Artificial Intelligence, AI, Deep Learning Dictionary Terms
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...
tempered glassA glass that is heated, then chilled (usually by an air blast) to set up internal stresses so that the surfaces are under...
powder radiographyA technique used in radiography to determine a crystal's structure by obtaining radiographs of it in powder form, normally...
silver halide emulsionAn emulsion in which grains of the photosensitive material silver halide are deposited. Each grain, when exposed to light,...
custom opticA custom optic refers to an optical component that is designed, manufactured, and tailored to meet specific requirements or...
glass bariumA type of glass containing barium oxide, which is added to increase the refractive index while maintaining a relatively low...
blind approach beacon systemA ground-based navigation beacon that emits pulsed signals which are picked up by aircraft making an instrument (blind)...
spectroradiometerA spectroradiometer is a device used to measure the intensity of light at different wavelengths across the electromagnetic...
optical leverA device used to detect and measure small amounts of rotation. The rotating object contains a reflecting surface from which...
Franck-Condon principleThe principle that electronic energy transitions occur at such speeds that the nuclei of the atoms in the molecular system...
point cloudA point cloud is a set of data points in a three-dimensional coordinate system, where each point represents a specific...
light throughput efficiencyThe fraction of incident light power in an optical modulator that is available to the output beam.
Pechan prismA prism made up of two air-spaced components. It has the ability to revert, and not invert, an image, and can be used in...
cascade showerA shower of cosmic rays whereby a high-energy electron produces one or more photons that convert into electron pairs, the...
metallographic microscopeA specially designed microscope for observing the etched surface of a polished metal specimen. The specimen is often laid...
ultraviolet reflectanceUltraviolet reflectance refers to the ability of a material or surface to reflect UV light. Ultraviolet light is...
multiband cameraA group of four cameras loaded with different combinations of filters and film (one is usually an infrared color film) to...
laser Doppler velocimeterDevice which determines particle velocity through the measurement of scattered interference of a beam pair from a single...
stereo compilationExtraction of three-dimensional measurements from a stereo pair of photographs.
measuring wedgeA wedge in a rangefinder or heightfinder used to displace the image produced by one telescope so that it coincides with that...
coverslipA coverslip, also known as a cover glass or cover slip, is a thin and flat piece of transparent material typically made of...
beaconA device, either visual or electronic, that emits signals to identify set positions for use in the navigation of aircraft...
scintillation crystalA scintillation crystal, also known simply as a scintillator, is a material that emits light when it interacts with ionizing...
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assayAn enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a laboratory technique used to detect and measure the presence of specific...
Geometrical opticsThe area of optics in which the propagation of light is described by geometrical lines (or rays) governed by Fermat's...
thermoplastic recording deviceA display device having a thermoplastic film as the control layer medium. The film, moving from a playoff reel, is scanned...
photoelasticityThe process of determining, with the aid of plane-polarized light, the stress distribution in materials under complex...
photomultiplier tubeA photomultiplier tube (PMT) is a highly sensitive vacuum tube that detects and amplifies low levels of light. It is widely...
scaling lawIn coherence theory, an optical law put forth by physicist Emil Wolf that explains the behavior of light as it travels away...
infrared cameraAn infrared camera, also known as a thermal imaging camera or IR camera, is a device that captures and visualizes the...
pseudo-second-derivativeA method used to approximate the values of the homogeneous second derivatives at each iteration in the course of lens design...
aperture illuminationThe amplitude, polarization and phase contained in the field distribution over the aperture.
parityIn data transmission, a self-checking code using a separate bit (the parity bit) to assure that all bytes of transmitted...
sextantA handheld navigational instrument used to measure the elevation angle of celestial bodies such as the sun. An image of the...
bathymetric lidarBathymetric lidar is a remote sensing technique used to measure the depth of water bodies and map underwater terrain...
optical time-domain reflectometryA method for characterizing a fiber wherein an optical pulse is transmitted through the fiber, and the resulting light...
law of BrewsterThe law stating that when light strikes a surface at such an angle that the reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular...
equilibrium lengthThe length of optical waveguide needed to attain equilibrium mode distribution for a specified excitation condition.
compound crosspointA device for obtaining very low crosstalk in a crosspoint by arranging two simple switches along different arms of a passive...
modulation transfer function analysis/measurement equipmentMTF analysis/measurement equipment refers to instruments and tools used to measure and analyze the modulation transfer...
continuous waveContinuous wave (CW) refers to a type of signal or transmission where the signal is constant and does not vary with time. In...
active layerThat layer in a semiconductor injection laser or light-emitting diode that provides optical gain.
liquid core optical fiberMultimode straight fiber capable of transporting linearly polarized light with any incident polarization angle, and in which...
freeform opticsFreeform optics refers to the design and fabrication of optical surfaces that do not follow traditional symmetric shapes,...
electrophoretic displayAn electrophoretic display, often referred to as an electronic paper display or e-paper display, is a type of electronic...
cross-linked plasticPlastic in which the polymer chains become irreversibly joined during molding. The cross-linking can be achieved by heating,...
oscillation thresholdPoint at which a laser's material gain is equal to, or greater than, the circuit losses.
laser sinteringLaser sintering is an additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that involves using a laser to selectively fuse...
microwave mappingThe pattern of microwave field intensity that can be obtained by detecting the minute expansion of a microwave absorber slab...
claddingThe low-refractive-index material that surrounds the core of an optical fiber to contain core light while protecting against...
knife-edge scanning microscopeAn imaging device originally created to image whole mouse brain volumes at microscopic resolution. The main component of the...
eye guardA shield of rubber, plastic or metal used to protect the eyes of the observer from stray light and wind, and to maintain the...
afterglowThe luminosity that remains in a rarefied gas after an electrodeless discharge has traversed the gas.
Jacquinot advantageThe higher throughput obtained with an FTIR device compared with traditional spectrometers that need slits to achieve...
structured illumination microscopyStructured illumination microscopy (SIM) is an advanced optical imaging technique used in microscopy to enhance the...
micro-LEDMicro-LED (micro-light-emitting diode) refers to a technology that involves the use of very small light-emitting diodes to...
cathode-ray tube faceplateA fiber optic end plate constructed by drawing a bundle of parallel fibers embedded in glass and cutting it into thin...
convolutional neural networkA powerful and flexible machine-learning approach that can be used in machine vision to help solve difficult problems....
biomarkerA biomarker, short for biological marker, refers to a measurable and quantifiable indicator of a biological condition,...
chalcogenideChalcogenide refers to a class of compounds containing elements from group 16 of the periodic table, which includes sulfur...
tracking accuracyMeasurement of a translation stage's deviation from absolute straightness, that is, its angular motion in both the vertical...
flowmeterA flowmeter is a device used to measure the flow rate or quantity of a fluid passing through a particular point in a system....
pressurizationInjecting a gas (usually nitrogen) with a very low moisture content into the body of an optical instrument to create a...
multiple invarianceCharacteristic of optical correlators in which invariance to more than one distortion parameter per axis of the processor is...
metaverseThe term "metaverse" refers to a collective virtual shared space, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical...
Craik-O'Brien effectObserved when alterations in the luminous sterance at the contour of an object create the illusion of the outer zones...
Mie scatteringMie scattering, named after the German physicist Gustav Mie, refers to the scattering of electromagnetic radiation (such as...
chromoendoscopyA technique of using dyes during endoscopy to improve tissue differentiation. Dyes such as methylene blue, Toluidine blue...
end-fire couplingEnd-fire coupling refers to a method of coupling energy into or out of a waveguide, transmission line, or antenna, where the...
mosaic mirrorA large telescope mirror fabricated from several smaller sections.
objectThe figure seen through or imaged by an optical system. It may contain structures, natural or artificial, or it may be the...
optical noiseOptical noise refers to undesirable fluctuations or disturbances in an optical signal that can affect the quality or...
spectral signatureA spectral signature, in the context of remote sensing and spectroscopy, refers to the unique pattern or characteristic...
laser opticsLaser optics refers to a broad category of optical components and systems designed for manipulating and controlling laser...
ferromagnetismThe properties of certain materials that cause them to have relative permeabilities that exceed unity. This permeability...
high-pressure cloud chamberA cloud chamber designed to maintain the gas within it at a high pressure as a means of reducing the range of the...
optoelectronicPertaining to a device that responds to optical power, emits or modifies optical radiation, or utilizes optical radiation...
neural networkA computing paradigm that attempts to process information in a manner similar to that of the brain; it differs from...
whispering gallery modeWhispering gallery mode (WGM) refers to a phenomenon in wave physics, particularly in optics, where waves, such as light or...
hermetic bondingThe total fusion and sealing of materials, or usually an enclosure, to ensure that they are airtight.
bright-line spectrumAn emission spectrum consisting of bright bands against a dark background.
CIECommission Internationale de l'Eclairage, the international commission on illumination.
translucent screenA screen composed of a sheet of diffusing plastic material that reveals excellent image detail for close viewing. It is...
dichroic mirrorA dichroic mirror, also known as a dichroic beamsplitter or interference filter beamsplitter, is an optical device that...
photovoltaicPhotovoltaic (PV) refers to a technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductors. The term...
free radicalsShort-lived molecular or atomic particles, with an unpaired electron, that play an important part in many photochemical...
magneto-opticsMagneto-optics refers to the study and manipulation of the interaction between magnetic fields and light (electromagnetic...
atmospheric opticsThe analysis of the properties of radiation, such as light, when acted upon by variations in the atmosphere. Blue and red...
multispectral scannerAn instrument used to record the emittance or reflectance of an object by scanning with discrete spectral resolution over a...
passive optical networkA passive optical network (PON) is a telecommunications network architecture that uses optical fibers and passive optical...
birefringenceBirefringence is an optical property of certain materials that causes them to exhibit different refractive indices for light...
Dewar vesselAn evacuated, double-walled container for storing liquids at low temperatures. Often made of glass, the vessel resembles a...
superreflectorA reflector having a surface that has been superpolished to reduce residual sleeks and scratches and microroughness so that...
surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopySurface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an analytical technique that combines the principles of Raman spectroscopy...
holographic particle velocimetryA method of measuring flow velocity by seeding the flow with neutrally buoyant particles and using a pulsed laser to...
constant deviationThat property of certain optical devices, e.g., a penta prism, that maintains the angular relationship between the entering...
pulse durationThe lifetime of a laser pulse, generally defined as the time interval between the halfpower points on the leading and...
immunofluorescenceThe technique that uses light to detect and analyze the antibodies produced by a specimen stained with an organic dye.
optical channel monitorAn optical channel monitor (OCM) is a device used in optical communication systems to monitor and analyze the performance of...
nitrogen vacancyA nitrogen vacancy (NV) refers to a specific type of defect or impurity in a crystal lattice where a nitrogen atom replaces...
diasporometerIn an optical rangefinder, the system of wedges that rotate in opposite directions to aid in the detection of deviation in...
photoacoustic imagingAbbreviated PAI. An imaging modality with a hybrid technique based on the acoustic detection of optical absorption from...
phosphorA chemical substance that exhibits fluorescence when excited by ultraviolet radiation, x-rays or an electron beam. The...
voltaic cellAn electric cell having two electrodes of unlike metals immersed in a solution that chemically affects one or both of them,...
prism binocularsA pair of telescopes with prismatically erected images, mounted side by side with the eyepieces at the interocular distance...
spectralPertaining to or as a function of wavelength. Spectral quantities are evaluated at a single wavelength.
television cameraA camera containing an electronic image sensor that converts the image to an electronic signal suitable for television...
relative indexThe ratio of the velocities of light in two adjacent media, neither of which is air.
multichannel direct-reading spectrometerAn instrument that contains a spectrograph with a grating in which an array of slits, in place of a photographic plate, is...
organic dyeAny organic substance, that when dissolved in appropriate liquid based solvents will absorb and emit electromagnetic...
iodine cycleA development aimed at extending the life of a tungsten filament. The iodine vapor in the lamp envelope combines with the...
photochemicalThe term photochemical pertains to chemical processes or reactions that are initiated or influenced by the absorption of...
design and engineering consulting servicesDesign and engineering consulting services refer to professional services provided by specialized firms or individuals to...
scintillation detectorA scintillation detector is a radiation detection device that utilizes scintillation crystals to detect and measure ionizing...
histologyHistology is the branch of biology and medicine that involves the study of the microscopic structure of tissues and organs...
scanning moire topographyA contour mapping technique that uses electronic scanning and sampling techniques instead of a reference grating (see moire...
rectificationA technique used in photogrammetry to ensure parallelism during projection printing. Failure to do this will change a...
dialyteAn airspaced achromatic doublet telescope objective.
fluorescence lifetime imagingFluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) is an advanced imaging technique that provides information about the lifetime of...
specular reflectionPertaining to the manner in which light is reflected, as by a mirror or speculum.
intrinsic detectorA photodetector composed of a photoconductive material that, when exposed to radiation, conducts without the aid of added...
photochromismThe reversible change in the absorption spectrum of certain compounds upon irradiation with a given wavelength of light.
Airy discThe central peak (including everything interior to the first zero or dark ring) of the focal diffraction pattern of a...
pairingIn interlaced television scanning, an effect in which the lines of one field fail to fall exactly within the lines of the...
air bearingA support device in which a column or chamber of air permits the free travel of a mobile part. In optical mounting and...
multimodality imagingA technique that combines two or more imaging processes in order to minimize the disadvantages within each of the...
superliminal transmissionSuperluminal transmission refers to the hypothetical process of transmitting information faster than the speed of light,...
coupler1. In color development, the chemical that combines with certain by-products of the development procedure to form a dye. 2....
digital twinA digital twin refers to a virtual representation or digital counterpart of a physical object, system, or process. This...
moiré deflectometryAn optical interference technique widely utilized as a method of nondestructive testing when determining the ray deflection...
machine learningMachine learning (ML) is a subset of artificial intelligence (AI) that focuses on the development of algorithms and...
atomic absorption spectrometerAn atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) is an analytical instrument used to determine the concentration of specific chemical...
Cooper pairsThe coupled pairs of electrons that carry supercurrents through the body of a superconductor, relative to a coherent...
component1. A constituent part. It may consist of two or more parts cemented together, or with near and approximately matching...
Fresnel reflectionFresnel reflection refers to the reflection of light at the interface between two different media with different refractive...
dense wavelength division multiplexingDense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) is an optical communication technique used to increase the data-carrying...
CID cameraCID, or charge injection device, camera refers to a type of imaging device that utilizes a specific kind of solid-state...
Murty interferometerA form of shearing interferometer that contains a simple wedged (plane-parallel) glass plate with a nonzero optical path...
modulated zone plateA zone plate produced by a computer and having a binary structure that can be etched into a chromium or quartz layer. It...
label-freeLabel-free refers to a technique or method that does not require the use of additional labels, tags, or markers to detect or...
spectrohelioscopeAn instrument similar to the spectroheliograph, but having a scanning method that is performed by a pair of rapidly...
spectral repeatabilitySpectral repeatability refers to the consistency and reproducibility of spectral measurements across multiple trials or...
Kerr solitonA Kerr soliton refers to a specific type of soliton, a self-reinforcing wave packet, that arises in nonlinear optical...
liquid marbleLiquid marble refers to a unique form of microscale liquid encapsulation, where small droplets of liquid are coated with a...
molded blankA blank whose basic surface curves are attained by heating and forming a given weight of raw glass; a rough glass blank...
hazeAn aggravated form of fog in a polished surface caused by the scattering of light. The defects causing haze are larger than...
mid-infrared cameraA mid-infrared camera is a type of imaging device designed to capture images in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral range,...
optoelectronic integrated circuitA monolithic device containing both photonic and electronic sources, detectors, modulators, etc., on a single semiconductor...
crosshairs
probeAcronym for profile resolution obtained by excitation. In its simplest form, probe involves the overlap of two...
aplanatic pointsAplanatic points refer to specific points in an optical system where certain aberrations, such as spherical aberration or...
fusion ignitionFusion ignition refers to the point in a controlled nuclear fusion reaction where the energy released by the fusion...
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...
reduced focal lengthThe ratio of the first focal length of a lens to the refractive index of the medium containing the incident light; the ratio...
integrated photonicsIntegrated photonics is a field of study and technology that involves the integration of optical components, such as lasers,...
tip-enhanced Raman scatteringTip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) is a powerful technique that combines Raman spectroscopy with the enhanced spatial...
Brace-Lemon spectrophotometerA spectrophotometer having a pair of identical collimators with two Glan polarizing prisms, one fixed in azimuth and the...
infrared beaconAn infrared source, set in a stationary position, that is used as a reference in certain navigational systems.
equivalent air pathWhen a block of glass (prism, window, filter, etc.) is placed into a converging light bundle, it increases the physical...
cleanroomAn area in which airborne particulates can be monitored and controlled so that given size particles do not exceed a...
zip-cordA two-fiber optical cable containing two single-fiber cables that are connected by a strip of jacket and that can easily be...
off-axis paraboloid and ellipsoid mirrorOff-axis paraboloid and ellipsoid mirrors are specialized optical components used in various optical systems, particularly...
splice trayA container that prevents spliced fibers from becoming damaged or being misplaced.
