at which consecutive images, or frames, are displayed in a video sequence. It is...
optical fiber optic switchesOptical fiber optic switches are devices used in optical fiber communication systems to selectively route optical signals...
aerial reconnaissanceThe use of optical or electronic recording systems to extract information from the terrain, while aloft, for reconnaissance...
laser surgeryLaser surgery refers to a medical procedure in which a laser, or focused beam of light, is used as a precision tool to cut,...
triangulationA method of measuring distance by recording a single scene from two points of perspective. Surveying instruments can be...
saccadic motionThe movement of the eye as it focuses on details of a scene. Some imaging systems mimic this movement by small, rapid...
centiIn the SI system, prefix meaning one hundredth, 10-2.
computer numerically controlled grindingComputer numerically controlled (CNC) grinding is a manufacturing process that utilizes computerized controls and precision...
Faraday rotationThe effect discovered by Faraday in 1845 whereby nonoptically active materials or substances become capable of rotating the...
field stopAn aperture located at an image plane of an optical system that determines the size and shape of the image.
GigEGigE, short for gigabit Ethernet, refers to a standard for high-speed Ethernet communication, capable of transmitting data...
gun cameraA camera accurately aligned to a weapons system to provide a photographic record of system performance.
photon sieveA photon sieve is an optical device used in the field of optics and imaging. It's designed to focus and shape light,...
spatial intensity perturbationA beam instability, induced by index of refraction inhomogeneities and component damage of dirt and dust particles, that...
dioptometerA telescopic system having an eyepiece, a reticle and an objective. The instrument measures wavefront power in diopters.
stroke patternThe pattern formed by a character generation cathode-ray tube system, in which the characters are composed of a sequence of...
optical switchingOptical switching refers to the process of controlling the routing or transmission of optical signals within a network using...
oscilloscopeA system in which a supplied signal causes the deflection of the electron beam in a cathode-ray tube, thus forming a visible...
resolution1. In optics, the ability of a lens system to reproduce the points, lines and surfaces in an object as separate entities in...
Linnik interference microscopeA Michelson-type interference microscope used to produce interference patterns of reflective specimens through the...
laser outputThe laser output refers to the generated and emitted light produced by a laser system. This output is characterized by...
fiber opticsThe use of thin flexible glass or plastic fibers as wave guides — or "light pipes" — to channel light from one...
calibrated wedgeAn optical wedge in which transmittance or density is a function of the location of the wedge, relative to a specific...
data linkThe communications network between nodes of a data transmission system.
photoelasticityThe process of determining, with the aid of plane-polarized light, the stress distribution in materials under complex...
lens blankA lens blank is a piece of optical material in a raw, unfinished state, typically in the form of a disk or block, from which...
prismatic spectrumThe spectrum formed by a dispersing prism or a dispersing prism system.
apochromatAn apochromat, often referred to as an apochromatic lens or apochromatic objective, is a type of optical system designed to...
moiré deflectometryAn optical interference technique widely utilized as a method of nondestructive testing when determining the ray deflection...
dust counterAn instrument that uses a photoelectric system to determine the size and volume of dust particles in a given unit of air.
Czerny-Turner designA form of monochromator optical system consisting of two spherical concave mirrors used in conjunction with a movable...
contact laser surgeryLaser surgery by means of a low-power laser system using a synthetic sapphire scalpel that transmits the laser light while...
machine vision lightingMachine vision lighting refers to the use of specific lighting techniques and equipment in the field of machine vision,...
tera (T)In the SI system, prefix meaning 1012. (T).
antireflection coatingAn antireflection coating (AR coating) is a thin film or coating applied to optical surfaces, such as lenses or windows, to...
photometryPhotometry is the branch of science that deals with the measurement of light, particularly in terms of its intensity and the...
Foucault rotating mirrorA rotating mirror coupled with a distant mirror and used in a system by Foucault to compute the velocity of light. Light...
mode hoppingMode hopping in the context of lasers refers to a phenomenon where a laser system abruptly switches from one longitudinal...
homing guidance systemA system of sensors and related instrumentation that allows a navigable object (usually a missile) to locate its destination...
MSM photodiodeA metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodiode is a type of photodetector that consists of metal electrodes on a semiconductor...
pulse forming networkA series of capacitors and inductors connected to the flashlamp in a pumped Nd:YAG laser system in order to regulate the...
solid-state imaging systemAn imaging system that uses a mosaic of tiny light-sensitive semiconductors (phototransistors) to produce individual outputs...
modulation transfer functionAlso called sine wave response and contrast transfer function. The modulation transfer function is the ratio of the...
quantumThe term quantum refers to the fundamental unit or discrete amount of a physical quantity involved in interactions at the...
Koehler illuminationA two-stage illuminating system for a microscope in which the source is imaged in the aperture of the substage condenser by...
backscatterBackscatter refers to the phenomenon in which radiation or waves are scattered backward, opposite to the direction of the...
half bandwidthThe term half bandwidth (HBW) generally refers to the width of a spectral band or frequency range at half of its maximum...
optical path differenceThe relative path difference (or phase shift) traveled between two rays that pass through different mediums from the same...
skew rayAny ray through an optical system that is not a meridional ray. The plane created by a refracted skew ray does not contain...
infrared scannerAn optical system used to collect infrared energy from a scene using scanning optics with a point or line detector, as...
magnifierA lens or lens system that produces an enlarged virtual image of an object placed near its front focal point.
noise equivalent delta temperatureIn a thermal imaging system, the change in temperature that yields a signal-to-noise ratio of unity.
retroreflectorA retroreflector is an optical device or structure that reflects incident light or electromagnetic waves back to their...
superchromatic correctionCorrection of an optical system at four separate wavelengths. This correction, longitudinal and lateral, is possible with...
blind approach beacon systemA ground-based navigation beacon that emits pulsed signals which are picked up by aircraft making an instrument (blind)...
directed energyDirected energy refers to a type of energy that is emitted and transferred in a controlled direction. The term is often...
facsimile chartData gathered by a facsimile system and converted into graphic, readable form; generally used in meteorology. Also known as...
spatial resolutionSpatial resolution refers to the level of detail or granularity in an image or a spatial dataset. It is a measure of the...
fiber distributed data interfaceA standard for fiber optic data transmission systems being developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and...
astigmatic differenceIn an optical system having astigmatism, the distance between the tangential and sagittal image planes.
aspherizingThe modification of the spherical surfaces in an optical system to correct for spherical aberration.
blue diode laserA blue diode laser is a type of semiconductor laser that emits light in the blue wavelength range of the electromagnetic...
resolving powerA measure of an optical system's ability to produce an image which separates two points or parallel lines on the object. See...
optical combinerAn optical combiner, in the context of optics and display technologies, refers to a device or component that combines...
gallium arsenide phosphideGallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) is a semiconductor alloy composed of gallium (Ga), arsenic (As), and phosphorus (P). It...
heat exchangerA type of cooling system in which one fluid is used to carry heat off another without direct contact between the two.
micron (µm)A unit of length in the metric system equal to one millionth of a meter (10-6 m). Also called micrometer. Abbreviated...
optofluidicsOptofluidics is an interdisciplinary field that combines principles from optics and fluidics to create devices and systems...
multiplexingThe combination of two or more signals for transmission along a single wire, path or carrier. In most optical communication...
boresightThe alignment process that makes the optical axes of two related systems parallel to each other. Also, making the optical...
lensA lens is a transparent optical device that focuses or diverges light, allowing it to pass through and form an image. Lenses...
linear receive opticsLinear receive optics typically refers to the optical components and systems used in the reception (detection) of linearly...
duplet lens systemAn optical system having two sets of components separated by an air space, while successive lenses in each set are cemented...
minimum angle of deviationThe smallest angle through which light is bent by an optical element or system. In a prism, the angle of deviation is a...
holographic cameraA holographic camera, also known as a holographic imaging system or holographic recorder, is a specialized device used to...
diasporometerIn an optical rangefinder, the system of wedges that rotate in opposite directions to aid in the detection of deviation in...
collateral radiationCategory inclusive of all radiation that is incited electronically, except laser radiation, as a function of the application...
modal noiseIn an optical system, noise created by mode-dependent optical losses and variations in the distribution of radiant power...
spinthariscopeA device through which scintillations are observed or counted through a magnifying lens system.
stereoscopic televisionA television system in which the images produced appear three-dimensional.
laser crystalA laser crystal, also known as an active medium or gain medium, is a solid-state material used in the construction of...
closed-loop adaptive single parameterA closed-loop system that compensates for thermal blooming by optimizing only one parameter: the amplitude of the phase...
threshold1. In visual perception, the minimum value of stimulus that can be perceived on the average. 2. In optical detection...
holographic nondestructive testingThe application of coherent wavefront techniques to the determination of the physical state of a system without appreciably...
computer-integrated manufacturingThe use of computer systems for monitoring and controlling industrial production.
optical clockAn optical clock is a highly precise and advanced timekeeping device that relies on the oscillations of electromagnetic...
waferIn the context of electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, a wafer refers to a thin, flat disk or substrate made of a...
laser opticsLaser optics refers to a broad category of optical components and systems designed for manipulating and controlling laser...
InGaAs photodiodeAn InGaAs photodiode refers to a photodetector device that is constructed using a semiconductor material composed of a...
launch numerical apertureThe numerical aperture of an optical system used to couple (launch) power into an optical waveguide.
rare earth dopantsRare earth dopants refer to elements from the lanthanide series, also known as rare earth elements, that are intentionally...
spectral integral densityWith respect to color photography, the measurement, at a given wavelength, of the way the color film modulates the radiant...
imagery rectificationPhotogrammetric compensation for incidental camera movement (which prevents attainment of true vertical photographs) whereby...
photonic cavityA photonic cavity, also known as an optical cavity, is a structure that confines electromagnetic radiation within a certain...
halideIn chemistry, a halide refers to a chemical compound containing one or more halogen atoms bonded to another element. The...
random noiseEssentially, noise that cannot be predicted. Therefore, even if the magnitude of sound or oscillation in a system is known...
surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopySurface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an analytical technique that combines the principles of Raman spectroscopy...
Abbe prismA form of roof prism used to invert an image. The prism has faces cut normal to the optical axis; therefore, the prism may...
instantaneous field of viewInstantaneous field of view (iFOV) is a term commonly used in the context of remote sensing, imaging systems, and optical...
laser guide starAn artificial star used to aid in adaptive optics imaging of the sky. The guide star is provided from a telescope system on...
self-phase modulationSelf-phase modulation (SPM) is a nonlinear optical phenomenon that occurs when an intense laser beam passes through a...
infraredInfrared (IR) refers to the region of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths longer than those of visible light, but...
laser active elementsLaser active elements typically refers to the substances or materials within a laser system that play a critical role in the...
enclosed laser deviceA laser or laser system positioned within an enclosure to prevent dangerous optical radiation from leaving the enclosure.
fiber laserA fiber laser is a type of laser in which the active gain medium is an optical fiber doped with rare-earth ions such as...
transitionThe process whereby a quantum mechanical system alters from one energy level to another. During this process, energy is...
Geometrical opticsThe area of optics in which the propagation of light is described by geometrical lines (or rays) governed by Fermat's...
computer-output microfilm systemA camera system capable of producing microfilm copies of computerized data presented on a screen.
path-reversal principleThe criterion maintaining that if light follows a specific path through an optical system, it will, if reversed, traverse...
optical page readerAn optical scanning system found in most computer scanners that can read documents, often in many type styles, and convert...
rasterThe pattern of lines traced by rectilinear scanning in display systems.
arc flashAn arc flash is a sudden release of electrical energy due to an electric arc — a continuous, high-current discharge of...
isolatorIn the context of electronics and optics, an isolator refers to a device that allows the transmission of signals in one...
optical noiseOptical noise refers to undesirable fluctuations or disturbances in an optical signal that can affect the quality or...
mutual coherent functionA function that quantifies the performance degradation of coherent communications systems, imaging systems and all systems...
universal product codeA system by which consumer products are assigned a bar code that is read by a scanner at a cash register, enabling...
augmented realityAugmented reality (AR) is a technology that integrates digital information, typically in the form of computer-generated...
metrologyMetrology is the science and practice of measurement. It encompasses the theoretical and practical aspects of measurement,...
decentering1. The grinding or edging of a lens so that the geometrical center and optical center do not coincide. 2. The shifting of an...
acousto-optic deflectorA system designed with a laser as a light source and a means for producing sound waves extending beyond 100 MHz to deflect...
skew angleThe angle at which photoelectric sensors are aligned to prevent light from being reflected back to the sensor from the...
numerical apertureThe sine of the vertex angle of the largest cone of meridional rays that can enter or leave an optical system or element,...
bit error rateThe ratio of the number of bits received incorrectly to the total number of bits transmitted digitally in a system.
feedback compensationThe placement of a device or an additional circuit into a feedback control system to improve its response in relation to a...
optogeneticsA discipline that combines optics and genetics to enable the use of light to stimulate and control cells in living tissue,...
complementary metal-oxide semiconductorComplementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) refers to a technology used in the fabrication of integrated circuits,...
objectThe figure seen through or imaged by an optical system. It may contain structures, natural or artificial, or it may be the...
