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8,236 terms
Photonics Dictionary
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bacteriorhodopsin
A light-harvesting protein found in the purple membrane of a micro-organism called Halobacterium halobium. The protein undergoes a photocycle that involves several binary photochemical reactions that...
baffle
An opaque shielding device designed to reduce the effect of stray light on an optical system.
bakeout
The elimination of gases from the surfaces of a vacuum system by heating the surfaces when the pumping phase is occurring.
Baker corrector
A two-mirror corrector for a parabolic primary mirror that provides anastigmatic performance for large astronomical telescopes.
Baker-Nunn camera
A wide-field camera based on the classic Schmidt optical system used to photograph Earth-orbiting satellites.
ball lens
A ball lens is a small, spherical optical component typically made of glass or other transparent materials. It is characterized by its spherical shape, with both its front and back surfaces forming...
ballast resistance
In a laser, the series resistance necessary for a stable electrical discharge.
ballistic camera
A camera that uses multiple exposures to record the trajectory of an ordnance from a ground-level position.
balloon-borne astronomical system
Any instrument or system carried by a balloon to the upper atmosphere to measure and record atmospheric information, such as radiation observations, while reducing atmospheric interference.
balsam
->
Canada balsam
A resin obtained from the balsam fir, Abies balsamea, used as a lens cement.
band head
The measured wavelength of the most distinct edge of a spectral band.
band spectrum
A spectrum that originates from molecules and that is composed of bands which, in turn, consist of many closely spaced lines. Band spectra are used to determine nuclear spin and statistics, and...
band-elimination filter
A filter that suppresses a given range of frequencies, transmitting only those above and below that band. Also called bandstop filter.
band-to-band photoluminescence
The emission of a photon by the return of an excited carrier from the conduction band to the valence band of a semiconductor along a radiative recombination path. The resulting photoluminescence...
bandgap
In semiconductor physics, the term bandgap refers to the energy range in a material where no electronic states are allowed. It represents the energy difference between the valence band, which is the...
bandpass
The range of frequencies that will pass through a filter or other device. Synonymous with passband.
bandpass filter
A filter with a transmission that is high for a particular band of frequencies, but that falls to low values above and below this band.
bandstop filter
->
band-elimination filter
A filter that suppresses a given range of frequencies, transmitting only those above and below that band. Also called bandstop filter.
bandwidth
The range of frequencies over which a particular instrument is designed to function within specified limits. See also fiber bandwidth.
bandwidth-limited operation
In fiber optics, the limitation on performance imposed by the system bandwidth rather than the amplitude of the signal.
bar
barometer
barcode scanner
An optical scanning device designed to read information printed in the form of bars of different size by detection and processing of the varying reflectivity of light in the barcode.
Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory
->
BCS theory
Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory of superconductivity, based on the notion that electrons with opposite momentum and spin are paired as a result of forces arising from lattice vibrations. The theory...
barium fluoride
A relatively hard crystal, highly resistant to excessive energy radiation, that is frequently used for optical windows, prisms and lenses transmitting from the vacuum UV into the IR.
barium titanate
A crystalline material used in piezoelectric devices.
Barlow lens
A negative lens used to increase the effective focal length of a telescope objective.
barrel
->
adapter (optical adapter)
An optical adapter typically refers to a device or component used in optical systems to facilitate connections between different types of optical fibers, connectors, or interfaces. Here are a few...
barrel distortion
The negative distortion that causes a square grid pattern to be imaged as barrel-shaped.
barrier layer
In the fabrication of an optical fiber, a layer that can be used to create a boundary against OH-ion diffusion into the core.
baryta
->
glass barium
A type of glass containing barium oxide, which is added to increase the refractive index while maintaining a relatively low dispersion.
basal plane
A plane in a crystal that lies parallel to the principal plane of symmetry.
base-altitude ratio
In aerial photography, the ratio derived from a stereoscopic pair of photographs that represents the air-base length divided by the flight altitude.
baseband
The simplest method of transmission on a local area network. The entire bandwidth of the cable is used to transmit a single unmodulated digital signal. Baseband transmission is capable of...
baseband response function
->
transfer function
The complex function, H(f), equal to the ratio of the output to input of the device as a function of frequency. The amplitude and phase responses are, respectively, the magnitude of H(f) and the...
baselength
The distance between pupil centers in a two-pupil system, measured perpendicularly to the optic axis.
baseline
The smallest amount of photon energy to pass a detector window and be counted.
basic roughness
The roughness profile shape from which light scattering is expected to occur.
bathymetric lidar
Bathymetric lidar is a remote sensing technique used to measure the depth of water bodies and map underwater terrain features. It employs lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, which uses...
bathymetric map
A surveying map representing measurement of depth, particularly that of the ocean.
baud
A unit of speed of transmission or receipt of a signal, roughly equal to bits per second; common baud rates are 300, 1200, 2400, 4800 and 9600.
Baume scale
The scale for floating hydrometers used to measure the specific gravity of a polishing suspension. The depth of immersion is a linear function of the inverse of the density. The Baume scale is linear...
BAW
bulk acoustic wave
bay
In optical character recognition, a feature at the boundary of a character.
bayonet coupling
A coupling mechanism designed to quickly lock a connector into an adaptor or a lens into a lens mount. Typically coupling is accomplished by less than a quarter turn of the component being mounted.
BBAR
broadband antireflection
BBO
beta-barium borate
BCD
binary coded decimal
BCS theory
Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory of superconductivity, based on the notion that electrons with opposite momentum and spin are paired as a result of forces arising from lattice vibrations. The theory...
beacon
A device, either visual or electronic, that emits signals to identify set positions for use in the navigation of aircraft and ships along flight paths and channels, or as a warning against entering a...
beaconage
A system of beacons used in navigation.
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Photonics Dictionary
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