Bunsen-Roscoe lawThe law stating that the amount of chemical change produced is proportional to the amount of light absorbed. Actually, the...
fiber optic windowThe face of a cathode-ray tube (CRT) that has a fiber optic sheet attached to its surface. The sheet's fibers are at right...
vernier acuityThe degree to which a pair of fine lines can be aligned to each other. A normal observer will demonstrate an accuracy of 10...
drum scannerAn image-processing device that scans in a straight line parallel to the axis of a rotating cylinder to which the material...
linear receive opticsLinear receive optics typically refers to the optical components and systems used in the reception (detection) of linearly...
augmented realityAugmented reality (AR) is a technology that integrates digital information, typically in the form of computer-generated...
cassetteA container designed to hold recording material (film, video- and audiotape) so that when it is loaded into a recording...
point source lampA lamp, usually incandescent, that has a very compact filament, permitting a greater concentration of emitted light, aided...
metalensA metalens, short for "metasurface lens," is a type of optical lens that uses nanostructured materials to manipulate light...
quantitative phase imagingQuantitative phase imaging (QPI) is an advanced imaging technique used in microscopy to measure and analyze the optical...
photovoltaic detector
vacuum breakerA valve that serves to release air into an evacuated system.
multiple lens cameraA camera that uses a rotating mirror to project sequential images onto lenses that are arranged in an arc. The reflected...
holographic tomographyHolographic tomography is an advanced imaging technique that combines holography and tomography to provide three-dimensional...
thermionic diodeA diode electron tube that contains a heated cathode.
subtractive color processThe basic process of color photography whereby colors are subtracted from white light by means of filters, making all colors...
vapor degreasingA method of cleaning and drying coated optical components. The cooled parts are placed in a container above a boiling...
spectral domain optical coherence tomographySpectral domain optical coherence tomography is an imaging technique used in medical diagnostics, particularly in...
Nichols radiometerAn instrument devised by Nichols and Hull for use in the measurement of radiation pressure. The device has two small...
clinical photographyThe application of photography, with the exception of radiography, to obtain pictures of parts or the whole of a patient to...
spectroscopySpectroscopy is a technique used in the study of interactions between matter and electromagnetic radiation. It involves...
analogA physical variable that is proportionally similar to another variable over a specified range. An analog recording contains...
artificial intelligenceThe ability of a machine to perform certain complex functions normally associated with human intelligence, such as judgment,...
reflected ultraviolet photographyA photographic method used to obtain an image of a subject by means of its reflectance of incident ultraviolet radiation. An...
swept-source laserA swept-source laser, also known as a wavelength-swept laser, is a type of laser that rapidly and continuously changes its...
spectral order (diffraction grating)When, for example, a beam of monochromatic light passes through a diffraction grating, the emergent rays that have remained...
detector arrayA detector array refers to a collection of individual detector elements arranged in a two-dimensional grid or matrix format....
perovskiteThe term perovskite refers to a specific crystal structure commonly found in various materials. Perovskite structures have a...
inefficient shutterA shutter in which the opening and closing times for a large aperture setting occupy a substantial fraction of the total...
optical headIn compact disc and CD-ROM technology, the portion of the drive that projects the laser light onto the surface of the media...
inductanceInductance is a fundamental property of an electrical circuit or component that describes its ability to store energy in a...
lasing thresholdThe lowest excitation power level at which a laser's output is mainly the result of stimulated emission rather than...
turbidityTurbidity is a measure of the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by the presence of suspended particles. These...
microfluidicsMicrofluidics is a multidisciplinary field that involves the manipulation and control of very small fluid volumes, typically...
achromatAn achromat, in the context of optics, refers to a type of lens or lens system designed to reduce chromatic aberration....
chromophoreA naturally occurring pigment in tissue that may selectively absorb certain wavelengths and can be used to aid in targeting...
indium phosphideIndium phosphide (InP) is a compound semiconductor material composed of indium (In) and phosphorus (P). It belongs to the...
circular dichroismCircular dichroism (CD) is a spectroscopic technique used to study the structural characteristics of chiral (asymmetric)...
Fabry-Perot cavityAn optical resonator in which feedback is accomplished by two parallel planes. In diode lasers, the planes are obtained by...
geometric opticsA field of physics that deals with light as if it truly were composed of rays diverging in various directions from the...
ion pairTwo oppositely charged particles.
rail
internet of thingsThe internet of things (IoT) refers to a network of interconnected physical devices, vehicles, appliances, and other objects...
silicon monoxideA material used as a protective layer on an aluminized or silvered mirror. It is evaporated on the mirror as a thin layer,...
color scannerAn instrument that uses a beam of light to scan a color transparency, and three differently filtered photosensors to record...
time-lapse optical coherence tomographyTime-lapse optical coherence tomography (OCT) refers to a medical imaging technique that captures a series of sequential OCT...
computer numerically controlled grindingComputer numerically controlled (CNC) grinding is a manufacturing process that utilizes computerized controls and precision...
pixel pitchPixel pitch refers to the distance between the centers of two adjacent pixels on a display screen or imaging sensor. It is...
halo1. The faintly hued ring that is seen to surround a light source viewed through fog or light clouds. The size of scattering...
swindle ghost imageA positive after-image that is maintained for a minute or more.
active-matrixAn OLED display that has an integrated electronic backplane as its substrate. Active-matrix OLED displays use at least two...
nanoimprint lithographyNanoimprint lithography (NIL) is a nanolithography technique used for fabricating nanoscale patterns on a substrate. It is a...
coded aperture imagingAn imaging process in which the single opening of a simple pinhole camera is replaced with many openings called,...
short wavelength infraredShort wavelength infrared (SWIR) refers to the portion of the infrared spectrum that encompasses wavelengths roughly between...
strain viewerA viewer that uses the transmittance of polarized light through glass or a similar medium to examine strained regions. See...
aperture distortionA loss of resolution or detail in a television signal caused by the size of the electron scanning beam.
photon tunneling microscopeAn instrument in which visible light beyond the critical angle from a metallurgical microscope is focused on a reference...
electromagnonAn electromagnon is a quasiparticle excitation that combines aspects of both magnetism and electric polarization in a...
ammonia pelletsCharged frozen pellets that are rapidly bombarded with a focused high-power laser to form a dense plasma that can be heated...
histochemical stainingHistochemical staining is a laboratory technique used in biology and medicine to visualize specific chemical components...
metal componentAn accurate metal prism or plane parallel plate that is cemented to an optical element and remains with it during a series...
visual binariesA pair of stars (double star) that can be seen separately with a telescope, generally by setting a filar micrometer for the...
atmospheric refraction correlationFormulaic compensation to correct laser ranging data for the effects of horizontal refractivity gradients; it requires the...
backscatterBackscatter refers to the phenomenon in which radiation or waves are scattered backward, opposite to the direction of the...
inverse Compton effectThe interaction between a photon and an energetic electron, caused by collision, that transfers energy from the electron to...
mosaic structureIn a crystal, its subdivision into polyhedral blocks of macroscopic sizes, with discontinuities contained in the lattice...
Rayleigh scatteringRayleigh scattering is a phenomenon that occurs when light waves interact with particles or molecules that are much smaller...
charge-coupled deviceA charge-coupled device (CCD) is a type of electronic image sensor used in various imaging devices, including digital...
Rayleigh rangeIn the region of a Gaussian beam focus by a diffraction-limited lens, it is the axial distance from the point of minimum...
luminance meterA type of photometer calibrated in luminance units (candles per square unit, or lamberts). In photography an exposure meter...
aptamerAn aptamer is a short, single-stranded DNA or RNA molecule that can bind to a specific target molecule with high affinity...
motion controllerIn optics, a motion controller refers to a device or system that precisely controls the movement of optical components, such...
Sonnar lensA photographic objective that uses the thick meniscus principle to obtain its power. It is designed to photograph small...
hyperspectral imagingHyperspectral imaging is an advanced imaging technique that captures and processes information from across the...
microdensitometerThe fundamental tool of microdensitometry, the microdensitometer is an instrument used for the precise measurement of...
medical lasersMedical lasers are devices that produce intense beams of light with specific characteristics and properties, which are used...
responsivityThe gain that occurs between light intensity incident on a CCD given by the photocurrent produced.
light filamentPhenomenon caused by an ultrashort and ultra-intense light pulse propagating in a Kerr medium, such as air or water. When...
Huygenian eyepieceAn ocular having two planoconvex lenses that are formed from similar glass and that are separated by a space equal to half...
liquid crystalLiquid crystals are a state of matter that exhibits properties intermediate between those of conventional liquids and solid...
three-photon microscopyThree-photon microscopy is an advanced imaging technique that belongs to the family of multi-photon microscopy methods. It...
aperture stopA physical constraint, often a lens retainer, that limits the diameter of the axial light bundle allowed to pass through a...
image restorationFiltering procedures aimed at estimating the original image by removing the blurring and noise suppression that occur during...
diffraction gratingA diffraction grating is an optical component consisting of a surface with a periodic structure of equally spaced, parallel...
water glassA solution containing colloidal silica particles.
NTSC triangleThe triangle in a chromaticity diagram joining the chromaticities of the NTSC phosphors, and containing all chromaticities...
cooled infrared detectorAn infrared detector that achieves a specified sensitivity through the application of certain cryogenic temperatures.
starting voltageIn a laser, the voltage necessary to initiate electrical discharge, somewhat higher than that needed to sustain it.
endoscopeAn endoscope is a medical device used for visualizing and examining the interior of hollow organs, body cavities, or...
dispersion-shifted fiberA dispersion-shifted fiber (DSF) refers to a type of optical fiber designed to minimize the effects of chromatic dispersion,...
photoreflectanceA noncontact form of electromodulation in which modulation of the electric field is caused by photo-excited electron-hole...
color temperature meterA device containing two photocells behind deep red and blue filters to measure color temperatures. The amplifier gain is...
very long baseline interferometryConsists of a pair of radio telescopes concentrated on a single celestial object. This technique creates a single radio...
aliasingIn image processing, the result of a sampling frequency that is too slow to preserve the spatial frequencies of the image....
optical clockAn optical clock is a highly precise and advanced timekeeping device that relies on the oscillations of electromagnetic...
twisted intramolecular charge transferTwisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) is a phenomenon observed in certain organic molecules containing...
beam waistThat point in a Gaussian beam where the wavefront has a curvature of zero and the beam diameter is a minimum.
chronophotographThe continuous record containing the series of pictures formed by chronophotographic methods.
deformation constantAny of the constants that relate the tendency of the director to remain parallel to restoring torques throughout the media....
Wynne-Rosin telescopeA Cassegrain telescope having a parabolic primary mirror, a spherical secondary mirror and a zero-power doublet in the...
scanning microdensitometerA microdensitometer that contains a scanning stage to provide simultaneous representations of position vs. density.
focal collimatorA collimator having, at one end of a tube, an objective lens, and at the other, a reticle with a pair of spaced lines...
reflective spectroscopyReflectance spectroscopy is a technique used to analyze the reflective properties of materials across various wavelengths of...
laser crystalA laser crystal, also known as an active medium or gain medium, is a solid-state material used in the construction of...
Rowland mountingThe mounting of a concave diffraction grating and a plate holder at the ends of a rigid bar. The ends follow separate...
micro-optical coherence tomographyMicro-optical coherence tomography (micro-OCT) is an imaging technique that is an adaptation of optical coherence tomography...
Q-switchingQ-switching, short for "quenching-switching," is a technique used in lasers to generate short, high-energy pulses of light....
aerial surveyThe creation of a planned sequence of data input that is obtained while airborne for use in aerial photogrammetry and other...
laser lithotripsyLaser lithotripsy is a medical procedure that uses laser energy to break down or fragment stones in various parts of the...
metaboliteA metabolite is any small molecule that is a product of metabolism, the chemical processes that occur within living...
bowl-feed machineA polishing machine in which the rouge slurry is contained in a bowl and is constantly diverted mechanically so that it...
infrared signal generatorA device that combines electronic and optical techniques to form a monitored infrared signal between 1 and 14 µm. It...
optical time-domain reflectometerAn optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) is a specialized instrument used in optical fiber communications to characterize...
glow lampA lamp in which the ionization of the inert gas contained in it produces a glow in the space close to the negative electrode.
emission spectrumAn emission spectrum is a graphical representation or a characteristic pattern of the wavelengths or frequencies of light...
Fresnel diffraction1. Also known as near-field diffraction. The field of radiation sent through an aperture in an absorbing screen at large...
population inversionThe condition in which there are more atomic systems in the upper of two energy levels than in the lower, so stimulated...
ultraviolet fiber opticsUltraviolet (UV) fiber optics refers to optical fibers that are designed and optimized for the transmission of ultraviolet...
glassA noncrystalline, inorganic mixture of various metallic oxides fused by heating with glassifiers such as silica, or boric or...
photoelastic constantA formulaic description of the linear change of the reciprocal optical dielectric tensor with either stress or strain.
piezoelectric transducers and ceramic materialsPiezoelectric transducers are devices that utilize the piezoelectric effect to convert electrical energy into mechanical...
vacuumIn optics, the term vacuum typically refers to a space devoid of matter, including air and other gases. However, in...
optical phase distortionOptical phase distortion refers to a phenomenon where the phase of an optical wavefront is altered as it propagates through...
3D printing3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), is a manufacturing process that builds three-dimensional objects...
active-matrix displayA type of liquid-crystal display in which each display element contains an active component, such as a thin-film transistor,...
orange peelIn the context of imaging, particularly digital imaging and printing, "orange peel" refers to a texture or visual distortion...
Raman spectroscopyRaman spectroscopy is a technique used in analytical chemistry and physics to study vibrational, rotational, and other...
camera shutterAn apparatus, designed for use with a camera, that is used to rapidly open the path from lens to film, to maintain the...
airglowDiffuse light emitted by the atmosphere due to the excitation of particles of atmospheric gas. These excited particles...
silicon photodiodeA silicon photodiode is a semiconductor device that converts light into an electrical current. It is a type of photodetector...
gyroscopeA gyroscope is a mechanical device consisting of a spinning disk or wheel mounted on a spinning axis in such a way that its...
Babinet compensatorA device containing two opposed quartz wedges of equal angle, one wedge being movable along its length by a micrometer...
iridescenceThe rainbow exhibition of colors, usually caused by interference of light of different wavelengths reflected from...
image intensifierAn image intensifier, also known as an image intensification tube or image intensification device, is a specialized...
lagA term applied to an electric charge image in a camera tube that remains for a period of a few frames after its initial...
phase maskIn optics and photolithography, a phase mask refers to a device that modifies the phase of light waves passing through it....
filovirusFiloviruses are a family of viruses that are responsible for severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fevers in humans and...
optical tableAn optical table, also known as an optical bench or an optical breadboard, is a specialized platform used in optics...
geosynchronous satelliteA man-made satellite that orbits 35,680 km from the Earth at a rate of one orbit per 24-hour period, thereby retaining its...
lineamentA mappable surface feature arranged in straight or curved lines that is distinguished from surrounding surfaces and is...
reflection x-ray microscopyA means of high resolution study through the application of soft and hard x-rays onto a sample surface in order to obtain...
transmission electron microscopeA transmission electron microscope (TEM) is a powerful microscopy technique that uses a beam of electrons to create...
x-ray spectrometerAn instrument designed to produce an x-ray spectrum of a material as an aid in identifying it. This technique is...
magnetron sputteringA variation from standard physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating techniques, magnetron sputtering is a plasma coating...
resonanceResonance can be defined in various contexts, including physics, chemistry, and music. Here are definitions for resonance in...
laser texturingLaser texturing is a manufacturing process that involves using a laser beam to selectively modify the surface of a material,...
half bandwidthThe term half bandwidth (HBW) generally refers to the width of a spectral band or frequency range at half of its maximum...
hydrogelA hydrogel is a three-dimensional network of polymer chains that are hydrophilic, meaning they have a strong affinity for...
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...
Greenough microscopeA form of a stereoscopic microscope having paired objectives, prisms and eyepieces, and invented by H. Greenough.
spectroheliographAn instrument in which an image of the sun is scanned by the entrance slit of a monochromator, the exit slit simultaneously...
electron-beam recordingThe recording of the information contained in a modulated electron beam onto photographic or silicon resin-coated materials....
photomicrographic cameraA still or motion-picture camera designed to photograph through a microscope. Photomicrographic equipment usually contains a...
CMOS image sensorA CMOS image sensor, short for complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor image sensor, is a type of semiconductor device used...
MSM photodiodeA metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodiode is a type of photodetector that consists of metal electrodes on a semiconductor...
pulsed-dye laserA laser with a gain medium consisting of an organic dye, which is carbon-based. The dye is mixed with a solvent, allowing...
quasi-CW laserA laser that generates a succession of pulses at a high enough repetition rate to appear continuous. The pump source is...
annular eclipseA type of solar eclipse that occurs when the sun is at perihelion and the moon is at apogee. Because the apparent size of...
excimer laserAn excimer laser is a type of ultraviolet laser that emits short pulses of light in the ultraviolet spectrum. The term...
Wehnelt cylinderAlso known as cathode-ray tube grid or shield. A cylindrically shaped electrode that, containing the cathode of a...
junction diodeA semiconductor device with the property of conducting current more easily in one direction than the other. It has two...
Petzval lensA high-speed, narrow-field lens consisting of two achromats spaced about the aperture stop. Its uses include portrait...
chirped-pulse amplification laserA laser whose pulses are expanded, using gratings and optical fibers, before amplification and compressed to increase beam...
tourmalineA naturally occurring crystalline mineral that has the property of polarizing transmitted light. It is little used now that...
logic diagramA diagram that uses special symbols called logic symbols to represent the detailed functioning of electronic logic circuits....
Babinet-Jamin compensatorA Babinet compensator that contains the controlled motion of one prism with respect to the other. This idea was introduced...
blue diode laserA blue diode laser is a type of semiconductor laser that emits light in the blue wavelength range of the electromagnetic...
laser powder bed fusionLaser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a type of additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that uses a high-power...
gauze techniqueThe masking of all openings of an optical transform -- except the hole at the symmetrical center -- with a thin wire gauze...
ferroelectricityThe phenomenon whereby certain crystals exhibit spontaneous electric polarization. It is analogous with ferromagnetism.