DIN systemThe logarithmic method of determining emulsion speeds developed by the German standards organization, Deutscher...
laserA laser, which stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation," is a device that produces coherent and...
correlated double samplingA technique for removing thermal noise and drift from focal plane assemblies by sampling the system output between views of...
contact fluidA liquid, usually of a specific refractive index and dispersion, serving as an interface between two solids to form a...
fiber-coupled LEDA fiber-coupled LED (light-emitting diode) refers to an LED device that is optically coupled to an optical fiber for the...
balloon-borne astronomical systemAny instrument or system carried by a balloon to the upper atmosphere to measure and record atmospheric information, such as...
long-pass filterA long-pass filter is an optical filter that allows longer wavelengths of light to pass through while blocking or...
gigaA prefix that is used to represent 109 or 1,000,000,000 in the SI system.
photovoltaic cellA photovoltaic cell, commonly known as a solar cell, is a semiconductor device that directly converts light energy into...
dispersion-limited operationOperation in which the dispersion of a pulse limits the distance between repeaters in optical systems. Waveguide and...
constant deviationThat property of certain optical devices, e.g., a penta prism, that maintains the angular relationship between the entering...
autocollimatorAn autocollimator is an optical instrument used for measuring small angular deviations with high precision. It operates on...
nanometerA unit of length in the metric system equal to 10-9 meters. It formerly was called a millimicron.
rapid rectilinear lensA double meniscus system in which two achromatized meniscus lenses are arranged symmetrically on either side of the aperture...
underwater television systemA television system designed to obtain pictures of objects or scenes beneath the surface of the water. Generally, a...
condenserA single positive lens or group of lenses used in a projection system to collect light from a source and cause it to...
multispectral imagingMultispectral imaging is a technique that involves capturing and analyzing images at multiple discrete spectral bands within...
fiber-linked array image formatterA wide-field multiobject spectroscopy system used in astronomy, in which a bundle of low-loss optical fibers positioned on...
image dissector tubeAn electron tube that is used as a camera tube for a television system. When the picture to be transmitted is focused on a...
hybrid mosaic on stacked siliconA sensor module used in advanced pattern recognition systems, containing signal-processing integrated circuits stacked and...
stadimetryThe determination of distance based upon the known size of an object and the size of its image at the image plane of an...
servomechanismA closed-loop system that is constantly adjusted in response to input signals generated within the system.
character read-out systemA photoelectrically controlled, alphanumeric reading device that converts characters to audible or sorting signals which can...
microscope immersion fluidThe liquid used in microscopy to fill the space between the high-power objective lens and the microscope slide in order to...
erecting eyepieceAn eyepiece combined with an erecting prism or lens system.
laser cloud mapperA scanning laser radar system applied to transmission and concentration analysis in three dimensions of clouds as well as...
Risley prismA Risley prism, also known as a Risley prism pair or Risley rotating prism, is an optical device used for controlling the...
imageIn optics, an image is the reconstruction of light rays from a source or object when light from that source or object is...
optical coatingsOptical coatings are thin layers of materials applied to optical components, such as lenses, mirrors, filters, and prisms,...
integral densityWith respect to color photography, the measurement of the way the color film modulates the radiant flux in the optical...
wobbleIn micropositioning systems, motion (most frequently undesired) about the Z-axis.
metalensA metalens, short for "metasurface lens," is a type of optical lens that uses nanostructured materials to manipulate light...
depth of fieldThe distance, on either side of the object plane focused on, through which satisfactory image definition can be obtained....
crystal spectrographA system that applies a crystal as a diffracting agent to photograph the spectrum.
panoramic lensA lens system that is capable of producing a 360° image, or one that is very close to that. In recording, the image may...
impurity ionAn alien, electrically charged atomic system in a solid; an ion substituted for the constituent atom or ion in a crystal...
radioactive tracerA radioactive element that is placed or injected into a system to obtain an autoradiogram of the system. It is used in a...
blink comparatorAn optical system that rapidly alternates two similar pictures or scenes to permit the detection of small dissimilarities...
grapheneGraphene is a two-dimensional allotrope of carbon consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal...
electro-optic modulatorAn electro-optic modulator (EOM) is a device used to modulate the amplitude, phase, or polarization of light waves using an...
blaze heightBlaze height typically refers to a parameter in the context of diffraction gratings, which are optical devices consisting of...
holographic gratingA holographic grating is a type of diffraction grating that is produced using holographic recording techniques. It consists...
integration timeIntegration time, in the context of optics, imaging systems, and sensor technology, refers to the duration over which a...
cosmic ray telescopeA system consisting of two or more Geiger-Müller counters, connected in coincidence with their centers on an axis. The only...
fiber Bragg gratingA fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is a type of optical filter that is inscribed or "written" into the core of an optical fiber. It...
flow chemistryFlow chemistry, also known as continuous-flow chemistry, is a chemical manufacturing process where reactions take place in a...
tristimulus valuesThe values of the three standard or matching stimuli necessary to provide a match with the light under trial, in a specified...
loss budgetThe total optical power loss in a system. The loss budget is often stated in terms of the transmitted power and the power...
laser damage thresholdThe laser damage threshold refers to the maximum level of laser intensity that a material can withstand without experiencing...
optical dynameterA small low-power microscope or magnifier with a scale that is used to measure the exit pupil diameter and eye relief on...
mirror blankA mirror blank refers to the initial piece of material from which a mirror is made. It is typically a flat or slightly...
anamorphicA term used to denote a difference in magnification along mutually perpendicular meridians. Anamorphic systems are basically...
nanoLEDAn LED (light-emitting diode) is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs...
fused quartz and silicaFused quartz and silica are closely related materials, both composed primarily of silicon dioxide (SiO2), but they are...
character generation cathode-ray tubeA cathode-ray tube that generates symbols for use in other displays. The tube operates by scanning specific characters on...
card readerA system that generally uses a photodetector to decode punched cards for information, or for input to a computer, by sensing...
turbidityTurbidity is a measure of the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by the presence of suspended particles. These...
focal powerIn a symmetrical optical system this is a measure of the influence of the system upon the focus of a pencil of rays passing...
Kerr solitonA Kerr soliton refers to a specific type of soliton, a self-reinforcing wave packet, that arises in nonlinear optical...
periscopeAn optical instrument designed to displace the line of sight in a vertical direction. For submarines and other military uses...
grating beamsplitterA grating beamsplitter is an optical device that utilizes the principles of diffraction to split a beam of light into...
image tube cameraA camera system in which the image formed on the fluorescent screen of an image converter tube in the system is recorded by...
visually coupled airborne systems simulatorA visual system including a tiny television tube and imaging optics, all contained in a helmet to be worn by pilots in...
metabolic imagingMetabolic imaging refers to the visualization and quantification of metabolic processes within living organisms, tissues, or...
borescopeA device for the internal inspection of hard-to-get-at mechanical parts, such as rifle barrels, sewer pipes, oil wells, or...
phototoxicityPhototoxicity refers to the harmful effects caused by exposure to light, particularly intense or ultraviolet (UV) light, on...
Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensorThe Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor is an optical device used for measuring the wavefront aberrations of an optical system....
ionization spectrometerAlso known as the Bragg spectrometer. A system used for the x-ray analysis of crystal structure. In the instrument, a...
image inverterA system of elements which rotates the optical image with respect to the optical axis by a factor of pi radians.
stacked optical memoryA memory system composed of a stack of holographic plates, a mode-locked laser and a rapid detector array. Ultrashort laser...
adaptationSpontaneous changes to the visual system making it more or less sensitive to light.
helium-neon laserA helium-neon (HeNe) laser is a type of gas laser that emits visible red light at a wavelength of 632.8 nm. It operates...
galvanometric scannerA galvanometric scanner, also known as a galvanometer scanner or galvo scanner, is a type of optical scanning device used to...
fluorophoreA fluorophore is a molecule or a portion of a molecule that has the ability to emit light upon excitation by an external...
diffraction efficiencyDiffraction efficiency is a measure of how effectively a diffractive optical element (DOE) or diffraction grating directs...
ultramicrometerA system used to measure very small displacement by electrical means.
pushbroom scanningPushbroom scanning is a technique used in remote sensing and imaging systems, particularly in satellite and aerial sensors,...
stealthThat characteristic which makes a weapon system less visible to radar, optical, acousto-optic, infrared and other military...
tracking systemA controlled motion system that may use a telescope, camera or antenna to follow accurately a satellite, missile, vehicle or...
microelectromechanical systemsRefers to micron-size complex machines that have physical dimensions suitable for the fabrication of optical switches for...
split Stirling coolerA cooling system used to attain and maintain desired low temperatures in infrared systems. The Stirling type is a mechanical...
Nichols radiometerAn instrument devised by Nichols and Hull for use in the measurement of radiation pressure. The device has two small...
network interface cardA network interface card (NIC), also known as a network adapter or LAN adapter, is a hardware component that allows...
etaloningEtaloning is an optical phenomenon that occurs in imaging systems, particularly in devices such as spectrometers,...
split-image microscopeA mask-alignment microscope used to produce and inspect microcircuits in the electronics industry. It provides flat-field,...
ground truthA term variously applied to remote sensing techniques that essentially refers to all parametric conditions that influence...
phase distrortionPhase distortion refers to a change in the phase relationships between different frequency components of a signal. In the...
anamorphic systemAn optical system with different focal lengths or magnification levels in perpendicular planes to the optical axis.
discriminationThe degree to which a vision system is capable of sensing differences in light intensity between two regions.
optical glassOptical glass refers to a type of glass specifically engineered and manufactured for use in optical components and systems,...
correction wedgeIn rangefinders and height finders, a rotatable or sliding wedge-shaped element used to divert the line of sight precisely...
afocalAn optical system with object and image points at infinity. Literally, "without a focal length."
zoom lensAn optical system of variable focal length, the focal plane remaining in a fixed position. This result is achieved by moving...
negative ghostA ghost image that has the reverse lightness relations of the original image. This phenomenon is a common optical illusion...
metaboliteA metabolite is any small molecule that is a product of metabolism, the chemical processes that occur within living...
Y axis1. In a plane Cartesian coordinate system, the vertical axis orthogonal to the X-axis. 2. In a quartz crystal structure, the...
Lissajous patternThe pattern, formed by a character generation cathode-ray tube system, in which the characters are made up of wave shapes...
spectral repeatabilitySpectral repeatability refers to the consistency and reproducibility of spectral measurements across multiple trials or...
beam expanderA system of optical components designed to increase the diameter of a radiation beam. Usually an afocal system.
unmanned aerial vehicleAn unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without a human pilot onboard. UAVs are remotely...
angle-tracking systemA system in which a sequence of direct measurements of the target position is fed into a tracking filter that may produce...
mirror mountA mirror mount is a mechanical device used to secure and precisely position mirrors in optical systems. Mirrors are...
laser designatorA laser device used to establish a location or target usually for detection by an impact source e.g. missiles and guided...
photoconductor contactMaterial used to integrate photoconductors into electro-optical systems. It should provide low resistance to the flow of...
standard thermal profileIn infrared imaging systems used for mass screening of printed circuit boards or other quality control applications, an...
modulation transfer function analysis/measurement equipmentMTF analysis/measurement equipment refers to instruments and tools used to measure and analyze the modulation transfer...
transmissionIn optics, the conduction of radiant energy through a medium. Often denotes the percentage of energy passing through an...
infrared microscopeA type of microscope that uses radiation in the infrared region to illuminate objects that are opaque to visible radiation....
laser velocimeterA system that uses a continuous-wave laser to measure the velocity of an object by focusing the laser beam on the object,...
optically biaxial crystalOne of a class of crystalline substances belonging to triclinic, monoclinic and orthorhombic systems that have two optic...
volumetric imagingVolumetric imaging refers to the capture, visualization, and analysis of three-dimensional (3D) information from a volume of...
