Artificial Intelligence, AI, Deep Learning Dictionary Terms
phototheranosticsPhototheranostics, a portmanteau of "photo" (light), "therapy," and "diagnostics," refers to an emerging field that combines therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities in a single platform, often utilizing light-based methods. The goal of...
constant variant enhancementTechnique that uses high-pass filtering to reduce the local average to zero for all regions of the picture and then applies...
avalanche photodiodeA device that utilizes avalanche multiplication of photocurrent by means of hole-electrons created by absorbed photons. When...
intrinsic photoconductivityThe absorption of a photon raising an electron across the forbidden gap from valence to conduction band of the semiconductor...
calcium indicatorA calcium indicator is a molecule that is sensitive to changes in calcium ion (Ca2+) concentrations in biological systems....
quantitative phase imagingQuantitative phase imaging (QPI) is an advanced imaging technique used in microscopy to measure and analyze the optical...
pollingInquiry made to gain access by a master station in a token ring network.
x-ray phase contrast microscopyUsed for high-resolution surface study with subnanometer resolution. XRIM uses interfacial phase contrast with application...
atomic absorption spectrometerAn atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) is an analytical instrument used to determine the concentration of specific chemical...
adaptive opticsAdaptive optics (AO) is a technology used to improve the performance of optical systems by reducing the effects of...
Nichols radiometerAn instrument devised by Nichols and Hull for use in the measurement of radiation pressure. The device has two small...
cell migrationCell migration refers to the process by which cells move from one location to another within tissues or across biological...
probe cardA probe card is a testing device used in the semiconductor manufacturing industry to evaluate and test the electrical...
Becke lineA band of light that appears along the outer edge of a transparent material under microscopic investigation and that moves...
image storage panelA modified form of an image-retaining panel that can be used in subdued daylight. This is achieved by adding a layer of zinc...
broadband dielectric mirrorsBroadband dielectric mirrors, also known as broadband mirrors, are optical coatings designed to efficiently reflect or...
Murty interferometerA form of shearing interferometer that contains a simple wedged (plane-parallel) glass plate with a nonzero optical path...
delay timeThe interval between direction of signal to a light-emitting diode and attainment of 10 percent output current in the...
laser rangefinderA laser rangefinder is a device that uses laser technology to measure the distance between the device and a target. It...
holocameraA camera system used to form a high-precision hologram of the subject on a photographic plate. It contains a high-power...
photomicrographic cameraA still or motion-picture camera designed to photograph through a microscope. Photomicrographic equipment usually contains a...
holographic crystal growth analysisThe study of crystal growth from the molten stage utilizing a holographic system wherein interferometric techniques record...
spectral domain optical coherence tomographySpectral domain optical coherence tomography is an imaging technique used in medical diagnostics, particularly in...
brillouin microscopyBrillouin microscopy is a non-invasive imaging technique that utilizes Brillouin scattering to measure the mechanical...
American Astronomical SocietyThe American Astronomical Society (AAS) is a prominent professional association of astronomers and other scientists...
smectic phaseA form of liquid crystal in which flow does not take place in the usual manner. When examined with polarized light, the...
iridescenceThe rainbow exhibition of colors, usually caused by interference of light of different wavelengths reflected from...
pathogenA pathogen is a biological agent, such as a virus, bacterium, fungus, protozoan, or parasite, that causes disease in its...
microbubble resonatorA microbubble resonator is a device used in photonics and optical physics for the precise manipulation of light waves. It...
spurious resolutionA phenomenon that causes the details in an image to appear at a spatial frequency higher than that at which the contrast...
pressingA blank having basic surface curves attained by forming heat-softened glass that is pressed in a mold.
magnitudeIn astronomy, the relative brightness of a celestial body. Originally a scale from 1 to 6, where 1 represented the brightest...
emission spectrumAn emission spectrum is a graphical representation or a characteristic pattern of the wavelengths or frequencies of light...
ferroelectric domainThe region of a ferroelectric crystal where spontaneous polarization is uniformly directed.
laser crystalA laser crystal, also known as an active medium or gain medium, is a solid-state material used in the construction of...
gain coefficient
Canada balsamA resin obtained from the balsam fir, Abies balsamea, used as a lens cement.