Waidner-Burgess standardA standard of luminous intensity evaluated as the luminous intensity of 1 cm2 of a blackbody at the melting point of...
pathogenA pathogen is a biological agent, such as a virus, bacterium, fungus, protozoan, or parasite, that causes disease in its...
spectrum measuring instrumentA traveling microscope or an automatic microdensitometer used to measure the spectrum plate obtained in a spectrograph.
counting chamberIn microscopy, the chamber that is contained on a microscope slide to hold a certain amount of fluid. It is calibrated...
cathode-ray tubeA vacuum tube with an electron gun at one end and a fluorescent screen at the other. Electrons emitted from a heated...
radiantPertaining to electromagnetic radiation, with the contributions at all wavelengths of interest weighted equally.
laser anemometryThe process by which laser emission is used in measuring fluid velocity and, more specifically, the detection of air and...
cross dispersionRecombination of only the light that is correctly dispersed by the first stage of a polychromator through its wide...
photodiode detectorA photodiode detector is a semiconductor device that converts light into an electrical current. It operates based on the...
photonic cavityA photonic cavity, also known as an optical cavity, is a structure that confines electromagnetic radiation within a certain...
laser frequency measurementMod Method of obtaining precise temporal mode characteristics.
laser trimmingThe use of lasers in tailoring of such components as thin-film resistors. The process improves speed and accuracy.
magnifying powerThe ability of an optical system to make an object appear larger. An optical element or optical system causing an object to...
receiver primariesAlso known as display primaries. Colors formed by a television receiver that are of constant chromaticity and variable...
index-guided laserA laser diode with an output beam contained in the active layer by means of a built-in refractive index profile formed in...
time-correlated single photon countingTime-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) is a technique used in photon counting applications, particularly in the...
tungsten diselenideTungsten diselenide (WSe2) is a member of the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) family, composed of tungsten (W) and...
Dall-Kirkham telescopeA telescope similar to the customary Cassegrain telescope, but having a primary mirror that is ellipsoidal and a secondary...
plasma noiseIntroduced into the laser beam from localized fluctuations in current density within the plasma itself. These fluctuations...
electron-beam film scanningThe method by which photographic film is scanned by an electron beam. One technique uses the uniform light of a television...
fiber photometryAn optical recording technique that uses light source(s), a beamsplitting cube, light detector(s) and an optical fiber...
Van der WaalsVan der Waals forces refer to the attractive or repulsive forces between molecules (or parts of molecules) that arise from...
infrared light-emitting diodeAn infrared light-emitting diode (IR LED) is a semiconductor device that emits infrared light when an electric current...
spectral flow cytometrySpectral flow cytometry is an advanced flow cytometry technique that expands the capabilities of traditional flow cytometry...
bandgapIn semiconductor physics, the term bandgap refers to the energy range in a material where no electronic states are allowed....
transversely excited atmosphere laserAlso known as TEA laser. A coherent optical source with a wide wavelength range in the infrared, visible and ultraviolet...
aiming circleAn instrument designed to measure angles in azimuth; used in general topographic work and military gunnery.
geometric imageThe position and shape of the image of a point source, as predicted by geometric optics alone. The geometric image is to be...
loose-tube bufferingIn fiber optic cable, containment of the fiber or fibers within an outer protective tube in which they can move to some...
opticalPertaining to optics and the phenomena of light.
low Earth orbitLow Earth orbit (LEO) refers to a region in space that is relatively close to Earth's surface, typically characterized by...
lasing mediumThe material that produces stimulated emission from within a laser oscillator. Laser gain media may vary from...
phototherapyPhototherapy is a medical treatment that involves the use of light to treat various conditions, particularly those related...
radixTotal number of characters available to each position of a digital numeric system.
virtual histologyVirtual histology refers to the use of digital technology and computational methods to simulate or recreate histological...
pointer eyepieceA Huygenian eyepiece containing a pointer at its focal plane that is used -- when viewing an object through the eyepiece --...
quantum dot light-emitting diodeQuantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) is a display technology that utilizes quantum dots, which are semiconductor...
double-clad fiberDouble-clad fiber (DCF) is a specialized optical fiber that features two concentric cladding layers surrounding a core. The...
aerial mappingThe use of photographs taken from the air to construct graphic maps and charts of ground surfaces.
lenticularAn array or mosaic of optical surfaces. May be a number of lenses closely packed to form multiple images or many parallel...
flame emission spectroscopyA technique in photometry that uses an oxyhydrogen or oxyacetylene flame to optically excite a solution containing the...
piezo wormA piezoelectric translator that moves up and down a spindle like a caterpillar. It clamps itself at one end, expands, clamps...
silicon carbide light-emitting diodesSilicon carbide (SiC) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor devices that emit light when an electric current is...
picture monitorA kinescope used to survey the details of television video transmission.
f-Theta lensAn f-theta lens, also known as an f-theta scan lens or simply an f-theta lens system, is a specialized optical component...
integration timeIntegration time, in the context of optics, imaging systems, and sensor technology, refers to the duration over which a...
Lambert's cosine lawFlux per unit solid angle leaving a surface in any direction is proportional to the cosine of the angle between that...
optical gateAn optical gate typically refers to a device or system that controls the transmission of light, allowing it to pass through...
rhodamineRhodamine refers to a family of fluorescent organic dyes that are widely used in various fields, including biology,...
fiber jointsFiber joints, also known as fiber optic splices, refer to the connection points where two optical fibers are permanently...
laser-triggered switchingA process by which the ionizing capabilities of a laser beam are used to break initiate conduction between pairs of...
reflectance confocal microscopyReflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a non-invasive imaging technique that allows for high-resolution, in vivo imaging...
incident rayA ray of light that falls upon or strikes a surface of an object such as a lens. It is said to be incident to the surface.
YAG crystalA YAG crystal refers to a solid-state crystal made of yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), which is a synthetic crystalline...
phenotypeIn biology, particularly genetics and evolutionary biology, the phenotype refers to the observable characteristics or traits...
sand holeA crude area on the polished surface, produced during coarse grinding, that subsequent fine grinding does not remove, owing,...
polychromatic acousto-optic modulatorA crystal-based device that combines and adjusts the intensities of multiple wavelengths of laser light in order to obtain...
fiber optic sensorA fiber optic sensor is a device that uses optical fibers to detect and measure physical, chemical, biological, or...
magnetorheological finishingMagnetorheological finishing (MRF) is a precision optics polishing technique used for shaping and finishing optical surfaces...
molecular motorA molecular motor refers to a nano-sized device composed of organic molecules or other small-scale components that can...
optical rail
microreciprocal degreeAn approximated measure of the smallest change in color temperature detectable by the human eye, defined as the reciprocal...
McLeod gaugeA gauge designed to measure high degrees of vacuum. It consists of a glass bulb attached to the vacuum vessel, the...
infrared lensAn infrared lens is an optical component specifically designed and optimized for transmitting, focusing, or manipulating...
cone1. A solid figure whose base is a circle and whose sides taper upward evenly to a point or apex. Light rays diverging from...
nonlinear opticsNonlinear optics is a branch of optics that studies the optical phenomena that occur when intense light interacts with a...
photographic photometryA form of photometric measurement, often used with light sources that are transparent or fluctuating, in which a...
polymerizationProcess of synthesizing long molecular chain materials (polymers) by reaction of many small molecules (usually thousands)...
whole slide imagingWhole slide imaging (WSI), also known as virtual slide microscopy or digital pathology, is a technology that involves the...
erbium-doped fiber amplifierAn optical fiber that can be used to amplify an optical input. Erbium rare earth ions are added to the fiber core material...
microchannel plateA microchannel plate (MCP) is a specialized electron multiplier device used in various applications such as particle...
microradianEquivalent to 10-6 radian, where 1 radian equals 180/pi degrees. A rod 1 km in length will be moved by an angle of 1...
spurious resolutionA phenomenon that causes the details in an image to appear at a spatial frequency higher than that at which the contrast...
MylarE.I. duPont's trade name for a polyester film. The most practical beamsplitter for use beyond the 15-µm wavelength...
Ritchey-Common testAn interferometric method for describing the surface shape of large coated or uncoated optical flats. The procedure uses a...
multijunction deviceA photovoltaic device that consists of multiple p-n junctions to produce a greater efficiency when in use than that of...
plastic optical fiberPlastic optical fiber (POF) is a type of optical fiber made from transparent plastic, typically polymethylmethacrylate...
antiblooming gateA device that prevents electrons from a saturated pixel in a CCD imaging device from spilling into an adjacent pixel. The...
ordinary rayThe ray that has an isotropic speed and maintains a uniform polarization in all propagation directions when traveling in a...
lenticular stereo photographyA type of stereoscopic photography in which a pair of lenses focuses a pair of images, relative to the positions of the two...
breakout cableA breakout cable, also known as a fan-out cable or breakout assembly, is a type of cable that combines multiple individual...
axial gradient technologyA method of designing lasers whereby the laser rod is cut into elliptical discs and cooled by running water over the disc...
common optoelectronics laser detection systemA laser warning and countermeasure system containing a sensor that indicates the direction of a laser beam, and analytical...
pulsed laserA laser that emits energy in a series of short bursts or pulses and that remains inactive between each burst or pulse. The...
case hardeningA surface heat-treating process that produces a highly stressed surface. In case-hardening of glass, a plate of glass is...
fifth-order aberrationsSecondary aberrations remaining after the primary (Seidel) aberrations have been corrected.
metrologyMetrology is the science and practice of measurement. It encompasses the theoretical and practical aspects of measurement,...
smectic phaseA form of liquid crystal in which flow does not take place in the usual manner. When examined with polarized light, the...
bodyIn the optical field, a piece of glass to which a lens or prism is cemented. The unit is ground and polished as a whole to...
recombinase polymerase amplificationRecombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) is a molecular biology technique used to rapidly amplify specific DNA or RNA...
grain boundaryIn a multicrystalline material, the meeting point between crystallites.
azadioxatrianguleniumAzadioxatriangulenium is a type of organic compound with a unique triangular molecular structure. It is often abbreviated as...
crystal ovenA temperature-controlled container used to stabilize the temperature and resonant frequency of a crystal found in a...
sapphire windowA sapphire window refers to a transparent optical component made from sapphire crystal. Sapphire is a single-crystal form of...
time domainThe time domain is a concept used in signal processing and analysis to describe signals in terms of their behavior over...
double refractionThe separation of unpolarized light into two plane-polarized elements by a doubly refracting crystal. When a crystal, such...
circle, aiming
compensating glassAlso known as clear glass or clear filter. The clear glass plate is used to simulate a filter, in converging or diverging...
laser cavityA laser cavity, also known as an optical cavity or resonator, is a fundamental component of a laser system. It is a confined...
heliostatA device having a plane mirror so mounted that it can be set to reflect sunlight into a piece of laboratory equipment. It is...
thin-film deposition equipmentThin-film deposition equipment refers to machinery and tools used in the process of depositing thin layers of material onto...
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...
ion laserA laser in which the transition involved in stimulated emission of radiation takes place between two levels of an ionized...
photogrammetryPhotogrammetry is a technique used to obtain accurate three-dimensional measurements of objects and environments through the...
flash sensitometerA sensitometer that utilizes an electronic flashtube or a photoflash lamp as both the light source and the shutter for...
Weissenberg methodThe Weissenberg method, named after the German physicist Karl Weissenberg, is a technique used in x-ray crystallography for...
field effect transistor photodetectorA photodetector employing photoregeneration of carriers in the channel region of an FET structure to provide photodetection...
etalonAn etalon is an optical device that consists of two parallel reflecting surfaces separated by a precise and known distance....
cesium-antimonide photocathodeA photocathode that exhibits maximum sensitivity in the blue and ultraviolet regions of the spectrum. The sensitivity is...
coherence lengthThat length over which energy in two separate waves remains constant. With respect to a laser, the greatest distance between...
Weibull distributionA statistical means of characterizing the failure of a fiber or device as related to strain or time. Results are plotted on...
Canada balsamA resin obtained from the balsam fir, Abies balsamea, used as a lens cement.
superconductorA metal, alloy or compound that loses its electrical resistance at temperatures below a certain transition temperature...
plasmonicsPlasmonics is a field of science and technology that focuses on the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and free...
reticleA reticle, also known as a reticule or graticule, is a pattern or set of markings placed in the focal plane of an optical...
waveguideA waveguide is a physical structure or device that is designed to confine and guide electromagnetic waves, such as radio...
box cameraThe simplest, most inexpensive type of camera, which is shaped as an oblong or square box, containing the simplest lens,...
pleochroismThe property exhibited by certain birefringent crystals in which the degree with which they transmit polarized light is...
CubeSatA CubeSat is a type of miniaturized satellite characterized by its standardized size and modular design. CubeSats are...
metamaterialMetamaterials are artificial materials engineered to have properties not found in naturally occurring substances. These...
micro-ring resonatorA micro-ring resonator is a compact optical device that utilizes the resonant behavior of light within a small ring-shaped...
germicidal UVGermicidal ultraviolet (GUV) refers to a specific range of UV radiation that has disinfectant properties capable of killing...
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...
image storage panelA modified form of an image-retaining panel that can be used in subdued daylight. This is achieved by adding a layer of zinc...
entrainmentThe movement of particulate material by flowing gas or liquid.
xyleneFluid used to aid in examination of semifinished blanks.
central processing unitThe computer module whose circuitry interprets instructions and guides the actions of the peripherals. Also known as the...
stereoplottingThe imaging of two photographs of a stereo pair, in complementary colors, for the preparation of contour maps.
fused array of fibersOptical fibers fused together to form a solid, vacuum-tight assembly in the form of a slab or rod. Discs or rectangular...
chirped mirrorsChirped mirrors are optical devices designed to manipulate the spectral properties of ultrashort laser pulses. They consist...
linear positioning stageA linear positioning stage, also known as a linear stage or translation stage, is a precision mechanical device used to...
luminous paintA mixture of phosphor with a trace of a radioactive element that emits faint light continually. It is used on watch dials...
high-speed motion cameraA high-speed motion camera, also known as a high-speed camera or slow-motion camera, is a specialized imaging device...
polycarbonateA tough, durable, heat- and cold-resistant optical quality plastic used in injection-molded items such as streetlight...
enantiomerEnantiomers are a pair of molecules that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other, similar to left and right...
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...
fluorochromeThe combination of the organic dye in a stained specimen and the antibodies produced that is detected by exposure to light.
polymerPolymers are large molecules composed of repeating structural units called monomers. These monomers are chemically bonded...
quantum-ehanced metrologyQuantum-enhanced metrology refers to the use of quantum mechanics principles and techniques to enhance the precision and...
Forbush decreaseDecrease in cosmic ray activity that is observed approximately 24 hours after a solar flare, attributed to a shielding...
sheet gratingA three-dimensional grating designed with thin metal sheets to remain opaque to all but one specific and predetermined wave.
hero experimentsLaboratory experiments that focus on demonstrating new capabilities of a certain technology or device, usually without...
beamsplitterA beamsplitter is an optical device used to divide a beam of light into two or more separate beams, typically by reflecting...
penta prismA five-sided prism containing two reflecting surfaces at 45° to each other, and two refracting faces perpendicular to...
optical glassOptical glass refers to a type of glass specifically engineered and manufactured for use in optical components and systems,...
excitonAn exciton is a quasiparticle that represents the bound state of an electron and a hole in a solid-state material, typically...
lock-in amplifierA lock-in amplifier is a specialized electronic instrument used to extract and measure small signals embedded in noise or...
slicing and cutting machines - for crystals, quartz, glass, etc.A crystal, glass, or quartz slicing and cutting machine is a specialized piece of equipment used in the manufacturing...
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...
echelle gratingA specialized form of diffraction grating consisting of assembled glass plates of equal thickness that resemble a flight of...
orthiconA television camera tube in which a low-velocity electron beam scans a photoactive mosaic that has been created by an...
well plateA well plate, also known as a microplate or microtiter plate, is a flat plate with multiple small wells or depressions...
Förster resonance energy transferFörster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a mechanism describing the transfer of energy between two closely spaced...
spectral integral densityWith respect to color photography, the measurement, at a given wavelength, of the way the color film modulates the radiant...
linearityA relationship between two variables so that when plotted on a graph they yield a straight line.
sensor1. A generic term for detector. 2. A complete optical/mechanical/electronic system that contains some form of radiation...
arc light sourceIn present usage, especially for spectroscopic identification, an arc between electrodes that serves as a radiation source....
burst pressureThe measure used in vacuum technology to quantify the total pressure capacity of the ferrofluidic seal before it fails.