GaN distributed feedback lasersGaN (Gallium Nitride) distributed feedback (DFB) lasers refer to a specific type of semiconductor laser based on Gallium...
back focal lengthThe distance from the final optic within a system to the rear image point of the system. See focal length.
phase-shift keyingA method of coding information in a communications system where the shift in the phase of an electromagnetic wave represents...
diffraction gratingA diffraction grating is an optical component consisting of a surface with a periodic structure of equally spaced, parallel...
Angstrom compensation pyrheliometerA system used for measuring direct solar radiation.
ring topologyA system of local area networking in which each node or station is connected to two others, ultimately forming a loop. Data...
effective beamIn photoelectric sensing, the portion of the transmitted beam that actually functions in the system; the diameter of the...
baselengthThe distance between pupil centers in a two-pupil system, measured perpendicularly to the optic axis.
motion controllerIn optics, a motion controller refers to a device or system that precisely controls the movement of optical components, such...
decentration aberrationAn aberration occurring in a lens system when one or more of the centers of curvature of the optical surfaces do not...
calorimeterAn instrument used to measure the change of heat content of a system by measuring microwave power in terms of generated heat.
MEMS fiber optic switchA MEMS fiber optic switch is a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device designed to selectively route optical signals...
powder cameraA camera system that uses a fine powder to diffract x-rays from the specimen. A beam of monochromatic x-rays passes through...
Boys cameraA camera system for recording lightning.
liquid crystal light valveA liquid crystal light valve (LCLV), also known as a spatial light modulator (SLM), is an optical device that modulates the...
hologonA multifaceted holographic disc that is rotated by a motor to deflect incident light to a scanning system's lens.
remote inspectionRemote inspection refers to the process of inspecting, evaluating, or monitoring assets, equipment, infrastructure, or...
yoctoIn the SI system, prefix meaning 10-24. (y).
laser damageA natural or mechanical system adversely affected by the influence of laser radiation. During laser damage the common effect...
optical character recognitionOptical character recognition (OCR) is a technology that is used to convert printed or handwritten text into...
clear apertureThe limited light-gathering area of an optical system. The area is normally restricted to an edge or outer surface of an...
rotary cameraA camera system used for microphotography that has a structure, such as a cylinder or surveyor belt, to rotate the documents...
insertion lossThe total optical power loss caused by the insertion of an optical component such as a connector, splice or coupler into a...
convergent beam sensing modeA type of photoelectric proximity mode sensing incorporating a lens system to focus the light from the emitter in a small,...
petaIn the SI system, prefix meaning 1015.
light fieldThe term light field refers to the spatial distribution of light rays traveling in all directions through a given space. It...
optically compensating zoom systemA variable focal length lens system that retains the object in focus as one or more lenses move as a unit along its optical...
b integralCalculates the exponential growth of the least stable spatial frequency in a laser beam, and is the numerical equivalent of...
contextual analysisIn optical character recognition systems, the identification of a character facilitated by means of known factors governing...
population inversionThe condition in which there are more atomic systems in the upper of two energy levels than in the lower, so stimulated...
photoelectric colorimeterA system having a photoelectric detector for the measurement of three quantities related by linear combination to...
photoresistPhotoresist is a light-sensitive material used in photolithography processes, particularly in the fabrication of...
APD detectorAn APD detector, or avalanche photodiode detector, is a type of photodetector used to detect light or optical signals by...
freeform mirrorsFreeform mirrors refer to reflective optical components that deviate from traditional symmetric or rotationally symmetric...
pico (p)In the SI system, prefix meaning 10-12.
exit angleThe angle between a light ray emerging from an optical system and the optical axis of that system.
corner cubeA corner cube, also known as a corner reflector or retroreflector prism, is a type of optical device used to reflect light...
parallel scanningParallel scanning refers to a method of acquiring data or images simultaneously from multiple sources or in parallel, rather...
field of viewThe field of view (FOV) refers to the extent of the observable world or the visible area that can be seen at any given...
calorimetryCalorimetry is a branch of science that involves the measurement of heat flow in physical or chemical processes. It...
head-up displayAn optical system that superimposes a synthetic display providing navigational or weapon-aiming information on a pilot's or...
mixed signal oscilloscopeA mixed-signal oscilloscope (MSO) is a type of electronic test instrument that combines the capabilities of both a...
nonselective sensorA radiometric device or system having uniform responsivity relative to all of the radiation parameters, or relative to one...
local injection detection systemA device used to evaluate the quality of fiber optic splices made in the field by injecting light into the cladding of the...
common optoelectronics laser detection systemA laser warning and countermeasure system containing a sensor that indicates the direction of a laser beam, and analytical...
neutral density wedgeA strip or annulus of glass coated with a semitransparent material such as inconel. The coating thickness, and as a result...
near-infrared spectrometerA near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer is an analytical instrument used to measure the absorption, transmission, or reflection...
microdisplayA microdisplay is a miniature electronic display technology that is designed to project visual information onto a small...
shading1. The sorting of lenses by their color. 2. In an optical system, an irradiance or brightness gradient in the image that is...
dual attachment stationIn a dual-ring local area network, a node that is connected both to the primary, active ring and also to a secondary ring...
window1. A piece of glass with plane parallel surfaces used to admit light into an optical system and to exclude dirt and...
stencil CRT image generationThe projection of the image beam by a cathode-ray tube through a mask, where it is deflected through the suitable character...
newton (N)The unit of force in the mks system that will give 1 kg of mass an acceleration of 1 m/s2.
common-mode voltageAn electrical problem that occurs when voltage is not the same with respect to ground at every node of a system, causing...
electron-gun systemAn electron-gun system is an assembly used to generate and control a focused beam of electrons. Electron guns find...
local oscillator laserIn coherent optical communications systems, a laser used at the receiving end to produce a steady wave that is combined with...
closed-circuit television systemA television system that does not broadcast television signals but transmits them over a closed circuit.
diopterA unit of optical measurement that expresses the refractive power of a lens or prism. In a lens or lens system, it is the...
SISysteme Internationale d'Unites, the international metric system of units.
image contrastAlso referred to as image visibility, the contrast of an image is the variation in the intensity of an image formed by an...
optical testing instrumentAn optical testing instrument is a device or system used to evaluate and measure the performance, quality, and...
beam positionerA device (e.g., prisms, lenses, tubes) used to align a beam in a system.
diode-pumped solid-state laserA diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) is a type of laser system that uses semiconductor diode lasers to pump energy into...
minimum resolvable temperatureIn a thermal imaging system, the smallest change in blackbody equivalent temperature that can be detected clearly by the...
optical systemA group of lenses, or any combination of lenses, mirrors and prisms, so constructed as to refract or reflect light to...
baffleAn opaque shielding device designed to reduce the effect of stray light on an optical system.
bias buildupDegradation factor in coherent light systems where the amplitude of the recorded signal is decreased as the number of object...
perfect lensA theoretical, ideal lens capable of producing perfect images. Used as a lens design and analysis tool to image collimated...
catadioptric imaging systemA system that uses both reflection and refraction to achieve its focal power. While the relative powers of the lenses and...
GaAlAs laserA GaAlAs laser is a type of semiconductor laser diode that emits light in the near-infrared region of the electromagnetic...
fiber-coupled photoconductive antennaA fiber-coupled photoconductive antenna (FCPA) is a type of optoelectronic device that combines a photoconductive antenna...
chirped-pulse amplificationChirped pulse amplification (CPA) is a technique used in laser physics to amplify ultrashort laser pulses to high energies...
massive opticsOptical components exceeding 24 in. in diameter. The components are usually glass, acrylic or polystyrene and are used for...
atomic timeAny system of time measurement that is based on atomic resonances. The transition times between the hyperfine levels of...
surface quality standardsThe standards of MIL-O-13830 set by the US government relative to tolerable surface scratches and other such defects in an...
microenvironmental control systemEquipment that supports microscopic live-cell imaging by managing the gas, media perfusion, temperature and other factors to...
television projectionA television display system in which the television signal is converted to an image that is projected onto either a front or...
circle of confusionThe image of a point source that appears as a circle of finite diameter because of defocusing or the aberrations inherent in...
horizontal travelThe rotation of an instrument (or the line of sight of an optical system) in a horizontal plane; transverse.
quantum noiseNoise generated within an optical communications system link that has both internal (dark current) and external (background...
double-clad fiberDouble-clad fiber (DCF) is a specialized optical fiber that features two concentric cladding layers surrounding a core. The...
resonatorA resonator is a device or system that exhibits resonance, which is a phenomenon that occurs when an external force or...
fiducial pointOne or more spots placed in the field of view of an optical system to provide a means of reference.
electron image tubeA cathode-ray tube that increases the brightness or size of an image or forms a visible image from invisible radiation. The...
motion sensingCapacity of a vision system to capture an image of an object in motion and to resolve the direction and speed of that motion.
conjugate autofocus systemA system that determines whether an image is in or out of focus by means of a source of illumination at the conjugate focal...
television monitorA television receiver that receives the signals generated by a television camera directly, or remotely through a radio...
effective aperture1. That portion of the aperture that functions to collect energy and deliver it to the final system detector. 2. For an...
laser dazzle systemVisible laser radiation, often optically expanded and collimated, used to induced temporary blindness from within a walking...
lock-in amplifierA lock-in amplifier is a specialized electronic instrument used to extract and measure small signals embedded in noise or...
transverse modeIn the context of optics and lasers, a transverse mode refers to a specific spatial pattern of the electric field within the...
micro-roboticsMicro-robotics refers to the field of robotics that involves the design, development, and application of miniature robotic...
Rayleigh prismA prism system designed to produce a very high dispersion of light.
t numberThe equivalent f number of a fictitious lens that has a circular opening and 100 percent transmittance, which would give the...
sidereal timeFrequently used in astronomical measurement, it is based on the diurnal rotation of a star relative to the fixed stellar...
zeptoIn the SI system, prefix meaning 10-21. (z).
quantum-ehanced metrologyQuantum-enhanced metrology refers to the use of quantum mechanics principles and techniques to enhance the precision and...
machine vision systemA machine vision system is an integrated combination of hardware and software components designed to capture, process, and...
f-Theta lensA family of lenses commonly used in scan systems for reading or printing documents. The lens must be designed such that the...
optical analysisThe mathematical evaluation of an optical system to determine and quantify its basic optical properties and image quality...
fiber optic imaging bundleA fiber optic imaging bundle is a specialized optical device composed of multiple optical fibers bundled together. Each...
spherical aberrationSpherical aberration is an optical aberration that occurs when light rays passing through a lens or curved optical surface...
aerosolA two-phase system consisting of dispersed liquid or solid particles in a gas; examples include dust, smoke and clouds.
rangefinder1. An optical distance finder that depends on triangulation of two convergent beams on an object from disparate view points....
oscillographAn instrument used to record rapidly varying currents or voltages. An oscillograph may consist of a cathode-ray tube...
depth of convergenceA critical image parameter in applications where object position may change dynamically relative to the imager; this is a...
Seidel aberrationsSeidel aberrations refer to a set of monochromatic aberrations in optical systems, named after the German mathematician and...
thollon prism systemTwo 30° prisms that are used to produce constant deviation when rotated by equal and opposite angles.
light valveWith respect to display systems, a device that uses an independent light source and a control-layer medium, the active...
Airy discThe central peak (including everything interior to the first zero or dark ring) of the focal diffraction pattern of a...
beam profilingBeam profiling is a technique used to characterize and analyze the spatial intensity distribution of a laser beam. It...
simplexA fiber optic transmission system in which data can go in only a single direction.
infrared light sourceAn infrared light source is a device that emits light in the infrared spectrum, which lies beyond the visible spectrum of...
biometricsBiometrics refers to the automated recognition of individuals based on their physiological or behavioral characteristics....
optical surfaceA reflecting or refracting surface contained within an optical system.
internet of thingsThe internet of things (IoT) refers to a network of interconnected physical devices, vehicles, appliances, and other objects...
clippingA defect in an optical system that prevents rays from reaching their intended destination; it can be caused by an undersized...
acceptance angleThe range of angle or solid angle values by which light may enter an optical system.
point-focusing collectorA device used in solar systems to direct mirror-reflected sunlight to a heat absorber and heat-driven engine, which turns a...