McLeod gaugeA gauge designed to measure high degrees of vacuum. It consists of a glass bulb attached to the vacuum vessel, the...
dark-field discA disc contained within an electronic cell counter for regulating light transmission.
nitrogen vacancyA nitrogen vacancy (NV) refers to a specific type of defect or impurity in a crystal lattice where a nitrogen atom replaces...
integrated opticsA thin-film device containing miniature optical components connected via optical waveguides on a transparent dielectric...
reflectance confocal microscopyReflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a non-invasive imaging technique that allows for high-resolution, in vivo imaging...
recombinase polymerase amplificationRecombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) is a molecular biology technique used to rapidly amplify specific DNA or RNA...
chip-on-board lightsChip-on-board (COB) lights refer to a type of LED lighting technology where multiple LED chips are directly mounted onto a...
sheet polarizerA sheet of plastic material containing microscopic crystals of herapathite or some other similar substance that transmits...
reflective spectroscopyReflectance spectroscopy is a technique used to analyze the reflective properties of materials across various wavelengths of...
borosilicate glassA strong, heat-resistant glass that contains a minimum of 5 percent boric oxide.
micro-ring resonatorA micro-ring resonator is a compact optical device that utilizes the resonant behavior of light within a small ring-shaped...
sheet gratingA three-dimensional grating designed with thin metal sheets to remain opaque to all but one specific and predetermined wave.
liquid crystalLiquid crystals are a state of matter that exhibits properties intermediate between those of conventional liquids and solid...
freeform opticsFreeform optics refers to the design and fabrication of optical surfaces that do not follow traditional symmetric shapes,...
pair productionThe production of a positron-electron pair by a photon having energy greater than one mega-electron-volt, whereby some of...
linear receive opticsLinear receive optics typically refers to the optical components and systems used in the reception (detection) of linearly...
color centerA color center, in the context of materials science and condensed matter physics, refers to a specific type of...
optical headIn compact disc and CD-ROM technology, the portion of the drive that projects the laser light onto the surface of the media...
erbium-doped fiber laserAn erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) is a type of laser that uses an optical fiber doped with erbium ions (Er³?) as the...
three-photon microscopyThree-photon microscopy is an advanced imaging technique that belongs to the family of multi-photon microscopy methods. It...
plumeA mixture of ionized gas and metal vapor generated by impingement of the laser beam onto a material being welded or a weld...
SynapseA synapse is a specialized junction between two neurons (nerve cells) or between a neuron and a target cell (such as a...
Ultraviolet-CUltraviolet-C (UV-C) refers to a specific range of ultraviolet radiation with shorter wavelengths than those of visible...
brightfieldBrightfield refers to a type of microscopy and imaging technique in which the specimen is illuminated with a white light...
hydrogen cyanide laserA gas laser having a mixture of gases that makes it useful in the lab. The mixture of gases flows through a pressure and...
machine vision lensA machine vision lens is a specialized optical lens designed for use in machine vision systems, which are used for automated...
injection moldingInjection molding is a manufacturing process used to produce parts by injecting molten material into a mold. It is widely...
histologyHistology is the branch of biology and medicine that involves the study of the microscopic structure of tissues and organs...
stereoscopeA small instrument containing a picture support and a pair of magnifying lenses so arranged that the left eye sees only the...
excitronA single-anode mercury pool tube that is designed to maintain a continuous cathode spot.
cathodeA cathode is an electrode through which electric current flows out of a polarized electrical device. In different contexts,...
cascade methodA heterochromatic photometric process using successive comparison of similar chromaticities and the calculation of relative...
light-emitting diodeAn LED, or light emitting diode, is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs...
optical stainingWith respect to microscopy, also called dispersive staining, optical staining the projection of colors through areas of a...
half-power point1. The value on either the leading or the trailing edge of a laser pulse at which the power is one-half of its maximum...
rotating mirror scannerDeveloped for use in military reconnaissance systems, it consists of a polygonal mirror, drive motor, interface between...
deep ultravioletDeep ultraviolet (DUV or deep-UV) refers to a specific range of ultraviolet light with shorter wavelengths than those in the...
photomultiplier tubeA photomultiplier tube (PMT) is a highly sensitive vacuum tube that detects and amplifies low levels of light. It is widely...
solar simulatorA solar simulator is a device used to replicate the spectrum and intensity of sunlight in a controlled environment for...
phosphorA chemical substance that exhibits fluorescence when excited by ultraviolet radiation, x-rays or an electron beam. The...
mode filling factorIn a laser, the fraction of plasma volume used by a particular transverse mode of oscillation, a determinant of the gain...
parallel-plate waveguideA pair of waveguides with axes normal to the plane and that guide uniform cylindrical waves.
ultraviolet fiber opticsUltraviolet (UV) fiber optics refers to optical fibers that are designed and optimized for the transmission of ultraviolet...
subtractive color processThe basic process of color photography whereby colors are subtracted from white light by means of filters, making all colors...
ferromagnetismThe properties of certain materials that cause them to have relative permeabilities that exceed unity. This permeability...
magneto-optic readout deviceA device using the Kerr effect to read back the signals from mechanically recorded tapes and discs. It consists of a light...
infraredInfrared (IR) refers to the region of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths longer than those of visible light, but...
near-infrared spectroscopyNear-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive analytical technique that uses the near-infrared region of the...
photovoltaic effectThe generation of a difference in electric potential between two electrodes when radiation is incident on one of them.
reflection reduction coatingThe thin, transparent film made up of specific substances applied to glass-air surfaces for the purpose of decreasing the...