Casimir forceThe Casimir force is a quantum phenomenon that results in an attractive force between two closely spaced uncharged...
metabolic imagingMetabolic imaging refers to the visualization and quantification of metabolic processes within living organisms, tissues, or...
scientific CMOS cameraA scientific CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) camera is a type of digital camera specifically designed for...
dopingIn the context of materials science and semiconductor physics, doping refers to the intentional introduction of impurities...
pluggable opticsPluggable optics, also known as pluggable transceivers or optical transceivers, are modular devices used in optical...
colloidA particle that will not normally diffuse through animal or vegetable membrane. Larger than most inorganic compounds,...
sandwich holographyThe simultaneous exposure of two holographic plates with emulsions facing the object. After deformation, a second pair of...
deep ultravioletDeep ultraviolet (DUV or deep-UV) refers to a specific range of ultraviolet light with shorter wavelengths than those in the...
line of sightThe line of vision; the optical axis of a telescope or other observation system. The straight line connecting the object and...
x-ray diffractionThe bending of x-rays by the regular layers of molecules in a crystal acting like a very small diffraction grating. The...
femtosecond laserA femtosecond laser is a type of laser that emits ultrashort pulses of light with durations on the order of femtoseconds,...
metasurfacesMetasurfaces are two-dimensional arrays of subwavelength-scale artificial structures, often referred to as meta-atoms or...
solid-state laserA solid-state laser is a type of laser that uses a solid gain medium (as opposed to a liquid or gas) to produce coherent...
linear image sensorA linear image sensor is a type of solid-state electronic device used to capture and convert light into electrical signals....
micromanipulatorA device that provides means for accurately moving minuscule tools over the surface of a microscopic object. The motion...
ratiometryRatiometry is a technique used in various scientific fields, particularly in analytical chemistry and biochemistry, to...
phototransistorA phototransistor is a type of semiconductor device that converts light energy into electrical signals. Similar to a regular...
vacuum spectrographA spectrograph that functions in a vacuum and therefore eliminates any air-absorption of the emission being surveyed.
recrystallizationThe growth of particular grain fragments in a metal or alloy, at the expense of others, that occurs when the metal or alloy...
parallel-plate waveguideA pair of waveguides with axes normal to the plane and that guide uniform cylindrical waves.
ferroelectric domainThe region of a ferroelectric crystal where spontaneous polarization is uniformly directed.
secondary bowThe indistinct rainbow that may sometimes be observed outside the distinct primary bow and that has its colors in opposite...
Bragg method of crystal analysisA technique in which a beam of x-rays is directed against a crystal, the atoms of which, because of their lattice...
photonic crystalsPhotonic crystals are artificial structures or materials designed to manipulate and control the flow of light in a manner...
linear plasticA term for thermoplastic optical materials; that is, those in which the polymer chains remain linear after heating and...
modal bandwidthModal bandwidth is a crucial parameter in optical fiber communication systems, particularly in multimode fiber (MMF)...
ambient temperatureThe prevailing temperature in the immediate vicinity of the object; the temperature of its environment.
free-space opticsFree-space optics (FSO), also known as optical wireless communication or optical wireless networking, refers to the...
texelA contraction for "texture element." A base unit used in computer graphics that defines the surface of three-dimensional...
rare earth dopantsRare earth dopants refer to elements from the lanthanide series, also known as rare earth elements, that are intentionally...
base-altitude ratioIn aerial photography, the ratio derived from a stereoscopic pair of photographs that represents the air-base length divided...
circumzenithal arcThe halo phenomenon of a brightly colored arc having the colors of the rainbow and lying parallel to the horizon.
optical barcode readerAn optical barcode reader, commonly known as a barcode scanner, is a device that uses optical technology to capture and...
extensometer1. A strainmeter capable of measuring the change in the relationship between two reference points, provided that the points...
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...
antireflection coatingAn antireflection coating (AR coating) is a thin film or coating applied to optical surfaces, such as lenses or windows, to...
hydrophobicHydrophobic is a term used to describe substances or materials that repel or do not readily interact with water. The word...
air-spaced doublet
photochromicPhotochromic refers to a property exhibited by certain materials, typically organic compounds or dyes, which undergo...
scotoscopeAn instrument that uses an image intensifier to aid in the viewing of subjects in low-light-level environments.
reflectiveThe term reflective is an adjective that describes the ability of a surface or material to reflect light or other forms of...
embedded laserThe term "embedded laser" typically refers to a laser device that is integrated or embedded into a larger system or...
micro-roboticsMicro-robotics refers to the field of robotics that involves the design, development, and application of miniature robotic...
effect filterA color filter, generally used in photography, to emphasize certain color tones and to modify others in a picture for a more...
decision-tree classificationA structural method of optical character recognition, used where the input media are variable, as in hand-written or...
gray1. A measure of absorbed dose, equal to the energy imparted by ionizing radiation to a mass of matter corresponding to 1 J...
evaporation coatingCoating carried out in a sealed chamber evacuated by a mechanical pump in series with an oil diffusion pump to a pressure...
three-level laserA laser having a material, such as ruby, that has an energy state structure of three levels: the ground state (1) wherein...
Faraday effectThe Faraday effect, named after the English scientist Michael Faraday, is a phenomenon in physics where the polarization...
waferIn the context of electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, a wafer refers to a thin, flat disk or substrate made of a...
mid-wave infraredMWIR stands for mid-wave infrared, referring to a specific range of wavelengths within the infrared spectrum. Infrared...
Glan-Foucault prismA type of birefringent polarizing prism that transmits the extraordinary ray and removes the ordinary ray through total...
x-ray image spectrographyIrradiation of a cylindrical crystal with an x-ray beam resulting in Bragg diffraction that produces a slightly enlarged...
shutter speed testerA device used to measure the opening time of a shutter. The most common devices depend on the charging or discharging of an...
chromaticity diagramThe plane diagram produced by plotting one of the three chromaticity coordinates (X,Y,Z) against another. The most common...
astronomical telescopeAn astronomical telescope is a type of optical instrument designed to gather and magnify light from distant celestial...
quantum cascade laserA quantum cascade laser (QCL) is a type of semiconductor laser that operates based on the principles of quantum mechanics....
CCD cameraA CCD camera, or charge-coupled device camera, is a type of digital camera that utilizes a CCD image sensor to capture and...
equalized-response densitometerA densitometer having a receiver that indicates when a desired radiation level has been attained.
neuromorphicNeuromorphic refers to the design and development of computing systems or devices that are inspired by the structure and...
scanning electron microscopyScanning electron microscopy (SEM) is an advanced imaging technique used in microscopy to obtain high-resolution,...
remote active spectrometerA device employed to identify toxic agents lingering on the ground or in the air from up to three miles away, by using laser...
cryostatA cryostat is a device used to maintain very low temperatures, typically below the boiling point of liquid nitrogen (77 K or...
laser desorptionA process of forming ions within a given molecular species by incident laser light. The molecular species may remain intact,...
differential interference contrast microscopyDifferential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy, also known as Nomarski interference contrast microscopy, is an optical...
outside vapor-phase oxidationA process for the production of optical fibers. A glass bait is rotated in a traversing flame of a reaction burner....
CMOS cameraA CMOS camera refers to an imaging device that employs a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor to...
videographyVideography refers to the process of capturing moving images and recording them in a digital format. It involves the use of...
photometricPertaining to the measurement of the intensity of light.
erect imageAn image, real or virtual, whose spatial orientation is identical to that of the object. The image obtained at the retina...
ideal crystalA crystal that is devoid of any mosaic structure and that can reflect x-rays, relative to the Darwin-Ewald-Prins law.
optical surfaceA reflecting or refracting surface contained within an optical system.
spatial coherenceThe maintenance of a fixed-phase relationship across the full diameter of a cross section of a laser beam.
mirageThe distortion of an object's true image as the result of abnormal atmospheric disturbances along the path traveled by the...
cosine law of illuminationLaw relating the illuminance (or irradiance) of a surface to the cosine of the angle, q, between the normal to the surface...
panoramic telescopeA telescope so manufactured that the image remains erect and the position of the eyepiece is unchanged as the line of sight...
secondary colorAn aberration that remains after primary color is corrected. Primary color causes the back focus of a lens to vary with...
permanent magnetic focusingThe focusing of an electron beam by a magnetic field that permanently retains the majority of its magnetic properties.
mask proximity correctionA technique used in photolithography of computer chips to compensate for errors caused by the proximity effect, which...
fluorescent light sourceA tube containing mercury vapor and lined with a phosphor. When current is passed through the vapor the strong ultraviolet...
oculometerAn electro-optical infrared tracker consisting of a beamsplitter, an illuminating source, an image dissector tube and an...
additive color processA process of color photography in which colors are added one to another in the form of light, rather than as colorants, to...
photon-richPhoton-rich typically refers to an environment or situation where there is an abundance of photons present. In the context...
spherical microintegrated lensA tiny lens (as small as 100 µm in diameter) used to focus light on charge-coupled devices, formed by heating a...
mode filling factorIn a laser, the fraction of plasma volume used by a particular transverse mode of oscillation, a determinant of the gain...
optogenetic defibrillationAn optogenetic technique that embeds genetically-engineered proteins to the heart to aid in terminating arrhythmias. After...
tolerancingThe determination of the degree to which a manufactured component can deviate from its ideal specifications of material and...
turnkey systemA system that is complete and self-contained, needing no further additions to permit its operation.
sensitometerAn instrument for determining the sensitivity of a photographic film to light. The film is given either a stepped exposure...
scratchA defect on a polished optical surface whose length is many times its width. Block reek is a chainlike scratch formed in...
probe cardA probe card is a testing device used in the semiconductor manufacturing industry to evaluate and test the electrical...
continuous spectrumThe radiation spectrum of matter found in condensed states, liquid or solid, that is continuous and not a line spectrum. The...
fiber optic spectrometerA fiber optic spectrometer is a device used for measuring the spectral content of light. It utilizes optical fibers to...
active transportThe transport of molecules in a cell which requires the use of a cell's internal energy. The energy used in the cell may be...
quantum entanglementQuantum entanglement is a phenomenon in quantum mechanics where two or more particles become correlated to such an extent...
pencil beamIn astronomy, the main lobe of an antenna pattern that has a small angular extent in two mutually perpendicular directions....
excess noise factorA factor, F, indicating the increase in shot noise in an avalanche photodiode as compared with the ideal multiplier, which...
photoluminescencePhotoluminescence is a phenomenon in which a material absorbs photons (light) at one wavelength and then re-emits photons at...
illuminated tableA desklike apparatus with an opal glass surface illuminated from beneath by fluorescent tubes. It is equipped with roll...
periscopeAn optical instrument designed to displace the line of sight in a vertical direction. For submarines and other military uses...
refracted rayA light ray that has had its direction altered because of its traversing an air-to-glass interface at some angle. In an...
cold shieldThat part of an infrared detector-Dewar assembly that limits the solid angle viewed by the sensor; it is maintained at a...
vertical air photographAn aerial photograph produced when the optical axis of the camera is perpendicular to the surface below.
holographyHolography is a technique used to capture and reconstruct three-dimensional images using the principles of interference and...
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.
molybdenum diselenideMolybdenum diselenide (MoSe2) is a dichalcogenide compound composed of molybdenum (Mo) and selenium (Se). It belongs to the...
bright-field illuminationThe illumination generally used in microscopy, whereby the specimen appears dark against a light background.
plasma acceleratorA plasma accelerator is a type of particle accelerator that uses electric fields and magnetic fields to accelerate charged...
APD detectorAn APD detector, or avalanche photodiode detector, is a type of photodetector used to detect light or optical signals by...
photodarkeningThe effect that the optical losses in a medium can grow when the medium is irradiated with light at certain wavelengths.
germanium crystalGermanium crystal refers to a crystalline form of the element germanium (Ge), which is a metalloid and semiconductor...
microdisplayA microdisplay is a miniature electronic display technology that is designed to project visual information onto a small...
cursorOn a display monitor, a small, mobile rectangle, cross-hair or pointer that locates a feature in an image that is the object...
long-pass filterA long-pass filter is an optical filter that allows longer wavelengths of light to pass through while blocking or...
infraredInfrared (IR) refers to the region of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths longer than those of visible light, but...
threshold testIn laser damage testing, the exposure of many sites of a sample to different intensities of laser irradiation to discover...
gain-bandwidth productIn an avalanche photodiode, the gain multiplied by the signal frequency in MHz.
filter kernalA function used in a convolution filtering operation. The image to be filtered is convolved with the filtering kernel to...
telemeter1. The term used to describe any of the many instruments used to remotely record physical dimensions, such as strain,...
agri-photonicsAgri-photonics refers to the application of photonics technologies in agriculture. Photonics involves the generation,...
hyperchromic shiftHyperchromic shift refers to an increase in the absorption of light, leading to a higher absorbance, often observed in...
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...
atmospheric absorption line parameters compilationCompilation of the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories that contains values of the line parameters of the 1-0 bands of...
rhomboid prismA reflecting prism that is rhomboidal in shape. It has two parallel transmitting faces, and two parallel reflecting faces;...
focus1. The focal point. 2. To adjust the eyepiece or objective of a telescope so that the image is clearly seen by the observer....
zoom lensAn optical system of variable focal length, the focal plane remaining in a fixed position. This result is achieved by moving...
near-infrared spectroscopy cerebral oximetryA monitoring technique used to measure the oxygen saturation levels in the brains of patients, commonly in operating room...
image jumpIn optics, the term image jump refers to a displacement or shift in the apparent position of an image when a change occurs...
electron multiplication charge-coupled device cameraAn EMCCD (electron-multiplying charge-coupled device) camera is a type of scientific camera specifically designed for...
triple aplanatA compound lens consisting of two negative lenses of flint glass. A double-convex lens of crown glass is cemented between...
remote sensingRemote sensing is a method of data collection and observation where information about objects, areas, or phenomena on...
fiber-coupled LEDA fiber-coupled LED (light-emitting diode) refers to an LED device that is optically coupled to an optical fiber for the...
GRIN lensA GRIN (gradient index) lens is a type of optical lens that utilizes a gradient in refractive index across its volume rather...
hybrid mosaic on stacked siliconA sensor module used in advanced pattern recognition systems, containing signal-processing integrated circuits stacked and...
mode sweepingA form of laser output noise that is caused by thermal, mechanical, or acoustical disturbances of the cavity length. Mode...
dichroismDichroism refers to the property of certain materials to exhibit different colors or absorbance of light depending on the...
nonlinear polarizationNonlinear polarization refers to the phenomenon where the polarization of a material responds nonlinearly to an applied...
attenuated total reflectance spectroscopyAttenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy is a technique used in analytical chemistry to obtain IR spectra of samples....
impurity levelIn the context of optical materials, the term "impurity level" refers to the presence of foreign atoms or molecules within...
stereoscopeA small instrument containing a picture support and a pair of magnifying lenses so arranged that the left eye sees only the...
breakdown voltageIn avalanche photodiodes, the point at which an increase in the reverse bias voltage causes the current gain to approach...
doublet1. A compound lens consisting of two elements. If there is an air space between the elements it is called an...
stoneAn opaque inclusion in glass that contains undissolved or crystalline material. Also known as a seed.
RTSP protocolRTSP, or real-time streaming protocol, is a network control protocol designed for controlling streaming media servers. It is...
thermal interface materialsThermal interface materials (TIMs) are substances or compounds used to enhance the thermal conductivity between two surfaces...
chiralityChirality is a property of certain molecules and objects in which they are non-superimposable on their mirror images. In...
Nernst glowerA Nernst glower, also known simply as a Nernst lamp or Nernst filament, is a type of incandescent lamp or radiant heater...
rectilinearIn a straight line. When applied to a lens, it indicates that images of straight lines formed by the lens are not distorted.
BCS theoryBardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory of superconductivity, based on the notion that electrons with opposite momentum and spin...
borescopeA device for the internal inspection of hard-to-get-at mechanical parts, such as rifle barrels, sewer pipes, oil wells, or...
gain-guided laserA laser diode in which the beam is confined to the region of the active layer with gain high enough to accomplish such...
polaritonA polariton is a quasiparticle resulting from the strong coupling between photons (light particles) and certain types of...
Silsbee effectThe ability of an electrical current to destroy superconductivity by means of the magnetic field generated by the current....
particle accelerationParticle acceleration refers to the process by which charged particles, such as electrons or protons, gain kinetic energy...
radiographic amplifier screenA solid-state panel of the photoconductor-electroluminescent type. The photoconductive layer, sensitive to x-rays, is coated...
iconoscopeA camera tube that employs a high-velocity electron beam to scan a photoemissive mosaic and to store electrical charge...
reciprocity failure
active-matrix OLED displayAn OLED display that has an integrated electronic backplane as its substrate. Active-matrix OLED displays use at least two...
aiming beamA visible laser beam generated coaxially with an infrared or other invisible laser beam to aid in its positioning.
Geiger counterAlso called Geiger-Müller counter. An instrument designed to detect and measure radioactivity through the use of a...
solar radiationRadiation from the sun that is made up of a very wide range of wavelengths, from the long infrared to the short ultraviolet...
color center laserCertain color centers in the alkali halides have been optically pumped to produce efficient tunable pulsed and...
quantum confinementQuantum confinement refers to the phenomenon in quantum mechanics where the motion of charge carriers, such as electrons or...
soft mold blockingBlocking by means of a pitch ring, pitch button or a totally pitched block. Pitch, containing a soft filter, may be used...
multi-axis alignmentMulti-axis alignment refers to the process of aligning or adjusting components or systems in multiple spatial dimensions or...
array processorIn image processing, a specially designed programmable computer peripheral that attaches to the host system for the purpose...
computer-generated holographic scannerA phase reflection scanner that eliminates the need for a complex translation device while maintaining a high-energy-density...
dark-field photomicrographyA photomicrographic recording technique that utilizes dark-field illumination to render an image of an object having a...
prelasingWhen uncontrolled laser energy leaks from a laser cavity prematurely, it causes serious damage to optical components and...
laserA laser, which stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation," is a device that produces coherent and...
gradient-index profileThe term gradient-index profile refers to a specific type of refractive index distribution within an optical material. In...
thermogramAlso known as analog thermogram. The resultant photograph, illustrating, in tones ranging from black to white, the spatial...
edge-emitting LEDAn edge-emitting light-emitting diode is a type of LED structure where light emission occurs primarily along the edge of the...
pigtailA short length of optical fiber permanently fixed to a component and used to couple power between it and the transmission...