Kerr effectThe Kerr effect, named after the physicist John Kerr who first observed it in 1875, is a nonlinear optical phenomenon where...
attosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopyAttosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopy (APAP) is an advanced technique in ultrafast spectroscopy that allows...
digital point systemA pixel-based computer graphics system that simulates the tools of an artist.
edge responseIntensity distribution in the image of an edge. The gradient of the edge-response curve is a measure of the image quality of...
astronomical unitThe unit generally used to express distances within the solar system, and sometimes to measure interstellar distances....
Brillouin scatteringBrillouin scattering is a phenomenon in physics where an incident electromagnetic wave (usually light) interacts with...
pyramid errorPyramid error in optics refers to an aberration in the shape of an optical surface, particularly in the context of mirrors....
contrast controlWith respect to television, a potentiometer that allows variation of the intensity of the different elements of an image and...
optical axisThe imaginary line passing through both the centers of curvatures of the optical surfaces of a lens or mirror; the optical...
entrance pupilIn a lens or other optical system, the image of the aperture stop as seen from object space.
bakeoutThe elimination of gases from the surfaces of a vacuum system by heating the surfaces when the pumping phase is occurring.
array processorIn image processing, a specially designed programmable computer peripheral that attaches to the host system for the purpose...
microring resonatorA microring resonator is a compact optical device that utilizes the resonant behavior of light within a small ring-shaped...
color televisionA television system that is capable of producing an image whose colors approximate the colors of the original, by the use of...
automated optical inspectionAutomated optical inspection (AOI) is a technology used in manufacturing processes, particularly in electronics, to...
exciter filterIn ultraviolet and fluorescence photography, the term applied to the filter used in the photographic system and with the...
galvo-directing mirrorsA system of mirrors that can be used to direct light from a single laser source into any one of a number of separate optical...
fiber optic scannerA scanner in which a fiber optic assembly replaces a lens system.
image photocounting distributionPhoton flow created by imaging of light into a detector array; IPD is the electrical signal used by the image processor in a...
interference1. The additive process whereby the amplitudes of two or more overlapping waves are systematically attenuated and...
precision apertureAn accurately produced hole of any size and shape that is used as a masking device in an optical system. Pinhole apertures...
meter1. The basic unit of length in the metric system, equal to 39.37 in. or 3.28 ft. 2. Any device or instrument used for...
aspheric mirrorAn aspheric mirror is an optical mirror surface that deviates from the shape of a perfect sphere, having a non-spherical...
homogeneous broadeningThe broadening of a laser's line width in a way that affects every atom (or molecule), and thus the whole system, in the...
optical Fourier transformThe optical Fourier transform is a mathematical operation applied to optical signals that involves transforming a spatial...
trinoscopeA color-television viewing system with three kinescopes, three lenses and three deflection yokes used to form the red, green...
inverted imageAn image that is similar to the object but rotated 180° about the axis of the system.
acousto-optic modulators and deflectorsAn acousto-optic modulator (AOM) is a device that utilizes the interaction between sound waves and light waves to modulate...
megaIn the SI system, prefix meaning 1 million, 106.
transputerA computer whose architecture contains several CPU chips arranged in parallel. Often used in image processing systems.
photoelectric spectrophotometerA system that consists of a spectrophotometer with a photoelectric detector for measurement of radiant energy.
active mediumA material that produces stimulated emission during the process of amplification with a laser system.
stroboscopic interferometryA pulsed interferometer that permits the continuous quantitative mapping of the surface deformation of an adaptive optical...
femtosecond laserA femtosecond laser is a type of laser that emits ultrashort pulses of light with durations on the order of femtoseconds,...
pincushion distortionAn aberration of a lens system caused by an increase in lens focal length as the field angle increases. The amount of...
optical cements and adhesiveOptical cements and adhesives are specialized materials used in the assembly and bonding of optical components in optical...
time-to-amplitude converterA time-to-amplitude converter (TAC) is an electronic circuit that converts a time interval between two events into an...
Golgi Staining TechniqueThe Golgi staining technique (also called the black reaction) makes it possible to look at the nervous system by rendering...
pathogenA pathogen is a biological agent, such as a virus, bacterium, fungus, protozoan, or parasite, that causes disease in its...
color correctionThe reduction in longitudinal, lateral and secondary chromatic aberrations in a lens or lens system.
real-time processingThe ability of a vision system to interpret an image in a short enough time to keep pace with most operations.
photoimmunotherapyPhotoimmunotherapy (PIT) is a medical treatment approach that combines elements of phototherapy and immunotherapy to target...
ultramicroscopeA dark-field microscope used to view extremely small objects. These objects are suspended in a gas or liquid in an enclosure...
line scanLine scan refers to a method of capturing images or data by scanning a single line at a time, as opposed to capturing the...
laser triangulationA technique that uses a solid-state laser and a detector to determine an object's relative distance to the system. The laser...
micro (µ)In the SI system, prefix meaning one-millionth, 10-6. Abbreviated µ.
photocoagulatorAn optical medical instrument that uses an intense, precisely focused beam of light to stop weakened blood vessels from...
spin-spin couplingReciprocal magnetic interaction between nuclei in a molecular system facilitated by the binding electrons of the molecule.
infrared lensAn infrared lens is an optical component specifically designed and optimized for transmitting, focusing, or manipulating...
concaveConcave is an adjective used to describe a surface or shape that curves inward or has a hollow or recessed appearance. In...
X-axis1. In a plane Cartesian coordinate system, the horizontal axis, or axis in the left to right direction. 2. In a quartz...
true fieldThe size of the field of view in the object space of an optical system as differentiated from that in the image space...
collective lensA convex or positive lens that serves to collect energy and direct it into subsequent system optics.
optical pumpingThe process whereby the number of atoms or atomic systems in a set of energy levels is changed by the absorption of light...
calcium indicatorA calcium indicator is a molecule that is sensitive to changes in calcium ion (Ca2+) concentrations in biological systems....
sensor1. A generic term for detector. 2. A complete optical/mechanical/electronic system that contains some form of radiation...
silicon photodiodeA silicon photodiode is a semiconductor device that converts light into an electrical current. It is a type of photodetector...
continuous waveContinuous wave (CW) refers to a type of signal or transmission where the signal is constant and does not vary with time. In...
multi-axis alignmentMulti-axis alignment refers to the process of aligning or adjusting components or systems in multiple spatial dimensions or...
data busA system incorporated into fiber optic data communications characterized by several spatially distributed terminals that are...
mode beatingIn optics, "mode beating" refers to an interference phenomenon that can occur in laser systems with multiple longitudinal...
electric dichroism spectroscopyThe use of a krypton laser system for the measurement of small molecules aligned by an electric field, by analyzing the...
Rayleigh criterion of resolving powerWhen a lens system with a circular aperture is free of aberrations, the image of a point object will appear as a disc of...
optical design softwareOptical design software refers to specialized computer programs used by optical engineers, physicists, and designers to...
liquid crystal on siliconLiquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) is a display technology that combines liquid crystal materials with silicon-based...
spatial light modulatorA spatial light modulator (SLM) is an optical device that modulates or manipulates the amplitude, phase, or polarization of...
edge-emitting LEDAn edge-emitting light-emitting diode is a type of LED structure where light emission occurs primarily along the edge of the...
Raman spectroscopyRaman spectroscopy is a technique used in analytical chemistry and physics to study vibrational, rotational, and other...
angular subtenseThe measured planar or solid angle of related aspects of an optical system with respect to an optical axis.
cylindrical lensA cylindrical lens is an optical component that has different curvatures along its two orthogonal axes, resulting in a shape...
optical time-domain reflectometerAn optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) is a specialized instrument used in optical fiber communications to characterize...
chromatic aberrationChromatic aberration is an optical phenomenon that occurs when different wavelengths (colors) of light are refracted by a...
kiloIn the SI system, prefix meaning one thousand, 103.
3D laser triangulation3D Laser Triangulation - A technology that allows sensors to probe the surroundings. Laser triangulation systems have an...
direct read after writeA write-once optical disc storage system in which the optical head reads continuously while writing to check the accuracy of...
focal plane assemblyAn infrared imaging device composed of a detector array and readout electronics. It may include a cryogenic cooling system....
thermophotovoltaicThermophotovoltaic (TPV) refers to a technology that converts heat energy into electricity using the principles of...
fluorographic cameraA camera with a very high aperture lens or mirror system for photographing x-ray fluorescent screen images, mainly to save...
retina cameraA special-purpose camera used by ophthalmologists to photograph the retina of the eye. The optical system operates through...
infrared beaconAn infrared source, set in a stationary position, that is used as a reference in certain navigational systems.
critical absorption wavelengthThat wavelength at which the absorption of a given element or system begins to demonstrate an inconstant value.
narcissusA defect in infrared systems that appears as a dark circular area on a displayed image, caused by radiation reflecting into...
static beam shapingA technique for creating optimal performance in a system by producing a specific beam irradiance distribution, usually...
focus lampAn incandescent or carbon arc lamp designed with a stable and compact arc or filament that permits it to be used as a light...
hyperspectral resolutionHyperspectral resolution refers to the level of detail or granularity in the spectral information captured by a...
color comparator1. A device used in chemistry to compare the colors of solutions held in flat-bottomed tubes and viewed along the length of...
imaging scienceThe science of producing, recording, storing, transmitting and displaying visual images by any system (photographic, video,...
CCD image sensorA CCD image sensor, or charge-coupled device image sensor, is a type of electronic device used to convert optical images...
simultaneous dual field of viewA passive infrared system that uses two line-of-sight telescopes to generate both narrow and wide field-of-view images of...
infrared photodetector arrayAn impurity-doped silicon detector array sensitive to long infrared wavelengths, installed in optical collecting systems...
mode1. The characteristic of how light propagates through a waveguide that can be designated by a radiation pattern in a plane...
systemA combination of components arranged so as to perform at least one function.
centering1. Mounting a lens or mirror so that its optical axis is coincident with the optical or mechanical axes of other portions of...
joint transform correlatorA device consisting of two optical systems in which two signals are simultaneously transformed to produce their spectra, and...
high-speed motion cameraA high-speed motion camera, also known as a high-speed camera or slow-motion camera, is a specialized imaging device...
sign conventionsA convention that defines specific dimensions of an optical system, such as the image distance or radius of curvature of a...
environmental rangeThe maximum to minimum range of temperature, pressure, humidity, vibration and biological conditions under which an optical...
autofocus systemA means of adjusting the sharpness of an image automatically, with a sensor for estimating distance or contrast and a drive...
read-write capabilityIn an optical data storage system, denoting the optical head's ability both to record information and to detect it for...
coherent noiseThe manifestation of light from scatterers outside the plane of the object in coherent light systems. The output of these...
dispersionDispersion refers to the phenomenon where different wavelengths (colors) of light travel at different speeds when passing...
Wadsworth mountingA system used for gratings that consists of a concave mirror, a grating and a plate holder mounted normal to the grating to...
ophthalmologyOphthalmology is a branch of medicine that focuses on the anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the eyes and visual system....
acousto-opticsDiscipline within optical physics that addresses sound vibration, phonon effects and their influencing behavior within...
direct viewfinderA viewfinder whose optical system forms a direct image of a subject, as opposed to those systems that use reflectance in the...
laser gravimeterMeans of determining the relative motion of a (seismic) mass or acceleration body from a stable laser operated system.
neuromorphicNeuromorphic refers to the design and development of computing systems or devices that are inspired by the structure and...
advanced tactical air reconnaissance systemAn aerial reconnaissance system that can transmit, in near real time, image data recorded by IR and visual-spectrum sensors,...
optical phase distortionOptical phase distortion refers to a phenomenon where the phase of an optical wavefront is altered as it propagates through...
transceiverAn instrument or system capable of both transmitting and receiving a signal.
clear eye distanceIn a visual optical system, the axial distance from the last mechanical surface of the eyepiece to the exit pupil.
