Search
Menu
Hamamatsu Corp. - Mid-Infrared LED 11/24 LB
Photonics Marketplace
Suppliers Products
Handbook Institutions Dictionary

Show Filters
8,726 terms

Photonics Dictionary

PVC
polyvinyl chloride
PVD
physical vapor deposition
PVS
programmable vision systems
PVT
pulse video thermography
PWB
printed wiring board
PWM
pulse width modulation
PXSTR
phototransistor
pyramid error
Pyramid error in optics refers to an aberration in the shape of an optical surface, particularly in the context of mirrors. It is a type of distortion that can occur when the surface of a mirror...
pyrex
Trade name for a type of borosilicate glass manufactured by Corning Glass Works, noted for its low coefficient of thermal expansion. Used most often for mirror blanks; not suitable for light...
pyrheliometer
An instrument for measuring the intensity of solar radiation.
pyroelec
pyroelectric
pyroelectric infrared detector
Unlike the thermocouple or bolometer, the pyroelectric infrared detector is a current source with an output proportional to the rate of change of its temperature. Capable of extremely rapid response...
pyroelectric pulse detector
A current-source thermal detector used to detect and study the pulses obtained from particular lasers.
pyrolysis
A process that employs heat to remove polyimide plastic coatings from silica optical fibers and capillary tubing.
pyrometer -> optical pyrometer
An instrument for determining the temperature of a hot object by examining the color spectrum of the visible light it gives off and comparing it to the known temperature and wavelength spectrum of...
pyrometry -> optical pyrometry
The determination of the temperature of a source by the detection of its incandescent brightness.
PZT
piezoelectric transducer
Q
quality factor (laser resonator)
Q
The figure of merit of a resonator, defined as (2p) x (average energy stored in the resonator)/(energy dissipated per cycle). The higher the reflectivity of the surfaces of an optical resonator, the...
Q machine
Device in which contact ionization of atomic particles and thermionic electron emission are used to produce magnetically confined plasma that is greatly ionized.
Q-spoiler -> laser Q-spoiler
A fast-action shutter inserted between one end of a laser rod and the end mirror; when inserted to prevent emission and then quickly removed, it causes the laser to discharge suddenly with great...
Q-switch
A device used to rapidly change the Q of an optical resonator. It is used in the optical resonator of a laser to prevent lasing action until a high level of inversion (optical gain and energy...
q-switched operation
Q-switched operation, or q-switching, is a technique used in lasers to produce short and intense pulses of light. The term "Q" in q-switching stands for "quality factor," which is a measure of the...
Q-switched pulse
A laser output that occurs when the cavity resonator Q is first kept very low, using rotating mirrors or saturable absorbers, so that the population inversion achieved is greater than usual. A high...
Q-switching
Q-switching, short for "quenching-switching," is a technique used in lasers to generate short, high-energy pulses of light. The term "Q" refers to the quality factor of the laser cavity, which...
QA
quality assurance
QAPD
quadrant avalanche photodetector
QC
quality control
QCL
quantum cascade laser
QCW
quasi-continuous wave
QD
quantum dot
QE
quantum efficiency
QED
quantum electrodynamics
qPCR
quantitative polymerase chain reaction system
QPM
quaternary pulse modulation
QPSK
quadrature phase-shift keying
QSR
quick strike reconnaissance
quadratic phase terms
Conceptual formulas that characterize both the transmittance functions of lenses and propagation in the Fresnel zone.
quadratic profile -> parabolic profile
The condition in which the index of refraction in an optical fiber varies as a parabolic function of the radius.
quadrature
Denoting a phase shift of 90°.
quadrupole lens
A device used in electron microscopes and particle accelerators to focus electron beams by the arrangement of four electrodes of alternating signs around the electron beam.
quality area
The region of the cathode-ray tube phosphor screen restricted by the tube and instrument specification.
quality control and inspection systems
Quality control and inspection systems in optics and photonics ensure that optical components and systems meet stringent performance and reliability standards. These systems are critical in...
quality, surface -> surface quality
The specification of allowable flaws in a surface by comparison to reference standards of quality. Two graded sets of surface quality standards are employed. The first denotes defects of a long...
quantitative oblique back illumination microscopy
Quantitative oblique back illumination microscopy (qOBM) is an advanced imaging technique used in microscopy to achieve high-resolution imaging of biological samples, particularly cells and tissues....
quantitative phase imaging
Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) is an advanced imaging technique used in microscopy to measure and analyze the optical phase information of transparent specimens. Unlike traditional brightfield...
quantizer
A device with a limited number of possible output values (sometimes able to be selected) that can translate an incoming signal into these values or codes for outputting. See pulse code modulation. In...
quantum
The term quantum refers to the fundamental unit or discrete amount of a physical quantity involved in interactions at the atomic and subatomic scales. It originates from quantum theory, a branch of...
quantum cascade laser
A quantum cascade laser (QCL) is a type of semiconductor laser that operates based on the principles of quantum mechanics. It is a versatile and powerful device used for emitting coherent light in...
quantum confinement
Quantum confinement refers to the phenomenon in quantum mechanics where the motion of charge carriers, such as electrons or holes, is restricted to a region of space that is smaller than their...

Photonics Dictionary

Marketplace Help Need Help?

Explore Our Content
News
Features
Latest Products
Webinars
White Papers
All Things Photonics Podcast
Photonics Spectra Now
Videos
Our Summits & Conferences
Industry Events
Bookstore
Join Our Community
Subscribe
Advertise
Become a member
Sign in
Contribute a Feature
Suggest a Webinar
Submit a Press Release
Mobile Apps

About Us
Our Company
Our Publications
Contact Us
Career Opportunities
Teddi C. Laurin Scholarship

Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)



©2024 Photonics Media
100 West St.
Pittsfield, MA, 01201 USA
[email protected]
We use cookies to improve user experience and analyze our website traffic as stated in our Privacy Policy. By using this website, you agree to the use of cookies unless you have disabled them.