Michelson-Morley experimentAn optical experiment carried out conclusively in 1887 that demonstrated that the ether, a hypothetical medium postulated by...
hematoporphyrin derivativeA material used in photodynamic therapy that is retained selectively by tumor tissue when injected into the body; it then...
microfluoroscopeA fluoroscope equipped with a magnified, fine-grained fluorescent screen to determine the fluorescence emitted by a...
luminescenceLuminescence is the emission of light that occurs without the involved substance undergoing a significant increase in...
laser active elementsLaser active elements typically refers to the substances or materials within a laser system that play a critical role in the...
chemical-mechanical polishingA technique for polishing silicon in which an alkaline suspension containing silicon dioxide particles creates a soft layer...
feature extractionIn image processing and machine vision, the process in which an initial measurement pattern or some subsequence of...
gallium arsenide injection laserA laser system consisting of a planar PN junction within a single crystal of gallium arsenide. The pair of parallel,...
crustA stain in a glass surface.
optical artifactsOptical artifacts refer to undesired or unintended effects that can occur in optical systems, such as microscopes, cameras,...
monomer exchange diffusionProcess that occurs when a polymerized soft plastic rod with higher refractive index is placed in a bath of a lower...
sapphire optical fiberSapphire optical fiber is a type of optical fiber made from single-crystal sapphire, which is a form of aluminum oxide...
constant variant enhancementTechnique that uses high-pass filtering to reduce the local average to zero for all regions of the picture and then applies...
piezoelectricPiezoelectricity is a property exhibited by certain materials in which they generate an electric charge in response to...
radioactive tracerA radioactive element that is placed or injected into a system to obtain an autoradiogram of the system. It is used in a...
optical stainingWith respect to microscopy, also called dispersive staining, optical staining the projection of colors through areas of a...
decision-theoretic character recognitionAn approach to optical character recognition based on matching the input character against a set of stored prototypes.
fractional photothermolysisA laser skin-resurfacing method that creates microscopic thermal wounds referred to as microscopic treatment zones (MTZs),...
Ti:sapphire laserA Ti:sapphire laser is a type of solid-state laser that utilizes a titanium-doped sapphire crystal as the gain medium. The...
ultraviolet microscopyThe study and photographing of microscope specimens in ultraviolet light; using an optical microscope containing fluorite...
single molecule localization microscopySingle molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) is a group of super-resolution microscopy techniques that surpass the...
clinometerAn instrument for measuring the vertical angle of an object. It usually contains an accurately made protractor, a sensitive...
spatial intensity perturbationA beam instability, induced by index of refraction inhomogeneities and component damage of dirt and dust particles, that...
double-pass transmittance hologramA hologram having an object wave that has been transmitted through the transparent object media to a mirror, reflected again...
Ultraviolet-CUltraviolet-C (UV-C) refers to a specific range of ultraviolet radiation with shorter wavelengths than those of visible...
thermographyThermography is a technique that involves the use of an infrared imaging device, called a thermal camera or infrared camera,...
fluorescent whitening agentsAgents used for testing light sources and natural daylight with visual and instrumental assessment using a set of white...
lensless microscopyLensless microscopy, also known as computational or holographic microscopy, is an imaging technique that captures and...
principal axisA straight line connecting the curvature centers of the refracting lens surfaces. In a mechanical sense, a line joining the...
polarization-preserving fiberSingle-mode fiber that preserves the plane of polarization of the light launched into it as the beam propagates through its...
glide planeThe plane shared by the pair of axes in a twin crystal.
resolution targetA chart on paper or glass containing a series of sets of lines at progressively smaller spacing and used to ascertain the...
colorimeterA colorimeter is a device used to measure and quantify the color characteristics of an object or a light source. It provides...
modified chemical vapor depositionModified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) is a technique used in the fabrication of optical fibers. It is a specialized form...
splice closureA container which secures multiple splice trays and protects the trays and their contents from damage.
phageA phage, short for bacteriophage, is a type of virus that infects and replicates within bacteria. Phages are composed of...
STED microscopySTED microscopy, or stimulated emission depletion microscopy, is a superresolution imaging technique in fluorescence...
facsimile synchronizingThe maintenance of the same scanning relationship between the transmitting scanning spot and receiving scanning spot for...
pixel binningPixel binning, also known as pixel merging or pixel combining, is a technique used in digital imaging and camera technology....
path-reversal principleThe criterion maintaining that if light follows a specific path through an optical system, it will, if reversed, traverse...
attenuatorAn attenuator is an electronic or optical device used to reduce the power or intensity of a signal without significantly...
dynamic stare sensorA type of mosaic detector array that combines features of scanning and staring sensors by using a small rapid scanning...
Lawson criterionDefines the minimum operational standards for a self-sustaining fusion reactor as equivalence between energy released per...
scanning tunneling microscopeA high-resolution imaging instrument that can detect and measure the positions of individual atoms on the surface of a...
photoemulsionIn photolithography, an opaque material used in masks that has a lower optical density and grainier composition than chrome.
leading edge spikeIn a sequence of laser pulse emissions, the intitial pulse that often helps initiate a reaction at the target surface,...
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...
ionographyAn electroradiographic process that uses ionization of air by x-rays as a basis for forming electrostatic images.
microphotofabricationThe formation of microimages for microreduction. The technique is used, for example, in the production of precision reticles...
sunlight recorderAn instrument consisting essentially of a photoelectric cell filtered to respond to a specified wavelength region, an...
light amplifierA device that serves to emit light of the same wavelength as the input light, only with an increase in intensity. It may be...
glass annealing furnaceA furnace, generally electrically heated, with a control system capable of following a cam by which the temperature can be...
jig transitAn optical instrument containing a gimballed sighting telescope, used to measure angular relationships in horizontal and...
camera chainThe term sometimes used to describe the sequential arrangement of components in a video system -- from transmitter to...
free-abrasive machiningThe process whereby a rotating wheel carries grains of an abrasive, suspended in a vehicle, across the surface of the...
meridional planeThat plane in an optical system containing its optical axis and the chief ray. Also called the tangential plane.
sheet polarizerA sheet of plastic material containing microscopic crystals of herapathite or some other similar substance that transmits...
microbubble resonatorA microbubble resonator is a device used in photonics and optical physics for the precise manipulation of light waves. It...
optical filterAn optical filter is a device that selectively transmits or blocks specific wavelengths, or colors, of light. Optical...
holmium laserHolmium lasers are a type of medical laser that utilizes holmium-doped crystals as the gain medium. The term holmium laser...
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...
semiconductorA semiconductor is a type of material that has electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator. In...
microscopicCharacteristic of an object so small in size or so fine in structure that it cannot be seen by the unaided eye. A...
attosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopyAttosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopy (APAP) is an advanced technique in ultrafast spectroscopy that allows...
mode lockingMode locking is a technique used in optics and laser physics to generate short pulses of light with extremely high peak...
meridional rayA ray that lies in the meridional plane; a ray that lies in the plane that contains the optical axis. A tangential ray.
quantum detectorA photodetector in which an electrical charge is produced when incident photons change electrons within the detecting...
line-scan recordingA type of recording in which the recording line remains fixed and the recording medium is fed past the recording device.
laser-induced cut and patchA process used in the design, repair and customization of integrated circuits. A low-power laser etches a silicon wafer...
dark-field discA disc contained within an electronic cell counter for regulating light transmission.
system on chipAbbreviated SoC. A single chip containing all the electronic circuits required for a complete, working product. SoCs are...
Laplacian edge enhancementEdge enhancement technique that accentuates all edge details in an image without discriminating as to spatial orientation.
solid opticsOptical elements arranged with no spaces between, so that the light travels only through glass, not air.
accelerometerAn accelerometer is a sensor or transducer that measures the rate of change of velocity of an object, or in simpler terms,...
cylindrical lensA cylindrical lens is an optical component that has different curvatures along its two orthogonal axes, resulting in a shape...
laser tubeThe device, usually made of glass or a similar material, that contains the resonant cavity and optics of a gas laser.
laser pointerHandheld optical laser device containing a semiconductor or DPSS source. The output is corrected via internal collimating...
optical air massA measure of the optical path length for light traveling from the sun or other celestial source through Earth's atmosphere...
gram negativeGram-negative bacteria are a group of bacteria that possess a cell envelope composed of a thin layer of peptidoglycan...
aperture cardA combination 80-column computer card containing a 35-mm microfilm frame. Reference data can be punched onto the card to...
polarization photometerA photometer having a pair of Nicol prisms introduced into the beam from the brighter of two sources to be compared. Turning...
double slitA pair of long, slender parallel apertures used in experiments on diffraction and interference.
optical bistabilityThe phenomenon that can render an optical resonator the equivalent of a semiconductor flip-flop. A bistable device will...
linear opticsLinear optics refers to the study and manipulation of light in a linear and deterministic manner, where the response of...
linewidthLinewidth, also known as spectral linewidth or line width, refers to a measure of the width of a frequency spectrum of a...
luminescent greenhouse collectorA collector for photovoltaic power generation that consists of a thin plate that strongly absorbs sunlight striking its...
GaN-based LEDsGallium nitride-based light-emitting diodes (GaN-based LEDs) are semiconductor devices that emit light when an electric...
custom lapping and polishing servicesCustom lapping and polishing services involve specialized processes used to improve the surface finish and dimensional...
flexible displayA flexible display refers to a type of electronic visual display that is designed to be bendable, foldable, or rollable,...
ophthalmologyOphthalmology is a branch of medicine that focuses on the anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the eyes and visual system....
laser-induced fluorescenceLaser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is a spectroscopic technique that involves using a laser to excite molecules or atoms,...
advanced driver assistance systemsAdvanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) refers to a set of safety features and technologies designed to assist drivers in...
tunnelingAn observed effect of the ability of certain atomic particles to pass through a barrier that they cannot pass over because...
ospinOpsins are a group of light-sensitive proteins found primarily in the retinas of vertebrate and invertebrate eyes, as well...
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...
laser diode moduleA laser diode module is a compact device that incorporates a laser diode, optics, and often other components into a single...
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...
index dipThe decrease in the refractive index at the center of a fiber's core, caused by certain fabrication techniques. Also called...
chemical vapor deposition equipmentChemical vapor deposition (CVD) equipment refers to a class of specialized apparatus used in the process of chemical vapor...
luminosityLuminosity refers to the total amount of energy emitted by an astronomical object, typically measured per unit time. It...
Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensorThe Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor is an optical device used for measuring the wavefront aberrations of an optical system....
integral densityWith respect to color photography, the measurement of the way the color film modulates the radiant flux in the optical...
acoustical holographyThe optical reconstruction of image information contained in a sound field. First the diffraction pattern, formed by an...
antisolar pointThe point to which the extension of the straight line, reaching from the sun to the observer's eye after penetrating the...
phase screenA phase screen, in the context of optics and wave optics, refers to a surface or medium that introduces a phase delay to an...
solar simulatorA solar simulator is a device used to replicate the spectrum and intensity of sunlight in a controlled environment for...
dye laserA laser using a dye solution as its active medium. Its output is a short pulse of broad spectral content and its achievable...
cathode-ray tube envelopeEnvelopes for cathode-ray tubes are made by blowing glass in the same manner as light bulbs. They have a fairly flat end...
modulation transfer functionAlso called sine wave response and contrast transfer function. The modulation transfer function is the ratio of the...
monocoil sheathingA type of tubing used to protect optical fiber cables, consisting of a wire spiral of aluminum, galvanized steel or...
blackbody sourceA blackbody source, often simply referred to as a blackbody, is a theoretical or practical physical object that absorbs all...
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...
photographic resolutionA measure of the ability of a photographic system to record fine detail. Usually stated in terms of cycles per millimeter on...
underwater television systemA television system designed to obtain pictures of objects or scenes beneath the surface of the water. Generally, a...
optical design softwareOptical design software refers to specialized computer programs used by optical engineers, physicists, and designers to...
runoutIn a linear stage, any deviation from the desired translation across a flat, straight line.
grain isolating diaphragmIn a microscope, the diaphragm located between the Bertrand lens and the eyepiece, which is closed during conoscopic viewing...
straight-path approximationThe determination of axially symmetric and asymmetric refractive-index distributions by use of interferometry carried out on...
biprismA piece of glass polished flat on one side, with a pair of polished faces that form an angle close to 180° on the other...
ionosphereThe gas of charged particles that begins approximately 50 km above the surface of the Earth and contains a sufficient...
pixelA pixel, short for "picture element," is the smallest controllable element of a digital image or display. It is a...
diffuse reflectance spectroscopyDiffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) is a nondestructive analytical technique used to investigate the optical properties...
ray tracingRay tracing is a rendering technique used in computer graphics to simulate the way light interacts with objects in a scene....
PIN photodiodeA PIN photodiode is a type of photodetector or semiconductor device used to convert light signals into electrical signals....
radiation-shielding windowsPlates of glass containing as many heavy metal oxides as can be dissolved in the glass without causing devitrification. The...
cartesianOf or pertaining to the methods of the French philosopher Rene Descartes. Refers to the standard orthogonal X-Y-Z coordinate...
Laser scanningLaser scanning is a technology used to create precise digital representations of physical objects or environments by...
blown fiberA technique developed by British Telecom in which the viscous drag of air is used to install optical fibers in narrow...
colmascopeA polariscope used to demonstrate strain inherent in a piece of glass.
aerial photographyPhotographing of terrain on the ground and objects in the air by cameras mounted in aircraft; utilized in satellites,...
fluoresceinFluorescein is a synthetic organic compound extensively used as a fluorescent tracer in various applications, particularly...
laser strainmeterAn instrument usually consisting of a very long interferometer, 3 to 800 m, and a laser light source for the study and...
galvanoluminescenceThe emission of radiant energy produced by the passage of an electrical current through an appropriate electrolyte in which...
ferroelectric materialsFerroelectric materials are a type of dielectric materials that exhibit spontaneous electric polarization, meaning they...
broadband dielectric mirrorsBroadband dielectric mirrors, also known as broadband mirrors, are optical coatings designed to efficiently reflect or...
Kerr effectThe Kerr effect, named after the physicist John Kerr who first observed it in 1875, is a nonlinear optical phenomenon where...
spatial conditionThe spatial distribution of incident and collected flux contained in the analysis of reflectance, transmittance or densities.
microscope immersion fluidThe liquid used in microscopy to fill the space between the high-power objective lens and the microscope slide in order to...
modulation bandwidthThe highest frequency at which a laser diode can be driven and still be modulated acceptably that further results in the...
adsorptionThe process by which a substance, usually a solid, attracts and retains on its surface the molecules of another substance.
arc flashAn arc flash is a sudden release of electrical energy due to an electric arc — a continuous, high-current discharge of...
laser-light-scattering photometerA scattering photometer using scattered light in the solid angle 4.51+0 19° with respect to the forward direction, and...
infrared detectorAn infrared detector is a device that is used to detect and measure infrared radiation, which lies beyond the visible...
anisotropyAnisotropy refers to the property of exhibiting different values or characteristics when measured in different directions....
lithographyLithography is a key process used in microfabrication and semiconductor manufacturing to create intricate patterns on the...
long-wave infraredLong-wave infrared (LWIR) refers to a specific range of the infrared spectrum. Infrared radiation is divided into three main...
electro-optic detectorA device that detects radiation by utilizing the influence of light in forming an electrical signal. It may be a phototube;...
ZerodurZerodur is a type of glass ceramic material known for its exceptional thermal and mechanical properties, particularly its...
mode hoppingMode hopping in the context of lasers refers to a phenomenon where a laser system abruptly switches from one longitudinal...
Monte Carlo simulationSimulation of radiative transfer in which each photon is generated by a source and its path through the medium is...
stochastic optical reconstruction microscopyStochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) is a superresolution microscopy technique that enables imaging of...
single-mode waveguide (or fiber)An optical waveguide in which only the lowest order bound mode, which may consist of a pair of orthogonally polarized...
adjacency effectWith respect to photography, the change in the density-exposure relations, for small details of the photographic image, that...
Pockels cellA Pockels cell, also known as an electro-optic modulator, is an optical device used to control the polarization of light by...
liquid crystal light valveA liquid crystal light valve (LCLV), also known as a spatial light modulator (SLM), is an optical device that modulates the...
chemical vapor depositionChemical vapor deposition is a process of applying dopants to a glass bait by flame reactions of gaseous compounds. See also...
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...
Airy differential equationThe equation devised by Sir G.B. Airy for the analysis of light diffraction near a caustic surface: (d2f/dz2) - zf = 0 where...
split Stirling coolerA cooling system used to attain and maintain desired low temperatures in infrared systems. The Stirling type is a mechanical...
microscope objectiveThe lens located at the object end of a microscope tube. A wide range of objectives is available, including simple...
absorption peakAn absorption peak refers to a sharp increase or spike in the absorption of electromagnetic radiation at a particular...
vertical imbalanceThe difference in base up or down prism power at corresponding points located on the two lenses of a pair of spectacles.
high-gain screenA screen with a reflected or transmitted light beam that is confined to a much smaller bundle than was received by the...
adaptive opticsAdaptive optics (AO) is a technology used to improve the performance of optical systems by reducing the effects of...
photon sieveA photon sieve is an optical device used in the field of optics and imaging. It's designed to focus and shape light,...
neuromorphic vision sensorA neuromorphic vision sensor is a type of imaging device designed to mimic the structure and functioning of the human visual...
light source powerThe electrical power used to stimulate any light source. Power supplies may be step-up or step-down transformers; rectifiers...
light-emitting diodeAn LED, or light emitting diode, is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs...
maskingIn image processing, the assigning of certain portions (or pixels) of an image a constant value of either 0 (black) or 1...
dark-field condenserA condenser that forms a hollow cone-shaped beam of light with its focal point in the plane of the specimen. If it is used...
calcium indicatorA calcium indicator is a molecule that is sensitive to changes in calcium ion (Ca2+) concentrations in biological systems....
optical coherence tomography imaging systemOptical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging technique used in medical diagnostics and biomedical research to obtain...
mode-locked lasersMode-locking is a technique used in lasers to produce ultrashort pulses of light with durations on the order of picoseconds,...
laser cell sortingA moving group of fluid-suspended biological species directed through separate channels by which the population is isolated....
rectilinear systemAn optical system that is corrected for distortion and spherical aberration and therefore forms the image of a straight line...
photoelectric photometryThe use of photoelectric sensors to detect and measure the intensity of a light source. This application, as compared to...
brightfieldBrightfield refers to a type of microscopy and imaging technique in which the specimen is illuminated with a white light...
hydrogen cyanide laserA gas laser having a mixture of gases that makes it useful in the lab. The mixture of gases flows through a pressure and...
photonic engineA photonic engine refers to a device or system that utilizes photonics, or the science and technology of generating,...
ring-laser gyroscopeA ring laser gyroscope (RLG) is a type of gyroscope that uses laser light to detect and measure changes in orientation. It...
minimum object distanceMinimum object distance, often abbreviated as MOD, refers to the closest distance at which a camera lens or optical system...
videodiscA disc whose surface contains recorded digital data at high-packing densities arranged in concentric rings. The data,...
negative stereoscopic imageWhen a stereo pair of images is switched so that the right eye sees the left image and the left eye the right, the stereo...
positioningPositioning generally refers to the determination or identification of the location or placement of an object, person, or...
single-photon avalanche diodeA single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) is a specialized type of photodetector designed to detect extremely weak optical...