Baker-Nunn cameraA wide-field camera based on the classic Schmidt optical system used to photograph Earth-orbiting satellites.
optical resolutionA measure of image quality produced by an optical system. May be specified in terms of cycles per millimeter, referencing a...
cameraA light-tight box that receives light from an object or scene and focuses it to form an image on a light-sensitive material...
microfluidicsMicrofluidics is a multidisciplinary field that involves the manipulation and control of very small fluid volumes, typically...
optoelectronicsOptoelectronics is a branch of electronics that focuses on the study and application of devices and systems that use light...
digital signal processingDigital signal processing (DSP) refers to the manipulation and analysis of signals, which are representations of physical...
machine visionMachine vision, also known as computer vision or computer sight, refers to the technology that enables machines, typically...
cold-light illuminationA means of illumination from which the infrared component has been removed by absorption or reflection filters within the...
rectilinear systemAn optical system that is corrected for distortion and spherical aberration and therefore forms the image of a straight line...
cartesianOf or pertaining to the methods of the French philosopher Rene Descartes. Refers to the standard orthogonal X-Y-Z coordinate...
emissivity correction matrixA computer-generated routine for achieving true-temperature readings in thermal infrared imaging systems.
Amici prismAlso known as roof prism. A type of prism designed by G.B. Amici. It consists of a roof edge produced upon the long...
microheterogeneous systemsExtremely small organic and inorganic systems of molecules within a substance. In general, systems are colloidal size in...
symmetry operationAny systemic process that ultimately reassembles all the system's components into their initial alignment, or an arrangement...
image brightnessThe apparent luminance of the image as seen through an optical system. This brightness of the image is determined by the...
focal plane arrayA linear or two-dimensional matrix of individual detector elements, typically used at the focus of an imaging system.
brightness resolutionThe degree to which a pixel in a digital image represents the analog brightness of the corresponding point in the original...
optical testingRefers to a variety of methods and tools used to determine the surface contour and performance of optical components and...
himawariA system of Japanese origin that utilizes Fresnel lenses and a fiber optic network to transmit sunlight to otherwise...
ray intercept plotA graph of the intersections of a fan of rays with the final image plane, plotted as a function of the positions of the rays...
direct detectionIn a fiber optic transmission system, the conversion of received optical pulses directly to an electrical signal.
vertical blankingWith respect to a television system, a pulse transmitted at the end of each field to break off the cathode-ray beam as it...
photodetectorA photodetector, also known as a photosensor or photodiode, is a device that detects and converts light into an electrical...
Dammann gratingA Dammann grating is a type of diffractive optical element (DOE) used to create an array of equally spaced,...
grating prismA specific, right-angle prism having a transmission grating replicated on its hypotenuse face and used in applications...
triple aplanatA compound lens consisting of two negative lenses of flint glass. A double-convex lens of crown glass is cemented between...
active opticsTechnology that corrects the shape of reflective optics; primarily applied in large telescope systems, in order to...
stimulated Brillouin scatteringIn Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS), an incident photon (usually laser light) interacts with acoustic phonons in a...
micrographA graphic reproduction of an object formed by a microscope or another optical system. Also an instrument used to make tiny...
fiber optic cable assemblyA fiber optic cable assembly refers to a complete unit consisting of optical fibers, connectors, protective jackets, and...
forward-looking infraredA night-vision device that uses one or more infrared transducers to scan a scene in the 3- to 5-µm or 8- to...
Ostwald systemThe system of color classification and description produced by Wilhelm Ostwald.
ospinOpsins are a group of light-sensitive proteins found primarily in the retinas of vertebrate and invertebrate eyes, as well...
laser hammeringMeans of correcting laser postweld shift. The correction procedure is applied to optoelectronic systems such as laser diode...
photolithographyPhotolithography is a key process in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices, integrated circuits, and...
colorimeterA colorimeter is a device used to measure and quantify the color characteristics of an object or a light source. It provides...
point spread functionThe point spread function (PSF) is a fundamental concept in imaging that describes the response of an imaging system to a...
gallium nitrideGallium nitride (GaN) is a compound made up of gallium (Ga) and nitrogen (N). It is a wide-bandgap semiconductor material...
superresolutionSuperresolution refers to the enhancement or improvement of the spatial resolution beyond the conventional limits imposed by...
glass annealing furnaceA furnace, generally electrically heated, with a control system capable of following a cam by which the temperature can be...
photoelectric scannerA system mounted a few inches above a moving plane that consists of a light source, lenses and one or more phototubes. In...
whole slide imagingWhole slide imaging (WSI), also known as virtual slide microscopy or digital pathology, is a technology that involves the...
embedded laserThe term "embedded laser" typically refers to a laser device that is integrated or embedded into a larger system or...
photographic resolutionA measure of the ability of a photographic system to record fine detail. Usually stated in terms of cycles per millimeter on...
transducerA transducer is a device or component that converts one form of energy into another. It is commonly used in various fields,...
electrolytic developmentDeveloping a photographic image by means of an applied electric field. The methods used include electrolysis and...
coincidence rangefinderAn optical instrument used to determine the distance to a target being viewed. Two similar optical systems view the target...
frame1. To center an image or place it in any part of the television screen desired. Also applies to stills. 2. A single image of...
laser cell sortingA moving group of fluid-suspended biological species directed through separate channels by which the population is isolated....
ultraviolet fiber opticsUltraviolet (UV) fiber optics refers to optical fibers that are designed and optimized for the transmission of ultraviolet...
harmonic generationHarmonic generation refers to a nonlinear optical process in which incoming photons interact with a material and produce new...
optical manufacturing tools and machineryOptical manufacturing tools and machinery encompass a wide range of equipment, instruments, and systems used in the...
diamond turningDiamond turning, also known as diamond machining or diamond cutting, is a precision machining process used to produce...
laser driftLaser drift typically refers to a phenomenon where the frequency or wavelength of a laser source gradually changes over...
well plateA well plate, also known as a microplate or microtiter plate, is a flat plate with multiple small wells or depressions...
otoscopeAn otoscope is a medical device used by healthcare professionals, particularly ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists,...
deep learningDeep learning is a subset of machine learning that involves the use of artificial neural networks to model and solve complex...
meta-opticsMeta-optics, also known as metasurface optics or flat optics, is a branch of optics that involves the design, fabrication,...
resonanceResonance can be defined in various contexts, including physics, chemistry, and music. Here are definitions for resonance in...
auxiliary telescopeA low-power telescope placed at the eyepiece of an optical system to increase overall magnification. Most often used to...
connector lossEnergy loss encountered at connectors in optical fiber transmission systems. The major contributors are mutual core...
holmiumA soft, malleable, stable rare-earth element. Holmium laser systems are used in surgical procedures involving the cutting...
cathode radiant sensitivityCathode radiant sensitivity refers to the ability of a photocathode to convert incident radiant energy, typically in the...
air-to-ground phototransmission systemA category of systems designed to communicate a photo taken from the air (e.g., aircraft, balloon, satellite) to a ground...
electron-beam gun1. A device generally used in a cathode-ray or camera tube to emit a stream of electrons moving at uniform velocity in a...
radial distortionAn alteration in magnification from the center of the field to any point in the field, measured in a radial direction from...
laser diode moduleA laser diode module is a compact device that incorporates a laser diode, optics, and often other components into a single...
optical transitionThe process by which an atomic system changes from one energy level to another by either the emission or absorption of...
laser pattern generationProduction of a repeated image of a transmitted beam through a diffractive optical element such as a holographic card or...
collection angleThe solid angle of a detector or system pupil as seen by the source.
Ultraviolet-CUltraviolet-C (UV-C) refers to a specific range of ultraviolet radiation with shorter wavelengths than those of visible...
electron-beam lithography systemAn electron-beam lithography (EBL) system is a sophisticated nanofabrication tool used in the semiconductor industry and...
FMCW lidarFMCW lidar stands for frequency-modulated continuous wave lidar. It is a type of lidar (light detection and ranging)...
Bravais-Miller indexOne of the constants h, k, f or I, used to demonstrate any set of parallel planes in a crystal of the hexagonal system.
optical assemblyAn optical assembly refers to a collection of optical components that are carefully arranged and aligned to perform a...
solarization1. The reduction in the developable density of a photographic emulsion that has been extremely overexposed. 2. In a laser...
grindingThe process in the manufacture of an optical system that gives it the required geometric shape.
solar furnaceAn optical system that is designed to produce a high temperature in a specified area by the optical direction and...
beam shaperA beam shaper is an optical device or system designed to modify the spatial profile or intensity distribution of a laser or...
infrared light-emitting diodeAn infrared light-emitting diode (IR LED) is a semiconductor device that emits infrared light when an electric current...
wide-angle lensA wide-angle lens is a type of camera lens that has a shorter focal length than a standard or normal lens, allowing it to...
relay lensA lens or lens system used to transfer a real image from one point within an optical system to another, with or without...
nonlinear opticsNonlinear optics is a branch of optics that studies the optical phenomena that occur when intense light interacts with a...
photorefractive keratectomyA surgical procedure for correcting vision by reshaping the outer surface of the cornea through the use of a laser system.
flow cytometryFlow cytometry is a powerful technique used in biology and medicine for the quantitative analysis of the physical and...
quantum cascade laserA quantum cascade laser (QCL) is a type of semiconductor laser that operates based on the principles of quantum mechanics....
deep ultravioletDeep ultraviolet (DUV or deep-UV) refers to a specific range of ultraviolet light with shorter wavelengths than those in the...
critical apertureIn an optical system, the aperture size at which the lens gives its best overall performance.
masks for evaporation/depositionIn the context of thin film deposition processes such as evaporation or sputtering, masks are used to selectively deposit...
optical extentMathematically defined as the product of etendue (or throughput) and the square of the refractive index, the optical extent...
combinerA semitransparent mirror in an optical system that combines two or more output beams into a single coaxial beam.
single attachment stationIn a dual-ring local area network, a node that is connected only to the primary, active ring and not to the secondary ring...
half duplexA communications system that can transmit in only a single direction at a time. See duplex.
fixed axis of rotationThe locus of points in a system along a line that remains stationary while the remainder of the system rotates.
accelerometerAn accelerometer is a sensor or transducer that measures the rate of change of velocity of an object, or in simpler terms,...
optical filterAn optical filter is a device that selectively transmits or blocks specific wavelengths, or colors, of light. Optical...
direct laser interference patterningAlso called DLIP, a high-speed, high-resolution processing technique that uses high-power, pulsed laser systems to directly...
computer visionComputer vision enables computers to interpret and make decisions based on visual data, such as images and videos. It...
optical componentOne or more optical elements – typically cemented together - in an optical system that are treated as a single group;...
Mohs hardnessMaterial hardness scale that is used to characterize the scratch resistance of various materials. This surface hardness...
moiré topographyContour mapping technique that involves positioning a grating close to an object and observing its shadow on the object...
additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a manufacturing process that involves creating three-dimensional...
optical barcode readerAn optical barcode reader, commonly known as a barcode scanner, is a device that uses optical technology to capture and...
underwater photographyThe field of photography concerned with the recording of subjects beneath the water with a watertight, water-resistant...
infrared photomicrographyPhotographic recording that uses infrared radiation as the light source to form an image of a microscopic object and a...
infrared alarm systemA system that uses infrared detectors and related instrumentation to determine when abnormal amounts of infrared radiation,...
planar magnetronA device used in the sputtering of thin films, in which a magnet system on the back of the cathode deflects the electrons,...
decentrationIn a single element, any lack of coincidence between the optical and the mechanical axes. In a lens system, any lack of...
ambient lightLight present in the environment around a detecting or interpreting device, especially a machine vision system, and...
in vivoIn vivo is a Latin term that translates to "within the living." In scientific contexts, particularly in biology and...
image qualityA measure of the closeness with which an optical image is capable of resembling the original object. The factors that affect...
spontaneous emissionRadiation emitted when a quantum mechanical system drops spontaneously from an excited level to a lower level. This...