histochemical stainingHistochemical staining is a laboratory technique used in biology and medicine to visualize specific chemical components...
connectomeA connectome refers to a comprehensive map or diagram of neural connections within the brain or nervous system of an...
optical leverA device used to detect and measure small amounts of rotation. The rotating object contains a reflecting surface from which...
array processorIn image processing, a specially designed programmable computer peripheral that attaches to the host system for the purpose...
minimum object distanceMinimum object distance, often abbreviated as MOD, refers to the closest distance at which a camera lens or optical system...
thin-film coatingThin-film coatings are layers of material applied to the surface of an object or substrate, typically to modify its optical,...
laser desorptionA process of forming ions within a given molecular species by incident laser light. The molecular species may remain intact,...
cameraA light-tight box that receives light from an object or scene and focuses it to form an image on a light-sensitive material...
inverse Compton effectThe interaction between a photon and an energetic electron, caused by collision, that transfers energy from the electron to...
photochromicPhotochromic refers to a property exhibited by certain materials, typically organic compounds or dyes, which undergo...
sustaining voltageIn a laser, the voltage necessary to sustain a constant operating current, somewhat less than that needed for start-up.
automatic gain controlA method of producing an essentially constant output signal from an electronic circuit despite variations in the strength of...
fluorescent whitening agentsAgents used for testing light sources and natural daylight with visual and instrumental assessment using a set of white...
immunofluorescenceThe technique that uses light to detect and analyze the antibodies produced by a specimen stained with an organic dye.
long-pass filterA long-pass filter is an optical filter that allows longer wavelengths of light to pass through while blocking or...
Kerr cellA cell filled with a transparent material that, when placed in a strong electrical field, exhibits double refraction. Since...
macroscopicSizable enough to be perceived by the unaided eye.
monocoil sheathingA type of tubing used to protect optical fiber cables, consisting of a wire spiral of aluminum, galvanized steel or...
bioluminescenceBioluminescence is a natural phenomenon in which living organisms produce and emit light through a chemical reaction...
solid-state driveA solid-state drive (SSD) is a storage device that stores data electronically using solid-state memory chips. Unlike...
actinochemistryActinochemistry refers to the branch of chemistry that studies the chemical effects of radiation, particularly light, on...
backsided-illuminated sensorA backside-illuminated (BSI) sensor is an image sensor technology where the light-sensitive elements (typically pixels) are...
height-range indicatorA display that allows the observation and measurement of the altitude and range of airborne objects.
ophthalmic photographyThe methods and techniques used to obtain medical photographs of the human eye. To photograph the exterior of the eye,...
mosaic structureIn a crystal, its subdivision into polyhedral blocks of macroscopic sizes, with discontinuities contained in the lattice...
reciprocity failure
laser outputThe laser output refers to the generated and emitted light produced by a laser system. This output is characterized by...
photodetectorA photodetector, also known as a photosensor or photodiode, is a device that detects and converts light into an electrical...
transputerA computer whose architecture contains several CPU chips arranged in parallel. Often used in image processing systems.
linearityA relationship between two variables so that when plotted on a graph they yield a straight line.
optical frequency combAn optical frequency comb is a tool used for measuring frequencies with extremely high precision. It is essentially a...
embedded laserThe term "embedded laser" typically refers to a laser device that is integrated or embedded into a larger system or...
quantum confinementQuantum confinement refers to the phenomenon in quantum mechanics where the motion of charge carriers, such as electrons or...
Laplacian edge enhancementEdge enhancement technique that accentuates all edge details in an image without discriminating as to spatial orientation.
halideIn chemistry, a halide refers to a chemical compound containing one or more halogen atoms bonded to another element. The...
phototransistorA phototransistor is a type of semiconductor device that converts light energy into electrical signals. Similar to a regular...
skew rayAny ray through an optical system that is not a meridional ray. The plane created by a refracted skew ray does not contain...
tracking accuracyMeasurement of a translation stage's deviation from absolute straightness, that is, its angular motion in both the vertical...
acoustical holographyAcoustical holography is a technique used to visualize and analyze sound fields in three-dimensional space. It involves...
chromatic aberrationChromatic aberration is an optical phenomenon that occurs when different wavelengths (colors) of light are refracted by a...
gain-bandwidth productIn an avalanche photodiode, the gain multiplied by the signal frequency in MHz.
metameric colorsPairs of color stimuli that exhibit metamerism as described by colorimetry. Also known as metameters.
very long baseline interferometryConsists of a pair of radio telescopes concentrated on a single celestial object. This technique creates a single radio...
mode-locked lasersMode-locking is a technique used in lasers to produce ultrashort pulses of light with durations on the order of picoseconds,...
laser paintingExtended period exposure photographs of a laser light created with various patterns within full image (laser graffiti).
acutanceAcutance refers to the perceived sharpness of an image in terms of the contrast of edges, rather than the resolution of fine...