Foucault prismA polarizing prism formed from calcite that is like the Nicol prism but has the two parts divided by a thin air-film and cut...
avalanche photodiodeA device that utilizes avalanche multiplication of photocurrent by means of hole-electrons created by absorbed photons. When...
metallic mesh filterAn interference filter in which a very thin metal foil with a periodic array of square holes (inductive mesh) or a thin...
solid-state imaging systemAn imaging system that uses a mosaic of tiny light-sensitive semiconductors (phototransistors) to produce individual outputs...
phase-change optical discAn erasable data recording and storage medium that uses a laser to heat the crystalline surface of the disc to a certain...
separate absorption and multiplication region avalanche photodiodeAn avalanche photodiode in which the light-absorbing area is a low-bandgap material and the PN junction is placed in an area...
hair-trigger operationTriggering a laser at a predetermined time by pumping it to a level just below its threshold and then using an auxiliary...
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...
negative ghostA ghost image that has the reverse lightness relations of the original image. This phenomenon is a common optical illusion...
Polarization ImagingA subsurface imaging technique based upon the polarization of light reflected off an object. The polarization of reflected...
vacuum ultraviolet sourceAny source that emits radiation of wavelengths between 100 and 300 nm. Instruments used to study these sources must be...
bilinear interpolationIt is often necessary to estimate the value of what a pixel would be between neighboring pixels. This is accomplished by...
pair productionThe production of a positron-electron pair by a photon having energy greater than one mega-electron-volt, whereby some of...
helium leak detectorA small mass spectrometer used to find leaks in a vacuum system by detecting the presence of helium. Using a magnetic...
Laurent polarimeterA Laurent polarimeter is an instrument used in optics for measuring the rotation of plane-polarized light caused by...
gram positiveGram-positive bacteria are a group of bacteria that have a thick cell wall composed primarily of a substance called...
volumetric imagingVolumetric imaging refers to the capture, visualization, and analysis of three-dimensional (3D) information from a volume of...
rare-earth type glassOptical glasses containing the oxides of rare earths such as lanthanum to impart a very high refractive index combined with...
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...
second-order nonlinear optical propertiesSecond-order nonlinear optical properties refer to a class of phenomena exhibited by certain materials in response to...
halideIn chemistry, a halide refers to a chemical compound containing one or more halogen atoms bonded to another element. The...
Rowland circleThe circle that contains the slit, grating and primary astigmatic focus of a concave diffraction grating.
Goldberg wedgeA neutral-colored gelatin wedge, cast between glass plates, that is used as an intensity scale in certain types of...
hydroxyl ion absorptionAn optical fiber's absorption of electromagnetic waves due to hydroxyl ions remaining after contact with water.
transputerA computer whose architecture contains several CPU chips arranged in parallel. Often used in image processing systems.
chirped-pulse amplificationChirped pulse amplification (CPA) is a technique used in laser physics to amplify ultrashort laser pulses to high energies...
optical coherence tomographyOptical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique used in medical and scientific fields to capture...
copper oxide photocellAn early type of nonvacuum photocell consisting of a layer of copper oxide on a metallic substrate, with a thin transparent...
interlayer attractionInterlayer attraction refers to the attractive forces between adjacent layers of atoms or molecules in a material,...
coherent fiber bundleA coherent fiber bundle (CFB), also known as a coherent fiber optic bundle, is an assembly of multiple optical fibers...
diffractometryThe study of the diffraction of beams of a wave by matter to ascertain the structure of the matter.
digital signal processingDigital signal processing (DSP) refers to the manipulation and analysis of signals, which are representations of physical...
time-domain reflectometerSee optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR).
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...
gainAlso known as amplification. 1. The increase in a signal that is transmitted from one point to another through an amplifier....
visual fieldThe angular field of view that is seen by the eyes when fixed on a point straight ahead. The normal binocular visual field...
hyperspectral resolutionHyperspectral resolution refers to the level of detail or granularity in the spectral information captured by a...
liquid mirrorA mirror composed of liquid, taking advantage of the parabolic shape of a spinning liquid and the fact that the mirror's...
decibelThe standard unit used to express gain or loss and relative power levels. The decibel (dB) = 10 log (P2/P1).
qubitA qubit, short for quantum bit, is the fundamental unit of information in quantum computing and quantum information...
light diffusionLight diffusion refers to the process by which light is scattered or spread out in various directions as it interacts with a...
optical testing instrumentAn optical testing instrument is a device or system used to evaluate and measure the performance, quality, and...
dust counterAn instrument that uses a photoelectric system to determine the size and volume of dust particles in a given unit of air.
transducerA transducer is a device or component that converts one form of energy into another. It is commonly used in various fields,...
pressingA blank having basic surface curves attained by forming heat-softened glass that is pressed in a mold.
convexConvex is an adjective used to describe a surface or shape that curves outward, bulges, or has a rounded and outwardly...
swept source optical coherence tomographySwept-source optical coherence tomography is an imaging technique used in medical diagnostics, particularly in...
cresyl violetCresyl violet, also known as cresyl violet acetate or cresyl echt violet, is a synthetic organic compound belonging to the...
excitation potentialThe amount of energy required to raise the energy level of an atom; a necessity if the atom is to radiate energy. High...
idiochromaticPertaining to the possession of photoelectric characteristics as a result of the properties of the true crystal and not of...
relative brightnessA figure of merit corresponding to the amount of light seen by a viewer through binoculars. A higher number indicates a...
extinction voltageThe lowest anode voltage at which a gas tube can sustain a discharge.
ultrasonic grating constantThe space between diffracting centers of an ultrasonic wave that is forming certain light diffraction spectra.
line-scan cameraA line-scan camera, also known as a line-scan image sensor or linear array camera, is a type of digital camera designed to...
epitaxialEpitaxial refers to the growth of a crystalline layer on a crystalline substrate in such a way that the orientation of the...
Nomarski microscopyAlso referred to as differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy; Nomarski microscopy is a unique form of microscopy...
contrastThe apparent difference in brightness between light and dark areas of an image. For a light target against a dark...
cathetometerA type of comparator with a telescope equipped with a cross wire mounted on a vertical sliding column. It is used to measure...
oriented crystalA crystal having the axes of its grains aligned so that they have directional magnetic characteristics.
radial distribution methodA statistical analysis of facts obtained when the intensity of x-ray diffraction is calculated at different angles. In this...
color perception test equipmentEquipment for testing an observer's color vision. Some tests require the identification or ordering of colored samples. The...
dielectricExhibiting the characteristic of materials that are electrical insulators or in which an electric field can be sustained...
digital holographic microscopyDigital holographic microscopy (DHM) is an advanced imaging technique that combines holography and digital image processing...
wave trainThe continuous group of waves that persists for a short time only.
Brillouin scatteringBrillouin scattering is a phenomenon in physics where an incident electromagnetic wave (usually light) interacts with...
pseudohologramCoded image obtained optically with a nonredundant pinhole array imaging aperture.
photoelectric exposure meterA device consisting of a microammeter, a photovoltaic cell and a battery. It is used for the measurement of scene brightness...
advanced tactical air reconnaissance systemAn aerial reconnaissance system that can transmit, in near real time, image data recorded by IR and visual-spectrum sensors,...
chromatic aberrationChromatic aberration is an optical phenomenon that occurs when different wavelengths (colors) of light are refracted by a...
structural colorStructural color refers to coloration in materials that is not caused by pigments or dyes but is instead a result of the...
photovoltaic cellA photovoltaic cell, commonly known as a solar cell, is a semiconductor device that directly converts light energy into...
curingThe use of chemicals or radiation to induce a desired change in a substance; e.g., some optical adhesives are set by...
computer graphics workstationThe physical area containing an assembly of computer graphics equipment for presenting generated images and allowing...
valence bandIn a crystalline substance, the spectral range of states of energy that contains the crystal's binding valence electrons.
star testingThe visual examination by a trained observer of the image of a point source. Any coloring or departure from the Airy disc...
Glan spectrophotometerA device similar to the ordinary spectrophotometer but containing particular modifications to provide for the comparison of...
detector-Dewar assemblyA detector-Dewar assembly typically refers to a combination of a detector and a Dewar flask used in scientific instruments,...
uniformly redundant arrayArray used in coded-aperture imaging experiments with two-beam CO2 lasers that provide an artifact-free process, faithful...
electrodeless discharge tubeA device consisting of an airtight quartz tube that holds the material to be analyzed. When a high-frequency electrostatic...
infrared jammingA countermeasure used against heat seeking missiles to reduce their effectiveness. Normally it involves the emittance of...
gratingA framework or latticework having an even arrangement of rods, or any other long narrow objects with interstices between...
beauty defectA defect on or in an optical element that does not appreciably impair the function of the surface.
phase contrast microscopyPhase contrast microscopy is an optical microscopy technique that enhances the contrast of transparent and colorless...
sensitometryPrimarily the measurement of photographic sensitivity of certain materials such as photographic film. It refers to the...
pitch polishing compoundPitch for polishing mixed with other materials to give it the right viscosity so that it will follow the fine-ground lens...
Rydberg atomThe term "Rydberg atom" refers to an atom in a highly excited state where one or more of its electrons are in a Rydberg...
equal-energy whiteA stimulus that contains equal energy at each wavelength in the visible region of the spectrum.
interfacial angleThat angle found between a pair of adjacent faces of a crystal.
opal glassA material consisting of very small colorless particles imbedded in a clear glass matrix. It is available in two forms:...
inverse bremsstrahlungCollisional absorption of energy that occurs in inertial confinement fusion systems when hydrodynamic expansion of the...
simultaneous location and mappingTechnology that uses data from an array of sensors, one of which is commonly lidar, to solve the problem of creating a map...
atomic clockAn atomic clock is a highly precise timekeeping device that uses the vibrations or oscillations of atoms as a reference for...
electrowetting displayAn electrowetting display (EWD) is a type of electronic display technology that utilizes the principles of electrowetting to...
autocollimatorAn autocollimator is an optical instrument used for measuring small angular deviations with high precision. It operates on...
virtual realityVirtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment or experience that can be...
InGaAs photodiodeAn InGaAs photodiode refers to a photodetector device that is constructed using a semiconductor material composed of a...
chip-on-board lightsChip-on-board (COB) lights refer to a type of LED lighting technology where multiple LED chips are directly mounted onto a...
neutron drip linePrediction based on observations of nuclear masses in the valley of stability that indicates the maximum number of electrons...
Lloyd's mirrorA mirror employed with a very high incidence angle to form a pair of coherent light sources by reflection, and therefore...
photoelectric relayA relay that opens or closes an electrical circuit depending on the intensity of the light incident to a photoelectric...
beat lengthA characteristic of optical fiber used to calculate the fiber's ability to maintain polarization. The beat length describes...
fluorographic cameraA camera with a very high aperture lens or mirror system for photographing x-ray fluorescent screen images, mainly to save...
depth of fieldThe distance, on either side of the object plane focused on, through which satisfactory image definition can be obtained....
phase distrortionPhase distortion refers to a change in the phase relationships between different frequency components of a signal. In the...
Becke lineA band of light that appears along the outer edge of a transparent material under microscopic investigation and that moves...
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...
capnometerAn instrument incorporating an infrared detector assembly, used to analyze carbon dioxide gases and in medical applications...
diamond-turned opticDiamond turning refers to a precision machining process used to produce complex optical components, particularly lenses and...
flow chemistryFlow chemistry, also known as continuous-flow chemistry, is a chemical manufacturing process where reactions take place in a...
filar eyepieceA measuring eyepiece with a screw-micrometer-driven crosshair used to measure the size of the image.
translucentPertaining to materials having the property of reflecting a part and transmitting a part of the incident radiation.
moiré topographyContour mapping technique that involves positioning a grating close to an object and observing its shadow on the object...
curvilinear distortionA lens aberration in which the focal length varies radially outward from the center of the field. It has the effect of...
burnishingThe process of lapping a thin edge of metal over the bevelled edge of a lens to maintain it within its cell.
Twyman-Green interferometryTwyman-Green interferometry is a technique used in optics to measure the flatness or surface profile of optical components...
quantum key distributionQuantum key distribution (QKD) is a method of secure communication that utilizes principles from quantum mechanics to...
Compton scatteringThe phenomenon observed by A.H. Compton in 1923 -- that some scattered radiation possesses a longer wavelength and...
photoresistPhotoresist is a light-sensitive material used in photolithography processes, particularly in the fabrication of...
scanning electron microscopeA scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a powerful imaging instrument used in scientific research, materials...
speckle imagingA technique for obtaining improved resolution of images produced by large telescopes and distorted by the effects of...
visual acuityThe numerical definition of the ability of an observer to perceive fine detail. The average value may be taken as one...
color centerA color center, in the context of materials science and condensed matter physics, refers to a specific type of...
quasi-linear theoryThe first nonlinear theory in plasma physics that details the time and space evolution of plasma wave instability from a...
galvanometric scannerA galvanometric scanner, also known as a galvanometer scanner or galvo scanner, is a type of optical scanning device used to...
optical tooling targetSets of paired lines carefully designed to give the most accurate pointing possible for various lengths of sight.
lidarLidar, short for light detection and ranging, is a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances and...
holographic crystal growth analysisThe study of crystal growth from the molten stage utilizing a holographic system wherein interferometric techniques record...
dewettingDewetting is a phenomenon in materials science and physics where a thin film or coating spontaneously undergoes a process of...
pellicle mirrorA thin, stretched plastic membrane cemented to a rigid supporting ring. It may be coated to act as a beamsplitter, for...
electron microscopeA device utilizing an electron beam for the observation and recording of submicroscopic samples with the aid of photographic...
gamma rayThe spontaneous emittance of electromagnetic radiation by the nucleus of certain radioactive elements during their quantum...
dichroic coatingA dichroic coating, also known as a dichroic filter or dichroic mirror, is an optical coating designed to selectively...
hysteresisThis term literally means "to lag behind.'' It is quite often used to describe the residual effect that remains after...
epitaxial equipmentEpitaxial equipment refers to a set of specialized tools and systems used in the process of epitaxy, which is the growth of...
pollingInquiry made to gain access by a master station in a token ring network.
friabilityThe resistance of individual grains of an abrasive to breaking down under pressure. If the grains break down under...
quantumThe term quantum refers to the fundamental unit or discrete amount of a physical quantity involved in interactions at the...
fluorescenceFluorescence is a type of luminescence, which is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other...
Nyquist criterionIn image acquisition (and sampling theory), the postulate that the pickup sampling frequency must be a minimum of twice as...
laser paintingExtended period exposure photographs of a laser light created with various patterns within full image (laser graffiti).
directed energyDirected energy refers to a type of energy that is emitted and transferred in a controlled direction. The term is often...
astronomical mirrorAn astronomical mirror, also known as a telescope mirror or primary mirror, is a key component of a reflecting telescope. It...
laser outputThe laser output refers to the generated and emitted light produced by a laser system. This output is characterized by...
stereoscopic radiusThe maximum distance at which the stereoscopic effect may be observed. With respect to the unaided human eye, it has been...
discontinuously reinforced aluminumA composite derived from aluminum alloy powder and silicon carbide, used as an optical substrate in air- and spacecraft...
fluoride glassOptical glass containing zirconium fluoride that results in special characteristics such as improved transmission.
topologyTopology is a branch of mathematics that focuses on the properties of space that are preserved under continuous...
inertial fusion energyInertial fusion energy (IFE) refers to a proposed method of generating electricity by harnessing the energy released from...
optical strain sensorsOptical strain sensors are devices that utilize optical principles to measure the deformation or strain experienced by a...
Abney effectThe alteration and reduction of color with the addition of white light. The perceived color shift that occurs as the...
photronic cellA photovoltaic cell usually sensitive to infrared radiation. It may have a copper base and a film of cuprous oxide. When it...
radargrammetryThe analysis of the photographs taken from the radar display of a survey aircraft and used when recording terrain that is...
optical waveguideAny structure having the ability to guide the flow of radiant energy along a path parallel to its axis and to contain the...
optical manufacturing tools and machineryOptical manufacturing tools and machinery encompass a wide range of equipment, instruments, and systems used in the...
critical flicker frequencyRelative to a light source, the frequency at which the source appears to fluctuate in light intensity half the time and...
borosilicate glassA strong, heat-resistant glass that contains a minimum of 5 percent boric oxide.
height-range indicatorA display that allows the observation and measurement of the altitude and range of airborne objects.
principal E-planeThe plane in which the axis of maximum radiation and the electric vector are contained.
