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7,367 terms

Photonics Dictionary

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law of reversibility

In physics, the law of reversibility is often associated with the concept of reversibility in thermodynamics. The law asserts that any process that occurs in a closed system can, in theory, be...

Lawson criterion

Defines the minimum operational standards for a self-sustaining fusion reactor as equivalence between energy released per volume unit and kinetic energy per unit volume.

lay length

In a fiber optic cable, the longitudinal length required for the transmission media, wrapped around a central member, to complete one helical wrap. Also called pitch.

layout

In the optical shop, the process of positioning and marking a blank or lens before surfacing, cutting and edging.

lbf

pound-force

LBP

laser beam printer

LCC

liquid crystal cell; leadless chip carrier

LCD

liquid crystal display

LCIM

low-coherence interference microscope

LCM

laser cloud mapper

LCPOF

large-core plastic optical fiber

LCVD

laser chemical vapor deposition

laser desorption

LDA

laser Doppler anemometry

LDEF

Long Duration Exposure Facility

LDR

light-dependent resistor; linear dynamic range

LDV

laser Doppler velocimeter

leaching

The process of removing some of the constituents of a glass surface by chemical action.

lead selenide cell

A thin-film photoconductive cell that is sensitive to the infrared region. The photosensitive material of the cell is composed of lead selenide, and the cell is used in the detection of infrared...

lead sulfide cell

A photoconductive cell having greatest sensitivity in the infrared region. The photosensitive material of the cell is lead sulfide, which is deposited on a glass plate.

lead zirconate titanate

A ferroelectric polycrystalline ceramic material used in optical memories for computers and as a piezoelectric transducer.

leading edge spike

In a sequence of laser pulse emissions, the intitial pulse that often helps initiate a reaction at the target surface, whereas the trailing edge maintains the reaction.

leaky mode

In an optical waveguide, a mode whose field decays monotonically for a finite distance in the transverse direction but which becomes oscillatory everywhere beyond that finite distance.

leaky ray

In an optical waveguide, a ray for which geometric optics would predict total internal reflection at the core boundary, but which suffers loss by virtue of the curved core boundary.

least circle of confusion

The circle of confusion is a defocused or aberrated image of a point. Focus is generally set where the diameter of this circle is minimized or least.

LEC

liquid encapsulated crystal

LED -> light-emitting diode

An LED, or light emitting diode, is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs are widely used in various applications due to their energy efficiency,...

LEED

laser-energized explosive device; low-energy electron diffraction

legacy fiber

Older fiber optic cable that may not be suitable for state-of-the-art applications and that is difficult for suppliers to sell.

leman prism

An erecting prism that inverts and reverses the image. It displaces the optical axis but does not deviate it.

Lenard tube

An electron-beam tube designed so that the beam can be carried through a portion of the wall of an evacuated enclosure.

lens bench -> optical bench

A support for optical parts comprising a solid bed that permits precise longitudinal movement of one component relative to the others, and a number of sliders equipped with holders for lenses, lamps,...

lens blank

A lens blank is a piece of optical material in a raw, unfinished state, typically in the form of a disk or block, from which lenses are eventually fabricated. Lens blanks are made from various...

lens element

One optical element of a multielement lens. See optical element.

lens measure

A tool used to determine the curvature of a lens surface in terms of dioptric power. See lens watch; spherometer.

lens meridian

A line passing through the center of a lens surface, from edge to edge.

lens molding

The production of rough glass lens blanks that are pressed while red-hot to the approximate size and shape of the finished lens, ready for fine grinding and polishing. Large companies often do their...

lens mount

The metal tube that maintains the optical components of a lens in proper relationship. Some lenses are mounted in metal cells, which in turn are screwed to the front and rear of a shutter or lens...

lens speed

Also known as f number, lens speed is commonly represented as the ratio of the focal length to the diameter of the lens. Lower f numbers produce brighter images.

lens testing equipment

Lens testing equipment refers to a range of specialized tools and instruments used to evaluate the optical performance, quality, and characteristics of lenses. These instruments are essential for...

lens transmission

The ratio of the intensities of a light bundle before and after passing through the lens.

lens watch

A dial depth gauge graduated in diopters; a lens measure.

lens

A lens is a transparent optical device that focuses or diverges light, allowing it to pass through and form an image. Lenses are commonly used in optical systems, such as cameras, telescopes,...

lensless Fourier transform hologram

A hologram formed without lenses and with the object and reference points sharing the same plane. In the initial recording, each object point produces fringes having one spatial frequency across the...

lensless microscopy

Lensless microscopy, also known as computational or holographic microscopy, is an imaging technique that captures and reconstructs microscopic images without the use of traditional lenses. Instead of...

lensometer

An ophthalmic instrument used to measure the magnitude and direction of the maximum and minimum powers of a spectacle lens, and mark the optical center of the lens by an ink dot. When the lens to be...

lenticular

An array or mosaic of optical surfaces. May be a number of lenses closely packed to form multiple images or many parallel cylinders used as a projection screen.

lenticular color photography

A type of additive color photography using a lenticular structure impressed on a film base and a camera lens with a filter having three sectors of red, blue and green. Exposure of the film through...

lenticular image dissection

A method of image dissection whereby a lens transfers images onto a lenticular plate that in turn illustrates the images as structures of narrow parallel lines.

lenticular screen

A rear or front projection screen composed of minute optical surfaces that introduce a spread to the light beam that conforms approximately to the light distribution requirements of the application.

Photonics Dictionary

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