differential interference contrast microscopyDifferential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy, also known as Nomarski interference contrast microscopy, is an optical...
convexConvex is an adjective used to describe a surface or shape that curves outward, bulges, or has a rounded and outwardly...
gyroscopeA gyroscope is a mechanical device consisting of a spinning disk or wheel mounted on a spinning axis in such a way that its...
spatial light interference microscopySpatial light interference microscopy (SLIM) is an optical microscopy technique that belongs to the category of quantitative...
mosaicOne surface of a nonconducting plate that is coated with many minute particles of photoemissive material that are insulated...
heat treatingThe process of subjecting glass to temperature cycling to produce physico-chemical reactions that alter its properties....
dialyteAn airspaced achromatic doublet telescope objective.
vacuum gaugeA gauge designed to measure the degree of vacuum in an evacuated vessel. A simple U-tube containing mercury is adequate for...
plasmonicsPlasmonics is a field of science and technology that focuses on the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and free...
digital holographic microscopyDigital holographic microscopy (DHM) is an advanced imaging technique that combines holography and digital image processing...
x resolutionX resolution is a measure of the number of pixels or data points along the horizontal axis of an image or display. It...
helium leak detectorA small mass spectrometer used to find leaks in a vacuum system by detecting the presence of helium. Using a magnetic...
motion controllerIn optics, a motion controller refers to a device or system that precisely controls the movement of optical components, such...
Goldberg wedgeA neutral-colored gelatin wedge, cast between glass plates, that is used as an intensity scale in certain types of...
phototherapyPhototherapy is a medical treatment that involves the use of light to treat various conditions, particularly those related...
logic diagramA diagram that uses special symbols called logic symbols to represent the detailed functioning of electronic logic circuits....
thermal interface materialsThermal interface materials (TIMs) are substances or compounds used to enhance the thermal conductivity between two surfaces...
luminousPertaining to electromagnetic radiation as perceived by the eye; that is, with the contributions as wavelengths in the...
detector-Dewar assemblyA detector-Dewar assembly typically refers to a combination of a detector and a Dewar flask used in scientific instruments,...
lasing mediumThe material that produces stimulated emission from within a laser oscillator. Laser gain media may vary from...
chiralityChirality is a property of certain molecules and objects in which they are non-superimposable on their mirror images. In...
laser cavityA laser cavity, also known as an optical cavity or resonator, is a fundamental component of a laser system. It is a confined...
pushbroom scanningPushbroom scanning is a technique used in remote sensing and imaging systems, particularly in satellite and aerial sensors,...
microreciprocal degreeAn approximated measure of the smallest change in color temperature detectable by the human eye, defined as the reciprocal...
breakdown voltageIn avalanche photodiodes, the point at which an increase in the reverse bias voltage causes the current gain to approach...
thermogramAlso known as analog thermogram. The resultant photograph, illustrating, in tones ranging from black to white, the spatial...
aspheric mirrorAn aspheric mirror is an optical mirror surface that deviates from the shape of a perfect sphere, having a non-spherical...
pellicle mirrorA thin, stretched plastic membrane cemented to a rigid supporting ring. It may be coated to act as a beamsplitter, for...
image signal processorAn image signal processor (ISP) is a hardware component or subsystem in digital imaging devices responsible for capturing,...
chemical-mechanical polishingA technique for polishing silicon in which an alkaline suspension containing silicon dioxide particles creates a soft layer...
Golgi Staining TechniqueThe Golgi staining technique (also called the black reaction) makes it possible to look at the nervous system by rendering...
feedback control systemA system designed to control the output quantity of a device by returning a portion of its output signal to its input. This...
hybrid coolerA cryogenic cooler device that is an intermittent Joule-Thomson refrigerator with a passive radiator serving as the...
optical testing instrumentAn optical testing instrument is a device or system used to evaluate and measure the performance, quality, and...
photomicrographA photomicrograph is an image taken through a microscope, typically using a camera attached to the microscope's eyepiece or...
visually coupled airborne systems simulatorA visual system including a tiny television tube and imaging optics, all contained in a helmet to be worn by pilots in...
dichroic mirrorA dichroic mirror, also known as a dichroic beamsplitter or interference filter beamsplitter, is an optical device that...
acceptance patternThe acceptance pattern, often used in the context of antennas and optical systems, refers to the spatial distribution of the...
linear positioning stageA linear positioning stage, also known as a linear stage or translation stage, is a precision mechanical device used to...
cryostatA cryostat is a device used to maintain very low temperatures, typically below the boiling point of liquid nitrogen (77 K or...
transducerA transducer is a device or component that converts one form of energy into another. It is commonly used in various fields,...
color perception test equipmentEquipment for testing an observer's color vision. Some tests require the identification or ordering of colored samples. The...