Ross lensA corrective lens system that is placed near the focal plane of a Newtonian telescope to increase its effective field of...
micro-opticsMicro-optics refers to the design, fabrication, and application of optical components and systems at a microscale level....
dichroic mirrorA dichroic mirror, also known as a dichroic beamsplitter or interference filter beamsplitter, is an optical device that...
degrees of freedomThe number of unique ways in which a part can move in an alignment system. In static alignment, there are six: one in the...
camera chainThe term sometimes used to describe the sequential arrangement of components in a video system -- from transmitter to...
component1. A constituent part. It may consist of two or more parts cemented together, or with near and approximately matching...
calciteA doubly refracting mineral used to produce polarizing prisms. It is uniaxial negative and in the trigonal division of the...
helium leak detectorA small mass spectrometer used to find leaks in a vacuum system by detecting the presence of helium. Using a magnetic...
law of reversibilityIn physics, the law of reversibility is often associated with the concept of reversibility in thermodynamics. The law...
circular dichroism spectroscopyA type of spectroscopy used extensively in the analysis of biological samples. Because most biologically synthesized...
computer-calculated diffraction patternThe use of computer analysis in the calculation of diffraction patterns for information on the design of optical systems. In...
catoptric systemAn optical system in which the only image-forming elements are curved-surface mirrors; e.g., a Cassegrain lens system.
endoscopeAn endoscope is a medical device used for visualizing and examining the interior of hollow organs, body cavities, or...
comaA lens aberration, resulting from different magnifications in the various lens zones, that occurs in that part of the image...
laser welderA system that uses the heat from a pulsed laser to weld metals. Because of the rapidity and localization in which the...
linear opticsLinear optics refers to the study and manipulation of light in a linear and deterministic manner, where the response of...
impedanceQualitatively, the inverse of the amount of velocity produced by the application of a sinusoidal force to a system;...
hyperspectral imagingHyperspectral imaging is an advanced imaging technique that captures and processes information from across the...
custom opticA custom optic refers to an optical component that is designed, manufactured, and tailored to meet specific requirements or...
GRIN lensA GRIN (gradient index) lens is a type of optical lens that utilizes a gradient in refractive index across its volume rather...
double-discharge laserA type of transversely excited laser with a uniform arc-free discharge of large cross-sectional area that can be scaled to...
cesium 134An isotope of cesium that emits negative beta particles and has a half-life of 2.19 years; its applications include...
angular spectrum approachThe angular spectrum approach is a mathematical and computational technique used in the field of optics to analyze and...
microstereologyMicroscopic investigation of two-dimensional areas of a three-dimensional object that can be quantitatively evaluated by...
lithographyLithography is a key process used in microfabrication and semiconductor manufacturing to create intricate patterns on the...
Munsell color systemFounded by professor Albert Munsell. In the field of colorimetry, the Munsell color system is a color space that identifies...
Cassegrain lens systemA two-mirror lens design used in astronomical telescopes, the primary being a parabola, the secondary a smaller hyperbola....
polygon mirrorA rotating component with a series of flat reflective surfaces around the perimeter that is used in scanning systems to...
actinic focusThat point in the electromagnetic spectrum at which an optical system focuses the most chemically effective rays.
2D profile sensorA 2D profile sensor is a type of sensor used in various industrial and technological applications to measure and capture...
aberrationA departure from ideal paraxial imaging behavior. The distortion of an optical field wavefront as it is propagated through...
linear positioning stageA linear positioning stage, also known as a linear stage or translation stage, is a precision mechanical device used to...
optical gateAn optical gate typically refers to a device or system that controls the transmission of light, allowing it to pass through...
contrast filterA filter designed to improve contrast in an imaging system. For visual and black and white photosystems, a yellow filter is...
peripheralNear the boundary or edge of the field of an optical system; the outer fringe.
optical coherence tomography imaging systemOptical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging technique used in medical diagnostics and biomedical research to obtain...
pulse code modulationSystem of information coding in which the signal is sampled 8000 times per second and the samples quantized by referring...
epitaxial equipmentEpitaxial equipment refers to a set of specialized tools and systems used in the process of epitaxy, which is the growth of...
averaged threshold receiverA receiver for optical communications systems consisting of a symmetric binary, pulse-code-modulated transmitter, a...
apochromatic systemAn optical system that is corrected chromatically for three colors simultaneously.
gramUnit of mass in the SI system.
optical profilerAlso known as a white-light interferometer. Measures surface texture and shape from nanometer-scale roughness to...
fold1. A flaw in a blank caused by folding the blank's surface during its formation. 2. The change in the direction of a...
tracking1. The process of following an object's movement; accomplished by focusing a radar beam on the reticle of an optical system...
atomic clockAn atomic clock is a highly precise timekeeping device that uses the vibrations or oscillations of atoms as a reference for...
aspheric lensAn aspheric lens is a type of lens whose surface profiles deviate from the traditional spherical shape. Unlike spherical...
germanium crystalGermanium crystal refers to a crystalline form of the element germanium (Ge), which is a metalloid and semiconductor...
pharyngoscopeAn optical system used to examine the pharynx.
relative apertureThe ratio of the diameter of the entrance pupil in an optical system to the equivalent focal length of that system. The...
vacuum breakerA valve that serves to release air into an evacuated system.
Kell factorIn an interlaced scanning electro-optical system such as television, the system resolution will be less than the number of...
Deslandres diagramA diagram in which the variable frequencies of a spectral band system are plotted corresponding to ascending values of the...
yottaIn the SI system, prefix meaning 1024. (Y).
etalonAn etalon is an optical device that consists of two parallel reflecting surfaces separated by a precise and known distance....
noiseThe unwanted and unpredictable fluctuations that distort a received signal and hence tend to obscure the desired message....
beamwidthThe angular width of a radiation beam. With respect to a conical beam of light, it is the vertex angle of the cone. The...
piezoelectric motion systemsPiezoelectric motion systems are mechanical systems that utilize piezoelectric materials to generate controlled motion or...
real imageAn image that is formed when rays emerging from an optical system all converge to a point on the optical axis. A real image...
transmission lossThe decrease in power that occurs when an optical beam or signal is transmitted through a system.
reflecting objectiveAn image-forming system that uses mirrors rather than lenses. Such objectives are frequently used for astronomical...
laser cavityA laser cavity, also known as an optical cavity or resonator, is a fundamental component of a laser system. It is a confined...
image jumpIn optics, the term image jump refers to a displacement or shift in the apparent position of an image when a change occurs...
cross-coupling1. A defect inherent in a multiple-axis positioning system whereby an adjustment of one axis causes an undesired change in...
virtual realityVirtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment or experience that can be...
optical camouflageThe use of retroreflective projection technology (RPT) to project a background image onto a masked object, such as a vehicle...
infrared cameraAn infrared camera, also known as a thermal imaging camera or IR camera, is a device that captures and visualizes the...
marginal raysAlso referred to as the axial ray (or a-ray), a marginal ray originates from the axial point of the object and passes...
frame frequencyThe number of times per second that the frame of a television system is completely scanned. In the United States, 30 per...
ground stateAlso known as ground level. The lowest energy level of an atom or atomic system. A material in the ground state is not...
molecular motorA molecular motor refers to a nano-sized device composed of organic molecules or other small-scale components that can...
orthographic cameraA camera designed with a telecentric optical system and a narrow field of view; the telecentric optical system (placement of...
tetartohedral crystalThe section of crystal symmetry having only one-quarter of the greatest number of faces permitted by the crystal system of...
diamond-turned opticDiamond turning refers to a precision machining process used to produce complex optical components, particularly lenses and...
bandwidth-limited operationIn fiber optics, the limitation on performance imposed by the system bandwidth rather than the amplitude of the signal.
attenuation meterA device used to measure power loss in fiber optic connectors, cables or systems.
positioningPositioning generally refers to the determination or identification of the location or placement of an object, person, or...
Porro prism erecting systemThe arrangement of two Porro prisms so that the inverted image formed by certain types of optical instruments is the same as...
microlens arrayA microlens array is a grid-like structure composed of numerous small lenses, typically arranged in a regular pattern. Each...
RTSP protocolRTSP, or real-time streaming protocol, is a network control protocol designed for controlling streaming media servers. It is...
attenuationAttenuation refers to the gradual loss or reduction of intensity, force, or magnitude of a particular property as it...
long-wavelength systemIn fiber optic communications systems, generally one that operates between 1000 and 1700 nm.
electron multiplication charge-coupled device cameraAn EMCCD (electron-multiplying charge-coupled device) camera is a type of scientific camera specifically designed for...
gamma correctionModification of a system to provide for a linear transfer characteristic from an input to an output device. A circuit for...
diffusion diskAn embossed or marked disk, constructed out of a transparent material and used with a camera system to soften an image.
nanoparticle photonic resonator absorption microscopyNanoparticle photonic resonator absorption microscopy is a microscopy technique that combines the principles of photonic...
detector noise-limited operationIn optical communication systems, operations in which the amplitude of the pulses, as opposed to their width, determines the...
lab-on-a-chipA lab-on-a-chip (LOC) is a miniaturized device that integrates various laboratory functions and capabilities onto a single,...
Strehl ratioThe ratio of the illuminance at the peak of the diffraction pattern of an aberrated point image to that at the peak of an...
micro-LEDMicro-LED (micro-light-emitting diode) refers to a technology that involves the use of very small light-emitting diodes to...
free-space opticsFree-space optics (FSO), also known as optical wireless communication or optical wireless networking, refers to the...
after-imageThat image remaining on the detector after the primary stimulus has been removed. In the visual system, the after-image...
Ioffee barA fusion system conductor capable of carrying current in opposite directions in alternating time phases.
biostimulationThe action of a biological system responding to a single or multiple coherent particles of light produced from a laser...
Schlieren opticsAn optical system that records inhomogeneities within a medium by detecting the energy refracted by that portion of the...
optical memory1. The direct storage of data as bits in memory using optical systems and properties. The memory makes use of a laser beam...
rotating mirror scannerDeveloped for use in military reconnaissance systems, it consists of a polygonal mirror, drive motor, interface between...
quantum dot light-emitting diodeQLED stands for quantum dot light-emitting diode. QLED is a display technology that utilizes quantum dots, which are...
film planeThe site behind the lens system in a camera where photographic media are positioned for exposure.
radial astigmatismThe astigmatism in a lens system that results when light enters the system at an oblique angle.
optical channel monitorAn optical channel monitor (OCM) is a device used in optical communication systems to monitor and analyze the performance of...
centered lens systemA lens system in which the centers of curvature of all surfaces fall on a common axis.
nonradiative transitionA nonradiative transition refers to a process in which an electron or an atom undergoes a change in its energy state without...
erect imageAn image, real or virtual, whose spatial orientation is identical to that of the object. The image obtained at the retina...
line of sightThe line of vision; the optical axis of a telescope or other observation system. The straight line connecting the object and...
mass relievingThe removal of material from an optical system to decrease the weight and sometimes the bulk of the system. See coring;...
autoguiderA CCD sensor that provides feedback to the motion control system for a telescope, allowing the telescope to follow a...
design and engineering consulting servicesDesign and engineering consulting services refer to professional services provided by specialized firms or individuals to...
microfilm systemA camera copying system that can reduce originals onto 35- or 16-mm film for easy storage.
resorptionThe absorption of a material by a medium or system that has formerly been released from absorption by that same medium or...
speckle effectIn laser systems, the granular effect that is noted when observing the expanded cross section of a laser beam.
achromatAn achromat, in the context of optics, refers to a type of lens or lens system designed to reduce chromatic aberration....
veiling glareDiffuse stray light at the image plane of an optical system that results in reduced contrast and resolution.
antigenAn antigen is any substance that is capable of triggering an immune response in an organism. Antigens are typically proteins...
integrated photonicsIntegrated photonics is a field of study and technology that involves the integration of optical components, such as lasers,...
backlashIn a mechanical system, any lost motion between driving and driven elements due to clearance between parts.
fiber optic field flattenerA plate consisting of fused optical fibers with both surfaces ground and polished, and having the entrance surface curved to...
in vitroIn vitro is a Latin term that translates to "in glass." In scientific contexts, particularly in biology and medicine, it...
conversion efficiencyIn a pumped laser system, the ratio of output energy to pump energy.
fluorescence decay systemA device, also called a fluorescence lifetime instrument, that measures decay curves of fluorescing samples. It generally...
image distanceThe distance from the last surface of a lens system to the image. For a thin lens system, this distance is equivalent to the...
fiber optic transceiverA fiber optic transceiver, often simply referred to as an "optical transceiver," is a device used in fiber optic...
diaphragmA flanged or plain ring with a restricted aperture, located in an optical system at any of several points, that cuts off...
gray scaleIn image processing, the range of available gray levels. In an 8-bit system, the gray scale contains values from 0 to 255.
proof-of-concept systemAn assembly of prototype instruments, equipment and/or software designed to perform all the functions of a concept or idea...