Bunsen screenA photometer screen that contains a diaphragm of paper or parchment with a translucent central spot of oil or paraffin.
instantaneous field of viewInstantaneous field of view (iFOV) is a term commonly used in the context of remote sensing, imaging systems, and optical...
lapping1. The process of wearing down the surface of a softer material by rubbing it under pressure against the surface of a harder...
focus control1. A mechanism that permits the focusing of an optical system.2. A means of obtaining the sharpest image from a cathode-ray...
diode laserA diode laser is a type of laser that uses a semiconductor diode as the active medium to generate coherent light....
substrateA substrate refers to a material or surface upon which another material or process is applied or deposited. In various...
wide-field fluorescence microscopyWide-field fluorescence microscopy uses either naturally occurring structures or staining with fluorescent tags that are...
optical pumpingThe process whereby the number of atoms or atomic systems in a set of energy levels is changed by the absorption of light...
structural character recognitionAn approach to character recognition based on the structure of the character to be identified (number of straight lines,...
aerial cameraCamera designed for the imaging of the earth's surface in order to obtain high quality aerial images
Cassegrain lens systemA two-mirror lens design used in astronomical telescopes, the primary being a parabola, the secondary a smaller hyperbola....
attosecond photonics sourcesAttosecond photonics sources refer to devices or systems that generate extremely short pulses of light on the order of...
engramA hologram produced by a pair of radiation beams, each carrying information.
reflection reduction coatingThe thin, transparent film made up of specific substances applied to glass-air surfaces for the purpose of decreasing the...
permeabilityTypically represented by the Greek letter μ, magnetic permeability is the measure of a material's ability to generate and...
microradiographyRadiographic recording and enhancement of the micoscopic details within the structure of thin specimens at a high...
halogen lampA halogen lamp, also known as a tungsten halogen, quartz-halogen, or quartz iodine lamp, is an incandescent lamp that uses a...
neodymium glassGlass containing small quantities of neodymium oxide that is used as a filter plate in color television or as a lasing...
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...
hybrid cableA cable assembly containing both optical fibers and copper electrical conductors in the same jacket.
optical coatingsOptical coatings are thin layers of materials applied to optical components, such as lenses, mirrors, filters, and prisms,...
event-based sensorAn event-based image sensor, also known as a dynamic vision sensor (DVS), is a type of digital imaging device designed to...
Lorentz oscillator modelThe Lorentz oscillator model is a theoretical model used in physics to describe the response of a charged particle (such as...
microstereologyMicroscopic investigation of two-dimensional areas of a three-dimensional object that can be quantitatively evaluated by...
modulatorA modulator is a device or component that modifies a carrier signal in order to encode information for transmission over a...
optical assemblyAn optical assembly refers to a collection of optical components that are carefully arranged and aligned to perform 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...
fiber optic cable assemblyA fiber optic cable assembly refers to a complete unit consisting of optical fibers, connectors, protective jackets, and...
lapA metal tool used to grind lenses with loose abrasive (see diamond cutting tool). The functional surface of the lap is...
chain scissionThe breakdown of the bonds in polymer chains caused by illumination.
CMOS quantitative polymerase chain reaction systemThis type of miniaturized system, referred to as CMOS qPCR, combines microfluidic technology with an ultralow-light CMOS...
silver-disc pyrheliometerAn instrument that uses a blackened silver-disc reflector with a shutter to create temperature fluctuations that are...
visibleThat term pertaining to the spectral region that can be perceived by the eye.
sondeA ruggedized scintillation counter used in oil well logging. The cylindrical housing contains a gamma ray source, a...
Camera Link HSCamera Link HS (high speed) is a standard developed for high-speed digital data transmission in machine vision and...
luminaireA complete unit containing a light source, globe, reflector, housing, socket and other necessary components for lighting.
catoptric systemAn optical system in which the only image-forming elements are curved-surface mirrors; e.g., a Cassegrain lens system.
functional materialFunctional materials refer to materials that possess specific properties or functionalities that make them suitable for...
gegenschein-zodiacal light photometerA photometer used to measure sky brightness and polarization associated with zodiacal light, background starlight, F-region...
carbon dioxide laserA gas laser in which the energy-state transitions between vibrational and rotational states of CO2 molecules give emission...
monoergicPertaining to radiation or particle emission, whereby the emission is produced with minimal energy spread.
reliefThe discernment of depth or apparent difference in distance that causes the object to stand out from its background because...
saturation1. The decrease of the absorption (or gain) coefficient of a medium near some transition frequency when the power of the...
rectilinear propagationStraight line travel. This denotes the fact that light travels in a straight line when traveling through a medium with a...
variable-focus lensA lens assembly containing several movable elements to permit changing of the effective focal length (EFL). Unlike a zoom...
intrinsic photoconductivityThe absorption of a photon raising an electron across the forbidden gap from valence to conduction band of the semiconductor...
additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a manufacturing process that involves creating three-dimensional...
lab-on-a-chipA lab-on-a-chip (LOC) is a miniaturized device that integrates various laboratory functions and capabilities onto a single,...
photoacoustic spectroscopyA method for obtaining the optical absorption spectra of solids, semisolids, liquids and gases. PAS is inherently...
autofluorescenceAutofluorescence refers to the natural emission of fluorescence exhibited by certain biological structures or molecules when...
stereoscopic rangefinderA rangefinder similar to a pair of binoculars with a long base, a dot or other wander mark provided in each eyepiece field,...
half-power point1. The value on either the leading or the trailing edge of a laser pulse at which the power is one-half of its maximum...
photovoltaic effectThe generation of a difference in electric potential between two electrodes when radiation is incident on one of them.
microfilm equipmentTwo essential pieces of equipment used in connection with the microfilming process: a camera capable of producing, on film,...
phototheranosticsPhototheranostics, a portmanteau of "photo" (light), "therapy," and "diagnostics," refers to an emerging field that combines...
fiber optic preformA fiber optic preform is a cylindrical glass rod or tube used as the starting material for manufacturing optical fibers. It...
retroreflectionRetroreflection is a phenomenon in optics where light is reflected back toward its source, typically in a direction nearly...
biocularA term pertaining to devices (generally optical) designed for use with both eyes viewing through a single exit pupil. The...
terahertz spectrometerA terahertz spectrometer is a scientific instrument used to measure and analyze the properties of materials in the terahertz...
field tiltThe angle measured between the focal surface containing the image and a plane normal to the optical axis.
deep multiphoton microscopyDeep multiphoton microscopy is an advanced imaging technique used in biological and biomedical research to visualize...
electroless platingThe deposition of a metallic coating, usually nickel, on a component by chemical means rather than by electroplating; the...
aplanatic surfaceAn aplanatic surface is an optical surface that is specifically designed or shaped to minimize spherical aberration and...
strainIn optics, the mechanical tension, compression or shear in optical glass due to internal stress caused by improper cooling...
mosaicOne surface of a nonconducting plate that is coated with many minute particles of photoemissive material that are insulated...
Golgi Staining TechniqueThe Golgi staining technique (also called the black reaction) makes it possible to look at the nervous system by rendering...
light-activated silicon-controlled rectifierA PN-PN device with incident light taking the place of gate current; three of the four semiconductor regions are available...
phototheodoliteA camera equipped with angular scales in altitude and azimuth. The scale readings are imprinted on the film when an exposure...
biometricsBiometrics refers to the automated recognition of individuals based on their physiological or behavioral characteristics....
isolatorIn the context of electronics and optics, an isolator refers to a device that allows the transmission of signals in one...
helical scanningA method used in facsimile scanning that sweeps the elemental area across the copy in a spiral motion as the result of the...
quasi-monochromatic lightSingle wavelength source with a larger linewidth often containing multiple longitudinal modes.
superfluorescenceThe process in which the normal rate of fluorescent emission from a substance is enhanced by virtue of the optical gain of...
hard elasticsHigh-modulus elastic fibers that exhibit the following differences from conventional elastic fibers: Increasing temperature...
Q-switchA device used to rapidly change the Q of an optical resonator. It is used in the optical resonator of a laser to prevent...
vibrational transitionA vibrational transition refers to a change in the vibrational energy of a molecule. Molecules consist of atoms that are...
integrated circuitMultiple, interconnected circuit elements, contained on or in a common substrate, that function as a unit and not separately.
rectilinear scanningThe scanning of a region in a given sequence of slender, straight parallel strips.
magneto-optic readout deviceA device using the Kerr effect to read back the signals from mechanically recorded tapes and discs. It consists of a light...
Q-switched pulseA laser output that occurs when the cavity resonator Q is first kept very low, using rotating mirrors or saturable...
flow channelIn various fields such as fluid dynamics, microfluidics, and biotechnology, a flow channel refers to a defined pathway...
point spread functionThe point spread function (PSF) is a fundamental concept in imaging that describes the response of an imaging system to a...
high dynamic rangeHigh dynamic range (HDR) refers to a technology that allows for a broader and more dynamic range of luminosity in visual...
optoelectronicsOptoelectronics is a branch of electronics that focuses on the study and application of devices and systems that use light...
neon indicator tubeA cold-cathode tube containing neon and designed to visually determine a potential difference or field.
automatic gain controlA method of producing an essentially constant output signal from an electronic circuit despite variations in the strength of...
pyroelectric pulse detectorA current-source thermal detector used to detect and study the pulses obtained from particular lasers.
dark operate modeAn operate mode in which the sensor is programmed to perform a task such as generating output when the light level falls...
air doseA quantitative measure of the amount of radiation given off by an instrument, expressed in roentgens per unit of free air.
light fidelityLiFi, short for light fidelity, is a wireless communication technology that utilizes visible light or infrared light to...
microRNAMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, single-stranded RNA molecules, typically consisting of about 19 to 24 nucleotides,...
x-ray phase contrast microscopyUsed for high-resolution surface study with subnanometer resolution. XRIM uses interfacial phase contrast with application...
cascade methodA heterochromatic photometric process using successive comparison of similar chromaticities and the calculation of relative...
Risley prismA Risley prism, also known as a Risley prism pair or Risley rotating prism, is an optical device used for controlling the...
optogeneticsA discipline that combines optics and genetics to enable the use of light to stimulate and control cells in living tissue,...
optical Fourier transformThe optical Fourier transform is a mathematical operation applied to optical signals that involves transforming a spatial...
fixed axis of rotationThe locus of points in a system along a line that remains stationary while the remainder of the system rotates.
microscopyMicroscopy is a scientific technique that involves the use of microscopes to observe and study objects that are too small to...
distributed Bragg reflectorA device similar to distributed feedback lasers in construction and operation, but in which the period grating that produces...
automated optical inspectionAutomated optical inspection (AOI) is a technology used in manufacturing processes, particularly in electronics, to...
photodetectorA photodetector, also known as a photosensor or photodiode, is a device that detects and converts light into an electrical...
aerial reconnaissanceThe use of optical or electronic recording systems to extract information from the terrain, while aloft, for reconnaissance...
MTF optimizationComputerized lens design algorithm that permits the lens MTF characteristic to be included and controlled during the...
morphological processingA set of algorithms used to study the structural and spatial characteristics of objects in a digitized image for...
meta-opticsMeta-optics, also known as metasurface optics or flat optics, is a branch of optics that involves the design, fabrication,...
dark-line spectrumA spectrum having some lines that are darker than others or that contrast against a light, continuous-spectrum background.
spheric lensA spheric lens, also known as a spherical lens, is a type of optical lens with at least one surface that is part of a...
neutral density coatingA coating applied to a neutral density glass that is designed to reduce the amount of light evenly across the transmitted...
inertial confinement fusionInertial confinement fusion (ICF) is a method of achieving nuclear fusion, a process where two atomic nuclei combine to...
optical design and engineering servicesOptical design and engineering services involve the development, customization, and optimization of optical systems and...
telescope lensA telescope lens is a primary optical component of a telescope system that gathers and focuses light to form an image. It is...
Langmuir-Blodgett techniqueA method of depositing crystalline films one molecular layer at a time, by dipping the substrate into water containing a...
heat treatingThe process of subjecting glass to temperature cycling to produce physico-chemical reactions that alter its properties....
opticsOptics is the branch of physics that studies the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter...
axisA straight line, real or imaginary, passing through a body and indicating its center; a line so positioned that various...
pulse compressionA means of achieving higher peak powers and more efficient harmonic generation by narrowing the pulse width and thus...
x-ray absorbing filterA window made of glass containing a high percentage of lead or other dense material known to absorb x-rays readily.
turretA rotating plate containing two or more lenses to provide a rapid interchange.
CCD image sensorA CCD image sensor, or charge-coupled device image sensor, is a type of electronic device used to convert optical images...
photolithographyPhotolithography is a key process in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices, integrated circuits, and...
ophthalmic photographyThe methods and techniques used to obtain medical photographs of the human eye. To photograph the exterior of the eye,...
holographic interferometryThe interferometric analysis of a complex object by utilizing the three-dimensional hologram. By causing a laser beam to...
averted visionIn astronomy, the method of deliberately viewing objects with peripheral vision to take advantage of the eye's greater...
fiber optic gyroscopeA fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) is a type of gyroscope that uses the interference of light waves to detect changes in...
stress-applying partIn polarization-preserving optical fibers, the element used to induce birefringence. The SAP is highly doped to provide a...
flash radiographyA technique used in radiography to obtain an unblurred image of a moving object by the use of very short x-ray exposures,...
quantum wellA quantum well is a structure in quantum mechanics that confines particles, such as electrons or holes, in one spatial...
injection moldingA method of producing high-quality plastic optics in large volumes by injecting the heated, liquified plastic at high...
rainbow hologramEssentially, a hologram of a hologram, in which the first-generation hologram is masked with a narrow slit. During image...
image retaining panelA type of electroluminescent display that will record and maintain an irradiated image on its phosphor screen, provided a DC...
Er:YAG laserAn Er:YAG laser is a type of solid-state laser that uses a crystal made of erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet...
spectrographic slitsThe slits in a spectrograph that form images of spectral lines. Slits may be bilateral or unilateral, and generally close...
beamwidthThe angular width of a radiation beam. With respect to a conical beam of light, it is the vertex angle of the cone. The...
theodoliteA precise telescope set on a pair of rotation axes, the horizontal and vertical axes equipped with two divided circles. One...
photoimmunotherapyPhotoimmunotherapy (PIT) is a medical treatment approach that combines elements of phototherapy and immunotherapy to target...
otoscopeAn otoscope is a medical device used by healthcare professionals, particularly ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists,...
laser driftLaser drift typically refers to a phenomenon where the frequency or wavelength of a laser source gradually changes over...
vacuum gaugeA gauge designed to measure the degree of vacuum in an evacuated vessel. A simple U-tube containing mercury is adequate for...
parallel scanningParallel scanning refers to a method of acquiring data or images simultaneously from multiple sources or in parallel, rather...
contact microradiographyThe radiography of small objects having detail too fine to be seen by the unaided eye. The resulting negative, when...
sputtering equipmentSputtering equipment is machinery used in the process of physical vapor deposition (PVD), specifically sputtering....
head-up displayAn optical system that superimposes a synthetic display providing navigational or weapon-aiming information on a pilot's or...
coupling efficiencyThe fraction of available output from a radiant source that is coupled and transmitted by an optical fiber.
Nd:YAG laserNd:YAG laser refers to a solid-state laser that utilizes neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:Y3Al5O12) as the gain...
Zener diodeA type of semiconductor diode used in voltage-limiting circuits; when voltage reaches a certain value, the device becomes a...
optical cements and adhesiveOptical cements and adhesives are specialized materials used in the assembly and bonding of optical components in optical...
deep learningDeep learning is a subset of machine learning that involves the use of artificial neural networks to model and solve complex...
luminousPertaining to electromagnetic radiation as perceived by the eye; that is, with the contributions as wavelengths in the...
mixed-signal oscilloscopeA mixed-signal oscilloscope (MSO) is a type of electronic test instrument that combines the capabilities of both a...
Ritchey-Chretien telescopeA form of Cassegrain telescope having a concave hyperbolic primary and a convex hyperbolic secondary. This form permits the...
Mollier diagramGraphic evaluation of the operation of a steam thermodynamic cycle of a solar energy system on which enthalpy is plotted...
complementary wavelengthAlso called complementary dominant wavelength. On a chromaticity diagram, the wavelength on the spectrum locus that lies on...
excitronA single-anode mercury pool tube that is designed to maintain a continuous cathode spot.
scientific complementary metal-oxide semiconductorScientific complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (sCMOS) refers to a type of image sensor technology specifically designed...
unmanned aerial vehicleAn unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without a human pilot onboard. UAVs are remotely...
digital video compressionA step-by-step method of reducing the amount of data in a digital video signal to transmit or store a high-quality image....
ghost1. A faint second image caused by reflection that is sometimes seen when observing through an optical instrument. 2. With...
vertical external cavity surface-emitting laserA laser that has a surface-emitting semiconductor gain element coupled to an external mirror designed to complete the laser...
aspheric mirrorAn aspheric mirror is an optical mirror surface that deviates from the shape of a perfect sphere, having a non-spherical...
rotating mirror scannerDeveloped for use in military reconnaissance systems, it consists of a polygonal mirror, drive motor, interface between...
photoelectromotive forceThe force that stimulates the emission of an electrical current when photovoltaic action creates a potential difference...
saturable absorberA saturable absorber is a type of optical device that exhibits variable absorption properties depending on the intensity of...
after-imageThat image remaining on the detector after the primary stimulus has been removed. In the visual system, the after-image...
carbonizationCarbonization is a process in which organic materials are heated in the absence of air, leading to the decomposition of the...