Jacquinot advantageThe higher throughput obtained with an FTIR device compared with traditional spectrometers that need slits to achieve...
structural character recognitionAn approach to character recognition based on the structure of the character to be identified (number of straight lines,...
luminance meterA type of photometer calibrated in luminance units (candles per square unit, or lamberts). In photography an exposure meter...
metamaterialMetamaterials are artificial materials engineered to have properties not found in naturally occurring substances. These...
otoscopeAn otoscope is a medical device used by healthcare professionals, particularly ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists,...
mode hoppingMode hopping in the context of lasers refers to a phenomenon where a laser system abruptly switches from one longitudinal...
radargrammetryThe analysis of the photographs taken from the radar display of a survey aircraft and used when recording terrain that is...
Förster resonance energy transferFörster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a mechanism describing the transfer of energy between two closely spaced...
depth of fieldThe distance, on either side of the object plane focused on, through which satisfactory image definition can be obtained....
heterojunctionA heterojunction is a junction formed between two different semiconductor materials with differing band gaps. These...
ideal crystalA crystal that is devoid of any mosaic structure and that can reflect x-rays, relative to the Darwin-Ewald-Prins law.
scanning moire topographyA contour mapping technique that uses electronic scanning and sampling techniques instead of a reference grating (see moire...
biprismA piece of glass polished flat on one side, with a pair of polished faces that form an angle close to 180° on the other...
achiralityAchirality refers to the property of a molecule or object that is superimposable on its mirror image. In other words, an...
aerial cameraCamera designed for the imaging of the earth's surface in order to obtain high quality aerial images
acuity (visual acuity)Visual acuity specifically refers to the clarity or sharpness of vision, typically measured by the ability to discern the...
resolution targetA chart on paper or glass containing a series of sets of lines at progressively smaller spacing and used to ascertain the...
television cameraA camera containing an electronic image sensor that converts the image to an electronic signal suitable for television...
shutter speed testerA device used to measure the opening time of a shutter. The most common devices depend on the charging or discharging of an...
secondary bowThe indistinct rainbow that may sometimes be observed outside the distinct primary bow and that has its colors in opposite...
piezoelectricPiezoelectricity is a property exhibited by certain materials in which they generate an electric charge in response to...
actinic focusActinic focus refers to the point or plane within an optical system where ultraviolet (UV) light or other actinic radiation...
polarizing filterA filter that polarizes light passing through it. It is possible to fabricate sheets of plastic or gelatin that contain...
optoisolatorAn optical coupling device that uses light to bridge the gap between incompatible wire communications systems. It contains...
gray scaleIn image processing, the range of available gray levels. In an 8-bit system, the gray scale contains values from 0 to 255.
Wehnelt cylinderAlso known as cathode-ray tube grid or shield. A cylindrically shaped electrode that, containing the cathode of a...
oxytosisOxytosis refers to a form of cell death that is induced by oxidative stress. It is characterized by the overproduction of...
photochromismThe reversible change in the absorption spectrum of certain compounds upon irradiation with a given wavelength of light.
lagA term applied to an electric charge image in a camera tube that remains for a period of a few frames after its initial...
detector arrayA detector array refers to a collection of individual detector elements arranged in a two-dimensional grid or matrix format....
Raman spectroscopyRaman spectroscopy is a technique used in analytical chemistry and physics to study vibrational, rotational, and other...
APD detectorAn APD detector, or avalanche photodiode detector, is a type of photodetector used to detect light or optical signals by...
xyleneFluid used to aid in examination of semifinished blanks.
airglowDiffuse light emitted by the atmosphere due to the excitation of particles of atmospheric gas. These excited particles...
panoramic cameraA camera designed to form a continuous record of an expansive section of the horizon. The typical panoramic camera is...
antisolar pointThe point to which the extension of the straight line, reaching from the sun to the observer's eye after penetrating the...
automated optical inspectionAutomated optical inspection (AOI) is a technology used in manufacturing processes, particularly in electronics, to...
powder radiographyA technique used in radiography to determine a crystal's structure by obtaining radiographs of it in powder form, normally...
alexandrite lasersAn alexandrite laser is a solid-state laser that utilizes a synthetic crystal made from the rare earth element alexandrite...
tempered glassA glass that is heated, then chilled (usually by an air blast) to set up internal stresses so that the surfaces are under...
adiabatic laser colorimetryAdiabatic laser colorimetry is a technique used to measure the color of materials based on the principle of adiabatic...
Bragg method of crystal analysisA technique in which a beam of x-rays is directed against a crystal, the atoms of which, because of their lattice...
laser kiss cuttingLaser kiss cutting is a technique used in manufacturing and fabrication processes, particularly in industries like...
ambient temperatureThe prevailing temperature in the immediate vicinity of the object; the temperature of its environment.
bowl-feed machineA polishing machine in which the rouge slurry is contained in a bowl and is constantly diverted mechanically so that it...
laser Doppler velocimeterDevice which determines particle velocity through the measurement of scattered interference of a beam pair from a single...
facsimile synchronizingThe maintenance of the same scanning relationship between the transmitting scanning spot and receiving scanning spot for...
ultraviolet reflectanceUltraviolet reflectance refers to the ability of a material or surface to reflect UV light. Ultraviolet light is...
principal E-planeThe plane in which the axis of maximum radiation and the electric vector are contained.
sextantA handheld navigational instrument used to measure the elevation angle of celestial bodies such as the sun. An image of the...
