8,289 terms
Photonics Dictionary
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aerial surveyThe creation of a planned sequence of data input that is obtained while airborne for use in aerial photogrammetry and other types of map making and surveying. The data can be photographic, electronic...
aerocartographyThe creation of topographical maps and charts from a stereographic record produced through the overlapping of consecutive aerial photographs by more than 50 percent.
aeronaeronautics
aerosolA two-phase system consisting of dispersed liquid or solid particles in a gas; examples include dust, smoke and clouds.
aerotriangulationIn aerial photography, the geometric method of indicating the three-dimensional location of ground points from a pair of aerial photographs.
AESAuger electron spectroscopy; atomic emission spectrometry
AFaudio frequency; autofocusing
AFCautomatic frequency control
AFCEAArmed Forces Communications and Electronics Association
afocalAn optical system with object and image points at infinity. Literally, "without a focal length."
AFOSRAir Force Office of Scientific Research
AFSatomic fluorescence spectroscopy
after-imageThat image remaining on the detector after the primary stimulus has been removed. In the visual system, the after-image commonly appears as the complementary color of the primary stimulus.
afterglowThe luminosity that remains in a rarefied gas after an electrodeless discharge has traversed the gas.
AGCautomatic gain control
AGEaerospace ground equipment
AGETAdvisory Group on Electron Tubes
agri-photonicsAgri-photonics refers to the application of photonics technologies in agriculture. Photonics involves the generation, manipulation, and detection of light and other forms of radiant energy whose...
AGRINaxial gradient index
AHantihalation
AHARSattitude heading and reference system
AIartificial intelligence
AI system-on-chipAn AI system-on-chip (SoC) is an integrated circuit that integrates hardware components optimized for performing AI computations efficiently. These components typically include:
AI accelerators:...
AIAAutomated Imaging Association
AIAAAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
AICHEAmerican Institute of Chemical Engineers
AIDairborne intelligent display; area imaging device
AIEEAmerican Institute of Electrical Engineers
aiming beamA visible laser beam generated coaxially with an infrared or other invisible laser beam to aid in its positioning.
aiming circleAn instrument designed to measure angles in azimuth; used in general topographic work and military gunnery.
AIPAmerican Institute of Physics
air bearingA support device in which a column or chamber of air permits the free travel of a mobile part. In optical mounting and positioning equipment, air bearings are of two types, linear or rotary,...
air doseA quantitative measure of the amount of radiation given off by an instrument, expressed in roentgens per unit of free air.
air-spaced doublet -> doublet1. A compound lens consisting of two elements. If there is an air space between the elements it is called an "air-spaced doublet.'' If the inner surfaces are cemented together, it is called a...
airglowDiffuse light emitted by the atmosphere due to the excitation of particles of atmospheric gas. These excited particles release light that is visible from Earth as a faint luminescence in the night...
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 z represents the independent variable, and f is the value of the function.
Airy discThe central peak (including everything interior to the first zero or dark ring) of the focal diffraction pattern of a uniformly irradiated, aberration-free circular optical element or system.
AISacoustic imaging system
albedoThe ratio of radiant energy reflected from a rough surface to that incident on it. Usually, the radiant energy is total solar energy; thus, it is not a spectral quantity.
ALDatomic layer deposition
alexandriteA host crystal for chromium that emits pulsed or continuous-wave laser light, tunable from about 720 to 790 nm.
alexandrite lasersAn alexandrite laser is a solid-state laser that utilizes a synthetic crystal made from the rare earth element alexandrite (BeAl2O4:Cr3+). This crystal is capable of emitting laser light in the...
ALFairborne laser fluorosensor
algorithmA precisely defined series of steps that describes how a computer performs a task.
ALIASadaptive learning image analysis system
aliasingIn image processing, the result of a sampling frequency that is too slow to preserve the spatial frequencies of the image. When detail has a frequency greater than half the sampling frequency, it...
alidadeAn old name for the rotating arm moving about an axis of rotation over a divided circle used to measure angles. Now the term refers to a small stadia telescope mounted over a ruler for use in...
aligned bundleAn assembly of fibers in which the coordinates of each fiber are the same at the two ends of the bundle. Also called coherent bundle.
alignment laserA laser, usually employing helium-neon or other gases as the active medium, used for alignment in industrial applications.
alignment telescopeAn optical tooling instrument consisting of an objective lens, a focusing lens, an optical micrometer, a reticle and an eyepiece. The alignment telescope projects a precise line of sight to which a...
Photonics Dictionary