Kerr cellA cell filled with a transparent material that, when placed in a strong electrical field, exhibits double refraction. Since...
dichalcogenideDichalcogenides are a class of compounds composed of two atoms of a chalcogen element bonded to a single atom of a metal or...
quantum sensingQuantum sensing refers to a class of sensing technologies that leverage principles from quantum mechanics to enhance the...
Photoelastic equipment and suppliesPhotoelastic equipment and supplies refer to instruments and materials used in photoelasticity, a technique used to analyze...
excited-state absorptionIn laser pumping, parasitic absorption that occurs at certain wavelengths, decreasing pump efficiency and gain.
excitation1. The process by which an atom acquires energy sufficient to raise it to a quantum state higher than its ground state. 2....
fiber distributed data interfaceA standard for fiber optic data transmission systems being developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and...
gas discharge displayA display device that contains an inert gas that gives off orange light when a high voltage is applied to ionize the gas.
reactive evaporationReactive evaporation refers to a process in thin-film deposition where a material is deposited onto a substrate through...
rugateBearing alternate ridges and grooves; corrugated. Said of some optical surfaces.
prismA prism is a geometric optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light. It is typically a solid, transparent...
microstereoscopeA binocular microscope designed for the viewing of stereo pairs. As these stereoscopic image pairs are seen through a...
fata morganaA type of mirage that creates a distorted vertical image of relatively flat objects so that they appear as mountains,...
barrier layerIn the fabrication of an optical fiber, a layer that can be used to create a boundary against OH-ion diffusion into the core.
frequency combA frequency comb is a precise and regular series of equally spaced spectral lines, or frequencies, that are generated with...
diurnal phase shiftPhase shift in electromagnetic signals caused by daily variations in the ionosphere, often during sunrise or sunset.
second-harmonic generationSecond-harmonic generation (SHG) is a nonlinear optical process that occurs when two photons with the same frequency combine...
face-pumped laserA device in which slab geometry internally compensates for thermal-optic distortion; the solid host material -- glass or...
back-wall photovoltaic cellA photovoltaic cell designed so that light travels through the front electrode and a semiconductor before it comes to the...
holographic cameraA holographic camera, also known as a holographic imaging system or holographic recorder, is a specialized device used to...
indium gallium arsenide cameraAn InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide) camera is a type of imaging device that utilizes InGaAs sensors to capture images in the...
magnitudeIn astronomy, the relative brightness of a celestial body. Originally a scale from 1 to 6, where 1 represented the brightest...
heatseekerA guided missile that uses an infrared sensor to detect and home in on an enemy target. The missile is guided by the high...
optical materialsOptical materials refer to substances or compounds specifically chosen for their optical properties and used in the...
lens testing equipmentLens testing equipment refers to a range of specialized tools and instruments used to evaluate the optical performance,...
laser headContains elements which produce lasing., e.g. gain medium, oscillator mirrors as well as housing.
thermophotovoltaicThermophotovoltaic (TPV) refers to a technology that converts heat energy into electricity using the principles of...
laser coolingLaser cooling is a technique used to reduce the temperature of a material or a collection of atoms or molecules by using...
sustaining voltageIn a laser, the voltage necessary to sustain a constant operating current, somewhat less than that needed for start-up.
piezoresistancePiezoresistance is a phenomenon in materials science and physics where the electrical resistance of a material changes in...
embedded visionEmbedded vision refers to the integration of computer vision technologies into various embedded systems, devices, or...
spatial resolutionSpatial resolution refers to the level of detail or granularity in an image or a spatial dataset. It is a measure of the...
remote inspectionRemote inspection refers to the process of inspecting, evaluating, or monitoring assets, equipment, infrastructure, or...
vacuum chamberA vacuum chamber is a sealed enclosure from which air and other gases are removed to create a low-pressure environment,...
octaveIn optics, an octave typically refers to a range of frequencies or wavelengths that spans a factor of 2. In other words,...
digital radiographyMedical diagnostic (x-ray) imaging using laser printers to produce high-resolution digital hard copy instead of film exposed...
curieStandard maintained by the International Commission on Radiological Units as a unit of radioactivity defined as the quantity...
ionAn atom that has gained or lost one or more electrons and, as a result, carries a negative or positive charge.
oleophobicOleophobic is a term used to describe substances or materials that repel or resist oils. The word oleophobic comes from the...
lens mountThe metal tube that maintains the optical components of a lens in proper relationship. Some lenses are mounted in metal...
light-activated silicon-controlled switchSimilar to LASCR, except that all four regions are available.
spatial light interference microscopySpatial light interference microscopy (SLIM) is an optical microscopy technique that belongs to the category of quantitative...
gain-switchingGain-switching is a technique used in lasers to generate short pulses of light by modulating the gain of the laser medium....
image motion compensationThe active control of various aspects (optical element position, airspace thickness, etc.) of an optical system that...
saccadic motionThe movement of the eye as it focuses on details of a scene. Some imaging systems mimic this movement by small, rapid...
equatorial mountA telescope stand equipped with a polar axis that can be set parallel to the Earth's axis of rotation and a declination axis...
tungsten lampAn evacuated bulb containing a tungsten filament that is heated by passing an electric current through it. In domestic light...
integrated opticsA thin-film device containing miniature optical components connected via optical waveguides on a transparent dielectric...
plastic lensA lens made from transparent plastic material. Lenses over 31/2 in. in diameter are usually machined, ground and polished....
epitaxial depositionEpitaxial deposition is a process used in semiconductor manufacturing and materials science to grow a thin crystalline...
magnificationThe ratio of the size of the image of an object to that of the object. The ratio of the linear size of the image to that of...
phototoxicityPhototoxicity refers to the harmful effects caused by exposure to light, particularly intense or ultraviolet (UV) light, on...
Felgett advantageThe signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) obtained with a Fourier transform spectrometer when detector noise prevails, which exceeds...
microcombA microcomb, short for microresonator frequency comb, is a novel photonic device that generates a precise series of evenly...
alexandrite lasersAn alexandrite laser is a solid-state laser that utilizes a synthetic crystal made from the rare earth element alexandrite...
color-translating microscopeA type of compound microscope that uses three visible wavelengths to translate details produced by invisible radiation.
lens discA rotating disc that holds several lenses of differing focal length about a diameter. Used to switch lenses in a system...
antigenAn antigen is any substance that is capable of triggering an immune response in an organism. Antigens are typically proteins...
planar access couplerLow-insertion-loss fiber coupler fabricated from a sheet of light-sensitive material laminated onto a fused quartz substrate...
resonatorA resonator is a device or system that exhibits resonance, which is a phenomenon that occurs when an external force or...
residual gas analysisA measurement in optical thin-film coating processes whereby the gases remaining in the vacuum chamber after coating are...
2D profile sensorA 2D profile sensor is a type of sensor used in various industrial and technological applications to measure and capture...
multiline laser systemA multiline laser system refers to a type of laser that is capable of emitting multiple discrete wavelengths or spectral...
photon jetA photon jet is a narrow, highly collimated beam of light that is formed when light interacts with small dielectric...
surface-enhanced Raman scatteringSurface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful analytical technique that enhances the Raman scattering signal of...
photobiomodulationA light therapy that utilizes nonionizing light sources, including lasers, LEDs, and broadband light, in the visible and...
quantum efficiencyQuantum efficiency (QE) is a measure of the effectiveness with which a device or system, typically in the context of...
gain coefficient
optoisolatorAn optical coupling device that uses light to bridge the gap between incompatible wire communications systems. It contains...
q-switched operationQ-switched operation, or q-switching, is a technique used in lasers to produce short and intense pulses of light. The term...
contact fluorographyA fluorographic method whereby the sensitive photographic medium is pressed against a fluorescent screen to form a visible...
imagery rectificationPhotogrammetric compensation for incidental camera movement (which prevents attainment of true vertical photographs) whereby...
metameric colorsPairs of color stimuli that exhibit metamerism as described by colorimetry. Also known as metameters.
laser markingLaser marking is a process in which a laser beam is used to mark or engrave a surface by altering its properties or...
computer visionComputer vision enables computers to interpret and make decisions based on visual data, such as images and videos. It...
gallium arsenide phosphideGallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) is a semiconductor alloy composed of gallium (Ga), arsenic (As), and phosphorus (P). It...
laser rangefinderA laser rangefinder is a device that uses laser technology to measure the distance between the device and a target. It...
coherent communicationsA fiber optic communications system that works on the principles of homodyning or heterodyning. The transmitting laser...
mosaic detector arrayA group of photosensors arranged in a grid-like pattern covering the entire field of view, enabling them to record it all at...
crystalA solid with a structure that exhibits a basically symmetrical and geometrical arrangement. A crystal may already possess...
fanA set of rays through a lens originating at a common point and contained in one plane.
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...
polished moldA mold for glass or plastics often made of stainless steel to prevent pitting or oxidation in service. It is polished to the...
laser oscillatorContains the light or beam path within a laser device. The oscillator uses reflective optical components that are oriented...
terminated crossbarAn optical matrix that does not require perfection in both states of the crosspoint, so that all the optical switches can be...
binocular magnifierA device having a pair of decentered lenses, one for each eye, that focuses on a single object as a magnifier. It is often...
Secondary Speckle PatternA self-interference effect that generates random patterns; secondary speckle pattern (SSP) typically occurs in diffuse...
bioluminescenceBioluminescence is a natural phenomenon in which living organisms produce and emit light through a chemical reaction...
anaglyphAn image that can be studied three-dimensionally through a pair of complementary color filters composed of two superimposed...
interferometric modulator displayInterferometric modulator display (IMOD) is a type of display technology used in electronic devices, known for its energy...
halftone screenA plate containing a uniform pattern of transparent holes in an opaque background, the clear area being nearly equal to the...
ocular accommodationThe physical adaption of the eye lens, by means of ciliary muscle contraction, in order to maintain a clear, in focus image...
traveling wave phototubeA traveling wave tube (TWT) containing a photocathode and window that, receiving a laser beam, produces a modified...
magnonA magnon is a quasiparticle representing a quantized spin wave in a magnetic material. In other words, it is a collective...
differential quantum efficiencyThe slope of the curve when output is plotted against input for quantum efficiency in a device.
polymerase chain reactionThe polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a widely used molecular biology technique used to amplify a specific segment of DNA...
neon tubeAn electron tube containing neon gas that uses the transmission of an electric current through the gas to ionize the neon...
phluometryThe term applied to the geometrical structure of radiometry or of the propagation of any quantity that is conversed and that...
plumeA mixture of ionized gas and metal vapor generated by impingement of the laser beam onto a material being welded or a weld...
polarizing filterA filter that polarizes light passing through it. It is possible to fabricate sheets of plastic or gelatin that contain...
retroreflectivityRetroreflectivity refers to the property of a surface or material to reflect light back to its source, regardless of the...
gas tubeAn electron tube whose current flow is affected by the pressure on the gas or vapor contained in the tube.
anamorphicA term used to denote a difference in magnification along mutually perpendicular meridians. Anamorphic systems are basically...
skew rayAny ray through an optical system that is not a meridional ray. The plane created by a refracted skew ray does not contain...
soliton laserA color center laser whose output is coupled to an external control laser cavity and then fed back to the main laser cavity...
polycrystalA substance that transmits the infrared, but which is too delicate or fragile to be used in the form of a single crystal....
holocameraA camera system used to form a high-precision hologram of the subject on a photographic plate. It contains a high-power...
die bondingDie bonding is a critical process in semiconductor manufacturing and microelectronics assembly, where a semiconductor die or...
aerotriangulationIn aerial photography, the geometric method of indicating the three-dimensional location of ground points from a pair of...
adapter1. In optics, the housing, usually cylindrical, that contains the lenses and iris diaphragm of a camera. 2. In fiber optics,...
Newton's ringsThe series of rings or bands formed when light beams reflected from two polished, adjacent surfaces, placed together with a...
optical character recognitionOptical character recognition (OCR) is a technology that is used to convert printed or handwritten text into...
frequency domainThe frequency domain is a concept used in signal processing and analysis to represent signals and data in terms of their...
superresolutionSuperresolution refers to the enhancement or improvement of the spatial resolution beyond the conventional limits imposed by...
transverse modeIn the context of optics and lasers, a transverse mode refers to a specific spatial pattern of the electric field within the...
sun-tracking concentratorControlled beam technology that introduces beams of sunlight through holes in a roof that are relayed throughout the...
duplet lens systemAn optical system having two sets of components separated by an air space, while successive lenses in each set are cemented...
anisotropicAnisotropic is a term used to describe a material or substance that exhibits different properties or behaviors in different...
laser annealingLaser annealing is a process that involves using a laser beam to heat and modify the microstructure of a material, typically...
data cubeA multidimensional array of values that is commonly used in programming to describe a time series of image data. Each...
delay timeThe interval between direction of signal to a light-emitting diode and attainment of 10 percent output current in the...
atomic force microscopeAn atomic force microscope (AFM) is a high-resolution imaging and measurement instrument used in nanotechnology, materials...
decimationThe process of reducing the size of an image by removing a certain proportion of the samples produced from the original...
diaphragmA flanged or plain ring with a restricted aperture, located in an optical system at any of several points, that cuts off...
FTIR spectrometerFTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectrometer is a powerful analytical instrument used to obtain an infrared spectrum of...
resonance spectrumThe fluorescent emission spectrum emitted by certain substances following the irradiation of one of these substances with...
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...
disc laserA laser having a rod that is a stacked array of discs immersed in a transparent flowing coolant fluid. In this way, the...
lens blankA lens blank is a piece of optical material in a raw, unfinished state, typically in the form of a disk or block, from which...
volume Bragg gratingsVolume Bragg gratings (VBGs) are specialized optical elements that consist of periodic variations in refractive index...
near-infrared spectrometerA near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer is an analytical instrument used to measure the absorption, transmission, or reflection...
output couplerThe partially reflective mirror at the end of the laser cavity that is the source of the beam. It controls the coupling...
gyroscopic camera mountA mount that uses a floating suspension and a motor-driven gyroscope to keep a motion picture or still camera at a set angle...
cold fingerA cryogenically cooled component incorporated into the Dewar of an infrared detector assembly to maintain the sensing...
gray scaleIn image processing, the range of available gray levels. In an 8-bit system, the gray scale contains values from 0 to 255.
evaporagraphA sensor generally used for infrared imaging. It consists of two chambers separated by a thin, blackened membrane. An...
hybrid coolerA cryogenic cooler device that is an intermittent Joule-Thomson refrigerator with a passive radiator serving as the...
3D scanners3D scanners are devices used to capture the three-dimensional shape and characteristics of physical objects or environments....
selective laser meltingSelective laser melting (SLM) is an additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that belongs to the powder bed...
functional near-infrared spectroscopyFunctional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that measures changes in hemoglobin...
pushbroom scanningPushbroom scanning is a technique used in remote sensing and imaging systems, particularly in satellite and aerial sensors,...
topological photonicsTopological photonics is a branch of physics and optics that explores the application of topological concepts to the...
ductingPropagation of electromagnetic waves through the Earth's atmosphere in a path that conforms to the curvature of the Earth...
fast axis collimation lensA FAC lens, or fast axis collimation lens, is an optical component used in laser diode systems to collimate the fast axis of...
angular spectrum approachThe angular spectrum approach is a mathematical and computational technique used in the field of optics to analyze and...
thin-film coatingThin-film coatings are layers of material applied to the surface of an object or substrate, typically to modify its optical,...
kinematic mountA mount for an optic element or optics assembly, designed so that all six degrees of freedom are singly constrained. This...
optoacousticOptoacoustic, or photoacoustic, refers to a phenomenon and related techniques that involve the generation of acoustic waves...
supercontinuumSupercontinuum refers to a broad spectrum of light that spans a wide range of wavelengths, typically from the visible to the...
freeform mirrorsFreeform mirrors refer to reflective optical components that deviate from traditional symmetric or rotationally symmetric...
optical distanceThe physical length of the light path in a substance divided by the refractive index of that substance. See also equivalent...
macula luteaThe small central portion of the human retina that is responsible for providing the clearest, and most distinct aspects of...
Haidinger fringesAlso known as constant angle or constant deviation fringes. The interference fringes observed with dense flat plates near...
strain measuring equipment
mode beatingIn optics, "mode beating" refers to an interference phenomenon that can occur in laser systems with multiple longitudinal...
panoramic cameraA camera designed to form a continuous record of an expansive section of the horizon. The typical panoramic camera is...
photodynamic inactivationPhotodynamic inactivation (PDI) is a therapeutic approach that utilizes the combination of light, a photosensitizer, and...
macroscopicSizable enough to be perceived by the unaided eye.
machine vision lensA machine vision lens is a specialized optical lens designed for use in machine vision systems, which are used for automated...
polarizationPolarization refers to the orientation of oscillations in a transverse wave, such as light waves, radio waves, or other...
near-infrared spectroscopyNear-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive analytical technique that uses the near-infrared region of the...
hyperspectral imaging cameraA hyperspectral imaging camera is a sophisticated imaging device capable of capturing and processing data across a wide...
zirconium arcA small bulb containing a conducting gas, an arc being formed between a metal ring and a tiny zirconium electrode near the...
ophthalmicPertaining to the human eye.
meso formA form of an element that cannot demonstrate optical activity as a result of dextrogyrate and levogyrate effects that are...
carbonaceousConsisting of, containing, pertaining to or yielding carbon.
Raman fiber probeA flexible fiber cable with a small diameter that transports light from the excitation laser to the target. Used in Raman...
beam profilingBeam profiling is a technique used to characterize and analyze the spatial intensity distribution of a laser beam. It...
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