BCS theoryBardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory of superconductivity, based on the notion that electrons with opposite momentum and spin...
phase maskIn optics and photolithography, a phase mask refers to a device that modifies the phase of light waves passing through it....
time-domain reflectometerSee optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR).
spatial coherenceThe maintenance of a fixed-phase relationship across the full diameter of a cross section of a laser beam.
color center laserCertain color centers in the alkali halides have been optically pumped to produce efficient tunable pulsed and...
spherical microintegrated lensA tiny lens (as small as 100 µm in diameter) used to focus light on charge-coupled devices, formed by heating a...
rectilinearIn a straight line. When applied to a lens, it indicates that images of straight lines formed by the lens are not distorted.
artificial intelligenceThe ability of a machine to perform certain complex functions normally associated with human intelligence, such as judgment,...
gas discharge displayA display device that contains an inert gas that gives off orange light when a high voltage is applied to ionize the gas.
spectroscopySpectroscopy is a technique used in the study of interactions between matter and electromagnetic radiation. It involves...
time domainThe time domain is a concept used in signal processing and analysis to describe signals in terms of their behavior over...
magnonA magnon is a quasiparticle representing a quantized spin wave in a magnetic material. In other words, it is a collective...
electrodeless discharge tubeA device consisting of an airtight quartz tube that holds the material to be analyzed. When a high-frequency electrostatic...
excimer laserAn excimer laser is a type of ultraviolet laser that emits short pulses of light in the ultraviolet spectrum. The term...
pseudohologramCoded image obtained optically with a nonredundant pinhole array imaging aperture.
evaporation coatingCoating carried out in a sealed chamber evacuated by a mechanical pump in series with an oil diffusion pump to a pressure...
disc laserA laser having a rod that is a stacked array of discs immersed in a transparent flowing coolant fluid. In this way, the...
transmission electron microscopeA transmission electron microscope (TEM) is a powerful microscopy technique that uses a beam of electrons to create...
epitaxial depositionEpitaxial deposition is a process used in semiconductor manufacturing and materials science to grow a thin crystalline...
lensless microscopyLensless microscopy, also known as computational or holographic microscopy, is an imaging technique that captures and...
recrystallizationThe growth of particular grain fragments in a metal or alloy, at the expense of others, that occurs when the metal or alloy...
opticalPertaining to optics and the phenomena of light.
machine learningMachine learning (ML) is a subset of artificial intelligence (AI) that focuses on the development of algorithms and...
twisted intramolecular charge transferTwisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) is a phenomenon observed in certain organic molecules containing...
lidarLidar, short for light detection and ranging, is a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances and...
absorption peakAn absorption peak refers to a sharp increase or spike in the absorption of electromagnetic radiation at a particular...
echelle gratingA specialized form of diffraction grating consisting of assembled glass plates of equal thickness that resemble a flight of...
Glan-Foucault prismA type of birefringent polarizing prism that transmits the extraordinary ray and removes the ordinary ray through total...
Abbe condenserAn Abbe condenser is a type of optical component used in microscopy to enhance the illumination of the specimen. Named after...
laser coolingLaser cooling is a technique used to reduce the temperature of a material or a collection of atoms or molecules by using...
lineamentA mappable surface feature arranged in straight or curved lines that is distinguished from surrounding surfaces and is...
flow chemistryFlow chemistry, also known as continuous-flow chemistry, is a chemical manufacturing process where reactions take place in a...
chromoendoscopyA technique of using dyes during endoscopy to improve tissue differentiation. Dyes such as methylene blue, Toluidine blue...
thermophotovoltaicThermophotovoltaic (TPV) refers to a technology that converts heat energy into electricity using the principles of...
dense wavelength division multiplexingDense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) is an optical communication technique used to increase the data-carrying...
abaxial spherical aberrationAbaxial spherical aberration, also called oblique spherical aberration, refers to a specific type of optical aberration that...
Glan spectrophotometerA device similar to the ordinary spectrophotometer but containing particular modifications to provide for the comparison of...
decibelThe standard unit used to express gain or loss and relative power levels. The decibel (dB) = 10 log (P2/P1).
integration timeIntegration time, in the context of optics, imaging systems, and sensor technology, refers to the duration over which a...
remote active spectrometerA device employed to identify toxic agents lingering on the ground or in the air from up to three miles away, by using laser...
diffraction gratingA diffraction grating is an optical component consisting of a surface with a periodic structure of equally spaced, parallel...
heliostatA device having a plane mirror so mounted that it can be set to reflect sunlight into a piece of laboratory equipment. It is...
quantum repeaterA quantum repeater is a crucial component in quantum communication networks, designed to extend the range over which quantum...
photoreflectanceA noncontact form of electromodulation in which modulation of the electric field is caused by photo-excited electron-hole...