Abbe illuminationImage of a uniform source through the sample of a microscope image system. Light from the sample plane is reimaged by the...
aptamerAn aptamer is a short, single-stranded DNA or RNA molecule that can bind to a specific target molecule with high affinity...
dispersion-shifted fiberA dispersion-shifted fiber (DSF) refers to a type of optical fiber designed to minimize the effects of chromatic dispersion,...
Van der WaalsVan der Waals forces refer to the attractive or repulsive forces between molecules (or parts of molecules) that arise from...
proximal scanningTechnique using a fiber optic assembly to illuminate an opaque object and transmit an image back from it without a lens...
gunsightAn optical device that permits the alignment of a gun, cannon or rocket launcher system with its target.
functional near-infrared spectroscopyFunctional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that measures changes in hemoglobin...
fluorophosphate glassA special laser glass made primarily of fluoride compounds that exhibits extremely low refractive index and allows greater...
freeform opticsFreeform optics refers to the design and fabrication of optical surfaces that do not follow traditional symmetric shapes,...
photographic sound recorderA system in which the electrical signal embedded within an audio input signal is converted to a modulated light pattern and...
image motion compensationThe active control of various aspects (optical element position, airspace thickness, etc.) of an optical system that...
sine wave objectAn object that has a sinusoidal variation of luminance. Its image will have a sinusoidal variation of illuminance and the...
symmetrical lensA lens system made up of two sets of similar lenses, each of which compensates for many of the aberrations produced by the...
optical transfer functionThe function that characterizes the quality of an optical system by denoting the modulation and spatial phase shift of the...
infrared opticInfrared optics refer to optical components and systems designed to manipulate and control infrared (IR) light, which lies...
chief rayThe ray that passes through the center of the aperture stop in an optical system. It often is called the principal ray of an...
ternary notationRefers to a notation system using a base of 3 and the numerical characters 0, 1 and 2.
aplanatic pointsAplanatic points refer to specific points in an optical system where certain aberrations, such as spherical aberration or...
Fresnel lensA Fresnel lens is a type of optical lens that consists of a series of concentric grooves or steps carved into a flat, thin...
distributed feedback laserA distributed feedback laser (DFB laser) is a type of semiconductor laser diode designed to emit coherent, narrow-bandwidth...
detector arrayA detector array refers to a collection of individual detector elements arranged in a two-dimensional grid or matrix format....
qubitA qubit, short for quantum bit, is the fundamental unit of information in quantum computing and quantum information...
vibrational transitionA vibrational transition refers to a change in the vibrational energy of a molecule. Molecules consist of atoms that are...
multicolor hologramA hologram formed by reconstruction of multicolor wavefronts. The system used to produce the hologram is designed to combine...
light fidelityLiFi, short for light fidelity, is a wireless communication technology that utilizes visible light or infrared light to...
CMOS quantitative polymerase chain reaction systemThis type of miniaturized system, referred to as CMOS qPCR, combines microfluidic technology with an ultralow-light CMOS...
Mollier diagramGraphic evaluation of the operation of a steam thermodynamic cycle of a solar energy system on which enthalpy is plotted...
Winchester driveA sealed, hard, magnetic disc drive used for the storage of data in a computer system.
multiple laser sequenceAlso known as gatling gun laser. A system that has an array of lasers sharing a common central axis on a rotating Fabry...
holographic crystal growth analysisThe study of crystal growth from the molten stage utilizing a holographic system wherein interferometric techniques record...
confocal resonatorA confocal resonator, also known as a confocal cavity or confocal laser resonator, is a type of optical resonator...
range axisThe third dimension (depth or Z-axis) in an imaging system.
image amplifierAn electro-optic system using, in general form, an evacuated glass envelope with a semitransparent photocathode at one end...
molded lensA molded lens is an optical lens manufactured using a molding process, typically involving the shaping of a material, such...
effective data rateA characterization of the throughput performance of data storage systems; the EDR is the total of data retrieved divided by...
nadirIn a remote sensing system, nadir refers to the point on the ground located vertically below the center of the system. In...
lidarLidar, short for light detection and ranging, is a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances and...
binary on-offSignal used in optical transmission systems to generate currents in a detector that are decoded with reference to a...
optoisolatorAn optical coupling device that uses light to bridge the gap between incompatible wire communications systems. It contains...
rapid access systemA photographic camera and processing system used to form a usable record of the subject in a short time, usually a few...
automatic optical inspectionA system for automatic industrial process control or measurement, consisting of an optical module for image acquisition, a...
magnifying powerThe ability of an optical system to make an object appear larger. An optical element or optical system causing an object to...
front-cell focusingA method of focusing an optical system by moving the front component (the lens closest to the subject) to change the...
white levelThe state of a carrier signal that corresponds to maximum picture brightness in a television system.
discriminatorA circuit incorporated into counter systems that records only pulses that have amplitudes between two preselected limits.
off-axis paraboloid and ellipsoid mirrorOff-axis paraboloid and ellipsoid mirrors are specialized optical components used in various optical systems, particularly...
optical materialsOptical materials refer to substances or compounds specifically chosen for their optical properties and used in the...
Bohr's frequency relationThe law given by the formula:
that is, the frequency of radiation emitted or absorbed by a system when E2 and E1...
broadband dielectric mirrorsBroadband dielectric mirrors, also known as broadband mirrors, are optical coatings designed to efficiently reflect or...
jitter1. In relation to cathode-ray tube displays, errors in the signal's amplitude, phase or both that result in small, rapid...
wedge ring detectorA diffraction pattern sampling unit composed of a 32-element monolithic silicon photodiode array and a readout unit. The...
dipvergenceThe vertical angular disparity between the lines of sight of the left and right systems in a binocular instrument....
optical repeaterIn an optical fiber or waveguide communications system, an optoelectronic device or module that receives an optical signal,...
facsimile synchronizingThe maintenance of the same scanning relationship between the transmitting scanning spot and receiving scanning spot for...
magneto-opticsMagneto-optics refers to the study and manipulation of the interaction between magnetic fields and light (electromagnetic...
phototherapyPhototherapy is a medical treatment that involves the use of light to treat various conditions, particularly those related...
adaptive opticsAdaptive optics (AO) is a technology used to improve the performance of optical systems by reducing the effects of...
voidA blank area (caused by insufficient inking of the paper) that falls within the range of an intended character stroke in an...
logic-to-light deviceA fiber optic component or system designed in such a way that it can be operated by people without specialized knowledge of...
laser lithotripsyLaser lithotripsy is a medical procedure that uses laser energy to break down or fragment stones in various parts of the...
coherence lengthThat length over which energy in two separate waves remains constant. With respect to a laser, the greatest distance between...
XYZ axesConventional coordinates for optical system analysis, the X-axis being the horizontal, the Y-axis the vertical and the...
chromaticity coordinatesProportions of standard primaries (tristimulus values) required for a color match; ratios of each tristimulus value of a...
error functionA single number, defined by the computer program or the user that expresses the performance of an optical system. Also known...
wavelength division multiplexingA system that allows the transmission of more than one signal over a common path, by assigning each signal a different...
aperture diaphragmThe second adjustable iris diaphragm in an optical system. In the common microscope condenser system, it usually is located...
magnetorheological finishingMagnetorheological finishing (MRF) is a precision optics polishing technique used for shaping and finishing optical surfaces...
erecting systemLenses or prisms that serve to erect the image; i.e., to bring the image upright after it has been inverted by the objective.
cosine fourth lawA formula indicating that, for an imaging lens system, the image brightness for off-axis points will fall off at a rate...
parcenteredDescription of an optical system in which all the elements are aligned on the same axis.
audiovisualConcerned with the transmission and reception of both sight and sound. An audiovisual system communicates pictorial images...
laser texturingLaser texturing is a manufacturing process that involves using a laser beam to selectively modify the surface of a material,...
mode partitioningThe pulse-to-pulse fluctuations in power distribution among modes of a Fabry-Perot laser, which can result in...
Peltier coolerA Peltier cooler, also known as a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) or thermoelectric module, is a solid-state device that uses...
eyepieceAlso known as ocular. The lens system used between the final real image in a visual optical system and eye. It acts as an...
optical design and engineering servicesOptical design and engineering services involve the development, customization, and optimization of optical systems and...
metasurfacesMetasurfaces are two-dimensional arrays of subwavelength-scale artificial structures, often referred to as meta-atoms or...
gyroscopeA gyroscope is a mechanical device consisting of a spinning disk or wheel mounted on a spinning axis in such a way that its...
horizontal temperature gradientsHorizontal concentrations that comprise the dominant factor in atmospheric gradient correction. The range bias near due...
electron temperatureApproximation of a system of thermal equilibrium formed by the distribution of the kinetic energies of electrons in a gas...
potassium titanyl phosphateA crystalline material with a high electro-optic coefficient, capable of operating at short wavelengths, with applications...
flowmeterA flowmeter is a device used to measure the flow rate or quantity of a fluid passing through a particular point in a system....
hydrogelA hydrogel is a three-dimensional network of polymer chains that are hydrophilic, meaning they have a strong affinity for...
topological photonicsTopological photonics is a branch of physics and optics that explores the application of topological concepts to the...
Doppler-spread imagingAn imaging process, similar to specific Doppler mapping radar techniques, that utilizes a laser, an optical imaging system,...
noctovisionA television system used for seeing in the dark, particularly with the use of infrared rays.
milli (m)In the SI system, prefix meaning one-thousandth, 10-3.
polaritonA polariton is a quasiparticle resulting from the strong coupling between photons (light particles) and certain types of...
photonic integrated circuitA photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is a compact and integrated device that incorporates multiple photonic components and...
relay condenserA form of lens assembly used in a projection system to maximize efficiency and assure uniform illumination of the object...
anisotropyAnisotropy refers to the property of exhibiting different values or characteristics when measured in different directions....
vertical resolutionIn television system specifications, the number of parallel horizontal black and white lines of equal thickness, that can be...
CIE systemMethodology for specifying color based on the CIE sources, observers, and coordinate system.
x-ray sourceA material or system that emits x-rays.
linear image sensorA linear image sensor is a type of solid-state electronic device used to capture and convert light into electrical signals....
planetary cameraA camera system used for microphotography in which the document to be recorded is on a flat bed, perpendicular to the lens...
duplexIn data communications, the simultaneous operation of a circuit in both directions is known as full duplex; if only one...
active infrared systemimaging system which clearly shows the IR signals in the field of view as well as ambient environment
narrow-angle dark-field illuminationAn imaging system designed to highlight small deviations in a planar reflective object such as a mirror. The system can be...
aplanatic surfaceAn aplanatic surface is an optical surface that is specifically designed or shaped to minimize spherical aberration and...
delta errorThe term delta error (delta-E) generally refers to the difference or change in error between two values or states. The word...
backstreamingThe term used in reference to vacuum systems using oil and diffusion pumps, describes the migration of pump fluids and their...
spectral signatureA spectral signature, in the context of remote sensing and spectroscopy, refers to the unique pattern or characteristic...
electro-optic radarA radar system that uses electro-optic rather than microwave instrumentation and methods to perform its acquisition and...
aerial photographyPhotographing of terrain on the ground and objects in the air by cameras mounted in aircraft; utilized in satellites,...
memberIn a lens system, a group of elements considered as an entity; either a front or rear member depending on whether it is...
paraboloidal mirrorA concave mirror that has the form of a paraboloid of revolution. The paraboloidal mirror may have only a portion of a...
object spaceIn an optical system, the space between the object being viewed and the system entrance pupil.
nanotubeA nanotube, also known as a nanotubule or simply a tube-like structure, is a nanoscale cylindrical structure composed of...
adiabatic processA process during which no heat enters or leaves the system.
aberration sensor (wavefront sensor)Designed for the function of optical wavefront analysis. Shack-Hartmann camera aberration sensors use a lens array to image...
zettaIn the SI system, prefix meaning 1021. (Z).
minimum object distanceMinimum object distance, often abbreviated as MOD, refers to the closest distance at which a camera lens or optical system...
radixTotal number of characters available to each position of a digital numeric system.
holocameraA camera system used to form a high-precision hologram of the subject on a photographic plate. It contains a high-power...
optical fiberOptical fiber is a thin, flexible, transparent strand or filament made of glass or plastic used for transmitting light...
fractalsA method used to generate graphics within a computer system. Rather than dots or lines, fractal graphics work with...
image intensifierAn image intensifier, also known as an image intensification tube or image intensification device, is a specialized...
digital twinA digital twin refers to a virtual representation or digital counterpart of a physical object, system, or process. This...
telluriumThe material favored for study of interaction of high-acoustic intensities with free carriers. Tellurium is the...
coherent communicationsA fiber optic communications system that works on the principles of homodyning or heterodyning. The transmitting laser...
lumenA lumen is a unit of measurement used to quantify the amount of luminous flux, which is the perceived power of light. In...
emission spectrumAn emission spectrum is a graphical representation or a characteristic pattern of the wavelengths or frequencies of light...
quantum efficiencyQuantum efficiency (QE) is a measure of the effectiveness with which a device or system, typically in the context of...
microspectroscopeA system composed of a prism spectroscope and compound microscope to provide the visual comparison of two spectra...
four-wave mixingA phenomenon that occurs in WDM and DWDM systems when three closely spaced signal wavelengths near the zero-dispersion...
field repetition rateThe number of fields scanned per second in a television system. The US standard is 60. Also called field frequency.
attosecond photonics sourcesAttosecond photonics sources refer to devices or systems that generate extremely short pulses of light on the order of...
diffuserAn optical diffuser is an optical component or material designed to scatter or diffuse light that passes through it. It is...
