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Hamamatsu Corp. - Photonics West 2026 LB
8,738 terms

Photonics Dictionary

Search 8,700+ definitions in the Photonics Dictionary—your authoritative source for terms in optics, lasers, imaging, fiber optics, and related technologies.

spectrobolometer
A combination spectrometer and bolometer that is designed to measure a narrow band of radiation from a star.
spectrochemical equipment
Equipment used for chemical analysis by investigation of the spectra formed and observed in chemical activity. Of particular use are spectrographs for recording the emission spectra of substances...
spectrofluorometer
An automatic scanning instrument that is used to study a substance's fluorescence over a wide range of wavelengths. It consists of a radiation source, a grating that functions as the monochromator in...
spectrogram
A chart formed by a spectrograph; the record of the spectral range. See spectrograph.
spectrogrammetric reading equipment
Spectra can be conveniently recorded on photographic film or plates. The portions that are occupied by regions of the recorded developed images on the film or plate can be determined with some...
spectrograph
An optical instrument for forming the spectrum of a light source and recording it on a film. The dispersing medium may be a prism or a diffraction grating. A concave grating requires no other means...
spectrographic electrode
The hollow electrode used in emission spectroscopy to hold the material to be examined and, using an arc or spark source, to vaporize it in the flame.
spectrographic slits
The slits in a spectrograph that form images of spectral lines. Slits may be bilateral or unilateral, and generally close down to 0.01 mm and open up to almost a whole millimeter. The edges of the...
spectrography
The production and analysis of spectra with the use of a spectrograph.
spectroheliogram
The image of the sun produced by a spectroheliograph.
spectroheliograph
An instrument in which an image of the sun is scanned by the entrance slit of a monochromator, the exit slit simultaneously scanning a photographic plate for analysis of the solar spectral lines. If...
spectrohelioscope
An instrument similar to the spectroheliograph, but having a scanning method that is performed by a pair of rapidly oscillating slits or a rotating glass block located before a pair of fixed slits at...
spectrometer mask
A high-contrast transparency of the gas sought, or an array of exit slits that correlates with some features of the spectrum. No standardized formula for positioning, number or thickness has been...
spectrometer
A kind of spectrograph in which some form of detector, other than a photographic film, is used to measure the distribution of radiation in a particular wavelength region.
spectrometric analysis
The analysis of spectra and their components, determined from their measurements.
spectrometric oil analysis
An analytical technique used to determine, identify and localize impending malfunctions. It is based upon quantitative and qualitative measurement of submicroscopic particles suspended in lubricating...
spectrometry
The study and measurement of spectra and their components.
spectrophone technique
Gas detection measurement technique that uses a built-in capacitative microphone to calculate the amount of absorbed laser power in a gas cell according to variations of gas pressure.
spectrophotoelectric
Characteristic of the relationship between photoelectric activity and the wavelength of incident radiation.
spectrophotometer
A spectrophotometer is a scientific instrument used to measure the intensity of light at various wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, typically in the visible and ultraviolet regions. It is...
spectrophotometric analysis
The detection and measurement of spectral reflectance, spectral transmittance or relative spectral emittance, relative to wavelength.
spectrophotometry
Study of the reflection or transmission properties of specimens as a function of wavelength.
spectropolarimeter
An instrument for plotting the rotatory dispersion of a substance at different wavelengths.
spectroradiometer
A spectroradiometer is a device used to measure the intensity of light at different wavelengths across the electromagnetic spectrum. It provides a detailed spectral distribution of light, breaking...
spectroreflectometer
A spectrophotometer specially designed to measure spectral reflectance.
spectroscope
In a general sense, any one of a class of instruments used to disperse radiation, visible or invisible, into its component wavelengths and for determining or measuring the resultant spectrum. In a...
spectroscopic binaries
Two stars so close together that they cannot be resolved by telescopes. They are proved to be double stars by the doubling of their spectral lines.
spectroscopic flash
The light flash, produced in flash photolysis, that is triggered within a second discharge tube by the third electrode. It is to be differentiated from the photolysis flash which is triggered within...
spectroscopic light source
A discharge tube filled with various gases and used as a source in spectroscopy.
spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is a technique used in the study of interactions between matter and electromagnetic radiation. It involves measuring and analyzing how different materials absorb, emit, or scatter light,...
spectroscopy laser systems
Spectroscopy laser systems are specialized setups that utilize lasers to study the interaction between light and matter. These systems are integral to various scientific and industrial applications...
spectrosensitometer
A sensitometer having a continuously controlled monochromator to measure spectral sensitivity and contrast of photographic materials.
spectrum
See optical spectrum; visible spectrum.
spectrum analyzers
In optics, spectrum analyzers are instruments used to analyze the spectral characteristics of light emitted or transmitted through optical components, materials, or systems. Spectrum analyzer...
spectrum light source
A lamp that yields a nonluminous flame; used in the spectroscopic analysis of radiation emitted by a substance placed in the flame.
spectrum locus
On a chromaticity diagram, the line on which fall the chromaticities of the pure spectrum colors.
spectrum measuring instrument
A traveling microscope or an automatic microdensitometer used to measure the spectrum plate obtained in a spectrograph.
spectrum photography
The photographic recording of visible and ultraviolet spectra on an ordinary photograph.
specular -> specular reflection
Pertaining to the manner in which light is reflected, as by a mirror or speculum.
specular reflection
Pertaining to the manner in which light is reflected, as by a mirror or speculum.
specular reflector
A reflector that exhibits specular reflectance, producing a direct image of its source. Also known as regular reflectance.
specular transmission
See regular transmittance; the term specular is not properly applied to transmission.
spheric lens
A spheric lens, also known as a spherical lens, is a type of optical lens with at least one surface that is part of a sphere. This means that the lens surface is curved in a symmetrical manner,...
spherical aberration
Spherical aberration is an optical aberration that occurs when light rays passing through a lens or curved optical surface do not converge or diverge to a single focal point. Instead of focusing to a...
spherical gradient
In gradient index optics, a gradient profile in which the refractive index varies symmetrically about a point.
spherical microintegrated lens
A tiny lens (as small as 100 µm in diameter) used to focus light on charge-coupled devices, formed by heating a photosensitive material exposed through a mask, leaving a pattern of raised...
spherochromatism
A lens aberration. The chromatic variation of spherical aberration.
spherocylinder
A lens or lens surface that is a combination of a sphere and cylinder.
spherometer
An instrument for measuring the radius of curvature of a spherical lens or mirror surface. It may consist of a ring resting on the surface, with a micrometer plunger in the middle of the ring to...
SPI
single-photon ionization

Photonics Dictionary

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