Greenough microscopeA form of a stereoscopic microscope having paired objectives, prisms and eyepieces, and invented by H. Greenough.
RTSP protocolRTSP, or real-time streaming protocol, is a network control protocol designed for controlling streaming media servers. It is...
Camera Link HSCamera Link HS (high speed) is a standard developed for high-speed digital data transmission in machine vision and...
frequency domainThe frequency domain is a concept used in signal processing and analysis to represent signals and data in terms of their...
radiation-shielding windowsPlates of glass containing as many heavy metal oxides as can be dissolved in the glass without causing devitrification. The...
galvanoluminescenceThe emission of radiant energy produced by the passage of an electrical current through an appropriate electrolyte in which...
decision-theoretic character recognitionAn approach to optical character recognition based on matching the input character against a set of stored prototypes.
single-photon avalanche diodeA single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) is a specialized type of photodetector designed to detect extremely weak optical...
fluorographic cameraA camera with a very high aperture lens or mirror system for photographing x-ray fluorescent screen images, mainly to save...
antiblooming gateA device that prevents electrons from a saturated pixel in a CCD imaging device from spilling into an adjacent pixel. The...
FTIR spectrometerFTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectrometer is a powerful analytical instrument used to obtain an infrared spectrum of...
plastic lensA lens made from transparent plastic material. Lenses over 31/2 in. in diameter are usually machined, ground and polished....
Rydberg atomThe term "Rydberg atom" refers to an atom in a highly excited state where one or more of its electrons are in a Rydberg...
beat lengthA characteristic of optical fiber used to calculate the fiber's ability to maintain polarization. The beat length describes...
water glassA solution containing colloidal silica particles.
Lloyd's mirrorA mirror employed with a very high incidence angle to form a pair of coherent light sources by reflection, and therefore...
biomimicryBiomimicry, or biomimetic design, is the practice of emulating natural processes, systems, and structures found in...
ionAn atom that has gained or lost one or more electrons and, as a result, carries a negative or positive charge.
infrared cameraAn infrared camera, also known as a thermal imaging camera or IR camera, is a device that captures and visualizes the...
lenticular stereo photographyA type of stereoscopic photography in which a pair of lenses focuses a pair of images, relative to the positions of the two...
chemical vapor deposition equipmentChemical vapor deposition (CVD) equipment refers to a class of specialized apparatus used in the process of chemical vapor...
coherence lengthThat length over which energy in two separate waves remains constant. With respect to a laser, the greatest distance between...
equivalent air pathWhen a block of glass (prism, window, filter, etc.) is placed into a converging light bundle, it increases the physical...
interferometric modulator displayInterferometric modulator display (IMOD) is a type of display technology used in electronic devices, known for its energy...
radiantPertaining to electromagnetic radiation, with the contributions at all wavelengths of interest weighted equally.
inefficient shutterA shutter in which the opening and closing times for a large aperture setting occupy a substantial fraction of the total...
neodymium glassGlass containing small quantities of neodymium oxide that is used as a filter plate in color television or as a lasing...
light diffusionLight diffusion refers to the process by which light is scattered or spread out in various directions as it interacts with a...
integral densityWith respect to color photography, the measurement of the way the color film modulates the radiant flux in the optical...
afterglowThe luminosity that remains in a rarefied gas after an electrodeless discharge has traversed the gas.
Higgs bosonThe Higgs boson is a fundamental particle associated with the Higgs field, a field that permeates the universe and is...
astronomical mirrorAn astronomical mirror, also known as a telescope mirror or primary mirror, is a key component of a reflecting telescope. It...
galvanometric scannerA galvanometric scanner, also known as a galvanometer scanner or galvo scanner, is a type of optical scanning device used to...
ionographyAn electroradiographic process that uses ionization of air by x-rays as a basis for forming electrostatic images.
spectral signatureA spectral signature, in the context of remote sensing and spectroscopy, refers to the unique pattern or characteristic...
absorption spectrumAn absorption spectrum is a graphical representation of the absorption of light by a material as a function of wavelength,...
engramA hologram produced by a pair of radiation beams, each carrying information.