GaN-based LEDsGallium nitride-based light-emitting diodes (GaN-based LEDs) are semiconductor devices that emit light when an electric...
image transducerAny arrangement of a bundle of optical fibers that alters the shape of the image. For example, by systematic regulation of...
receiverA detector and signal demodulator used in optical communications systems to receive a signal and often to translate it into...
axial bundleA bundle of rays that originates from an object point on the optical axis of a lens system.
aplanatic lens systemA system that satisfies the Abbe sine condition, and is free from spherical aberration and coma.
MTF optimizationComputerized lens design algorithm that permits the lens MTF characteristic to be included and controlled during the...
Matrix opticsThe linear relationship between input and output optical fields for a given optical system or application that allows the...
spectrometer maskA high-contrast transparency of the gas sought, or an array of exit slits that correlates with some features of the...
beaconageA system of beacons used in navigation.
beam benderA mirror used to manipulate the beam in a laser system.
magnonA magnon is a quasiparticle representing a quantized spin wave in a magnetic material. In other words, it is a collective...
CubeSatA CubeSat is a type of miniaturized satellite characterized by its standardized size and modular design. CubeSats are...
photonicsThe technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. The...
Förster resonance energy transferFörster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a mechanism describing the transfer of energy between two closely spaced...
activity1. Synonymous with radioactivity. The intensity of a radioactive source illustrated as the number of atoms disintegrating in...
slow-scan televisionA television system that uses a slow rate of horizontal scanning to increase its reproduction and transmittance accuracy of...
pulse video thermographyA noncontact, nondestructive method of measuring defects in thin composite materials, using a xenon flashtube to generate...
CMOS image sensorA CMOS image sensor, short for complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor image sensor, is a type of semiconductor device used...
machine learningMachine learning (ML) is a subset of artificial intelligence (AI) that focuses on the development of algorithms and...
end-fire couplingEnd-fire coupling refers to a method of coupling energy into or out of a waveguide, transmission line, or antenna, where the...
focometerA device used to measure the focal length of an optical system or lens.
anamorphosisA state in which an image is distorted by an optical system.
dynamic magneto-optical correlatorAn optical correlator incorporating a binary phase-only spatial light modulator made from an iron garnet magneto-optic solid...
damped least squaresAn organizational method used in optical design computer programs. The technique produces one number (merit function) to...
Camera Link HSCamera Link HS (high speed) is a standard developed for high-speed digital data transmission in machine vision and...
induced pluripotent stem cellsInduced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are ordinary cells that are genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like...
digital filterA linear computation or algorithm performed on a selected series in the form of an input signal that produces a new series...
Franck-Condon principleThe principle that electronic energy transitions occur at such speeds that the nuclei of the atoms in the molecular system...
directorIn a liquid crystal system, the director refers to the local symmetry axis around which the long range order of the liquid...
optical constructorA system of modular mechanical components for building precision optical systems. The basic equipment includes a variety of...
skiatronA system employing a dark trace tube in which the opacity of the screen is varied as a function of the power of the beam.
time domainThe time domain is a concept used in signal processing and analysis to describe signals in terms of their behavior over...
National Television Systems CommitteeThe code used to describe the United States system of color telecasting.
resolution targetA chart on paper or glass containing a series of sets of lines at progressively smaller spacing and used to ascertain the...
bionicsThe application of observed operational processes of sophisticated living organisms to mechanical and electrical systems in...
mode 1 (and mode 2)In compact disc systems, the two principal frame formats for data storage. Mode 1 devotes 2048 bytes to user data, reserving...
fiber optic gyroscopeA fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) is a type of gyroscope that uses the interference of light waves to detect changes in...
drawing towerA system for fabricating optical fiber, consisting of a furnace that heats the materials, a polymer coating stage, a...
frequency domainThe frequency domain is a concept used in signal processing and analysis to represent signals and data in terms of their...
lateral shearing interferometerA lateral shearing interferometer is an optical device used in interferometry to measure phase differences between two beams...
environmental parametersPotential hazards to a system's application and installation, including temperature variations, chemical reactivity,...
turnkey systemA system that is complete and self-contained, needing no further additions to permit its operation.
modulatorA modulator is a device or component that modifies a carrier signal in order to encode information for transmission over a...
magnetometerA magnetometer is a scientific instrument used to measure the strength and/or direction of a magnetic field. It can detect...
chemical vapor deposition equipmentChemical vapor deposition (CVD) equipment refers to a class of specialized apparatus used in the process of chemical vapor...
remote sensingRemote sensing is a method of data collection and observation where information about objects, areas, or phenomena on...
nanopositioningNanopositioning refers to the precise and controlled movement or manipulation of objects or components at the nanometer...
time of flight(TOF) The length of time needed for a signal to arrive at and be reflected from the target. The basis of an active...
magnetic spectrographAn electron system using the effect of a constant magnetic field on electron paths to differentiate electrons that have...
focus control1. A mechanism that permits the focusing of an optical system.2. A means of obtaining the sharpest image from a cathode-ray...
point cloudA point cloud is a set of data points in a three-dimensional coordinate system, where each point represents a specific...
optical continuous wave reflectometerAn instrument used to measure backscatter as well as optical return loss and reflectance within an optical fiber system by...
image opticsAny form of lens, optical system (camera, telescope, microscope, etc.), or opto-electronics utilized for the purpose of...
phase screenA phase screen, in the context of optics and wave optics, refers to a surface or medium that introduces a phase delay to an...
spread functionThe distribution of energy about the image of a point source in the focal plane of an optical system.
Casimir forceThe Casimir force is a quantum phenomenon that results in an attractive force between two closely spaced uncharged...
waveguideA waveguide is a physical structure or device that is designed to confine and guide electromagnetic waves, such as radio...
germicidal UVGermicidal ultraviolet (GUV) refers to a specific range of UV radiation that has disinfectant properties capable of killing...
photovoltaicPhotovoltaic (PV) refers to a technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductors. The term...
intermediate imageIn an optical system with a series of lenses, images formed prior to the final focal plane.
multiconfiguration modeUsed in computer design for optical systems with common parts and different applications.
machine vision lensA machine vision lens is a specialized optical lens designed for use in machine vision systems, which are used for automated...
indium phosphideIndium phosphide (InP) is a compound semiconductor material composed of indium (In) and phosphorus (P). It belongs to the...
FTIR spectrometerFTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectrometer is a powerful analytical instrument used to obtain an infrared spectrum of...
gallium arsenide injection laserA laser system consisting of a planar PN junction within a single crystal of gallium arsenide. The pair of parallel,...
atomic absorption spectrometerAn atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) is an analytical instrument used to determine the concentration of specific chemical...
entrance slitThe entrance slit, also known simply as the slit, is an essential component in optical instruments such as spectrometers and...
metastable stateAn excited energy state of an atom or atomic system that has a longer lifetime than the ordinary excited state and typically...
exaIn the SI system, prefix meaning 1018. (E).
dioptric systemAn optical system that uses refraction to form an image.
advanced driver assistance systemsAdvanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) refers to a set of safety features and technologies designed to assist drivers in...
hectoIn the SI system, prefix meaning one hundred, 102.
embedded visionEmbedded vision refers to the integration of computer vision technologies into various embedded systems, devices, or...
pyroelectric infrared detectorUnlike the thermocouple or bolometer, the pyroelectric infrared detector is a current source with an output proportional to...
time-lapse optical coherence tomographyTime-lapse optical coherence tomography (OCT) refers to a medical imaging technique that captures a series of sequential OCT...
single-photon avalanche diodeA single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) is a specialized type of photodetector designed to detect extremely weak optical...
Rogovsky coilConductor element for use in integrated electro-optic systems that measures current flowing through it.
correction windowAn optical wedge of very small angles that admits light while sealing out moisture and dirt and that may be rotated to...
electric CO laserAn electrically excited laser having carbon monoxide as the lasing material and in which lasing occurs in a partial...
feedback control systemA system designed to control the output quantity of a device by returning a portion of its output signal to its input. This...
blur circleA blur circle refers to the out-of-focus region in an image captured by an optical system. When an object in a scene is not...
attoIn the SI system, prefix meaning 10-18.
virtual imageAn image that is formed when rays emerging from an optical system are diverging from the optical axis. The virtual image is...
enhanced picture archiving and communication system displayEnhanced picture archiving and communication system (PACS) display (ePAD) is a software tool used in medical imaging to...
power modulationPower modulation refers to the intentional variation of power levels in a signal, often in the context of electronic...
supercontinuumSupercontinuum refers to a broad spectrum of light that spans a wide range of wavelengths, typically from the visible to the...
mirror lensAn image-forming system having curved mirrors in place of transparent glass components. Mirror lenses are commonly used for...
Zernike's phase contrast methodThe introduction of a filter into an imaging system to implement a phase contrast for an intensity mapping of a pure phase...
vignettingIn an optical system, the gradual reduction of image illuminance as the off-axis angle increases, resulting from limitations...
exit pupilIn a lens or other optical system, the image of the aperture stop as seen from image space.
jouleA unit of energy or work in the MKS system of units. One joule is equal to 107 ergs.
lens systemTwo or more lenses arranged to act in conjunction with one another.
lensless microscopyLensless microscopy, also known as computational or holographic microscopy, is an imaging technique that captures and...
mesoscopeIn the field of optics and imaging, a mesoscope refers to an optical instrument that is designed to observe and capture...
blackbody sourceA blackbody source, often simply referred to as a blackbody, is a theoretical or practical physical object that absorbs all...
diffraction limitedThe property of an optical system whereby only the effects of diffraction determine the quality of the image it produces.
meridional planeThat plane in an optical system containing its optical axis and the chief ray. Also called the tangential plane.
collimation1. The process of aligning the optical axes of optical systems to the reference mechanical axes or surfaces of an...
aspheric lens systemAn optical system having one or more lens or mirror components that have nonspherical surfaces. These surfaces, whether...
helmet-mounted displayA compact optical projection system, mounted on or built into a helmet, and used to project data or a scene directly into...
principal planeIn a lens or lens system, that surface at which the projections of an entering and exiting ray intersect. Also known as the...
coherent fiber bundleA coherent fiber bundle (CFB), also known as a coherent fiber optic bundle, is an assembly of multiple optical fibers...
output spectrum displayThe direct computation of the Fourier transform of the space variant system output of an optical processor with a single...
quantum sensingQuantum sensing refers to a class of sensing technologies that leverage principles from quantum mechanics to enhance the...
inverse bremsstrahlungCollisional absorption of energy that occurs in inertial confinement fusion systems when hydrodynamic expansion of the...
eye reliefAlso termed eye distance. The distance between the vertex of the last optical surface of a visual optical system and the...
lens discA rotating disc that holds several lenses of differing focal length about a diameter. Used to switch lenses in a system...
(950 results found)