Fabry-Perot cavityAn optical resonator in which feedback is accomplished by two parallel planes. In diode lasers, the planes are obtained by...
tungsten diselenideTungsten diselenide (WSe2) is a member of the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) family, composed of tungsten (W) and...
differential quantum efficiencyThe slope of the curve when output is plotted against input for quantum efficiency in a device.
deformation constantAny of the constants that relate the tendency of the director to remain parallel to restoring torques throughout the media....
box cameraThe simplest, most inexpensive type of camera, which is shaped as an oblong or square box, containing the simplest lens,...
photoacousticPhotoacoustic refers to the generation of acoustic (sound) waves following the absorption of light (usually laser pulses) by...
advanced tactical air reconnaissance systemAn aerial reconnaissance system that can transmit, in near real time, image data recorded by IR and visual-spectrum sensors,...
microscope immersion fluidThe liquid used in microscopy to fill the space between the high-power objective lens and the microscope slide in order to...
Newton's ringsThe series of rings or bands formed when light beams reflected from two polished, adjacent surfaces, placed together with a...
grain isolating diaphragmIn a microscope, the diaphragm located between the Bertrand lens and the eyepiece, which is closed during conoscopic viewing...
degrees of freedomThe number of unique ways in which a part can move in an alignment system. In static alignment, there are six: one in the...
optical glassOptical glass refers to a type of glass specifically engineered and manufactured for use in optical components and systems,...
microphotofabricationThe formation of microimages for microreduction. The technique is used, for example, in the production of precision reticles...
double refractionThe separation of unpolarized light into two plane-polarized elements by a doubly refracting crystal. When a crystal, such...
blue diode laserA blue diode laser is a type of semiconductor laser that emits light in the blue wavelength range of the electromagnetic...
spatial conditionThe spatial distribution of incident and collected flux contained in the analysis of reflectance, transmittance or densities.
gratingA framework or latticework having an even arrangement of rods, or any other long narrow objects with interstices between...
metal componentAn accurate metal prism or plane parallel plate that is cemented to an optical element and remains with it during a series...
gyroscopyGyroscopy refers to the principles and applications of gyroscopes, devices that measure or maintain orientation based on the...
pyroelectric pulse detectorA current-source thermal detector used to detect and study the pulses obtained from particular lasers.
optical parametric amplificationOptical parametric amplification (OPA) is a process in nonlinear optics where a weak signal beam is amplified by a much...
averted visionIn astronomy, the method of deliberately viewing objects with peripheral vision to take advantage of the eye's greater...
end-fire couplingEnd-fire coupling refers to a method of coupling energy into or out of a waveguide, transmission line, or antenna, where the...
reduced focal lengthThe ratio of the first focal length of a lens to the refractive index of the medium containing the incident light; the ratio...
Felgett advantageThe signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) obtained with a Fourier transform spectrometer when detector noise prevails, which exceeds...
adhesion (thin-films)Optical thin film adhesion specifically refers to the adhesion properties of thin films used in optical applications....
chalcogenideChalcogenide refers to a class of compounds containing elements from group 16 of the periodic table, which includes sulfur...
glow lampA lamp in which the ionization of the inert gas contained in it produces a glow in the space close to the negative electrode.
scientific complementary metal-oxide semiconductorScientific complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (sCMOS) refers to a type of image sensor technology specifically designed...
autocollimatorAn autocollimator is an optical instrument used for measuring small angular deviations with high precision. It operates on...
American Chemical SocietyThe American Chemical Society (ACS) is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in...
cesium-antimonide photocathodeA photocathode that exhibits maximum sensitivity in the blue and ultraviolet regions of the spectrum. The sensitivity is...
vibrational spectroscopyVibrational spectroscopy is a type of spectroscopy that involves the study of the vibrational states of molecules. It is...
contact fluorographyA fluorographic method whereby the sensitive photographic medium is pressed against a fluorescent screen to form a visible...
spatial resolutionSpatial resolution refers to the level of detail or granularity in an image or a spatial dataset. It is a measure of the...
electron-beam film scanningThe method by which photographic film is scanned by an electron beam. One technique uses the uniform light of a television...
optoelectronicsOptoelectronics is a branch of electronics that focuses on the study and application of devices and systems that use light...
liquid/fluid opticsLiquid or fluid optics refers to the use of liquids to create or enhance optical systems. These systems leverage the unique...
transverse modeIn the context of optics and lasers, a transverse mode refers to a specific spatial pattern of the electric field within the...
vacuumIn optics, the term vacuum typically refers to a space devoid of matter, including air and other gases. However, in...
responsivityThe gain that occurs between light intensity incident on a CCD given by the photocurrent produced.
entrainmentThe movement of particulate material by flowing gas or liquid.
Abbe-Porro prismAn Abbe-Porro prism, often referred to simply as a Porro prism, is an optical prism used in binoculars and other optical...
inline inspectionInline inspection involves performing quality checks, measurements, or tests on products or materials while they are being...
actinic glassActinic glass is a type of glass specifically designed to filter or block ultraviolet (UV) light and other forms of actinic...
geometric imageThe position and shape of the image of a point source, as predicted by geometric optics alone. The geometric image is to be...
active layerIn the context of semiconductors and electronics, the active layer is the part of a semiconductor device where the essential...
fused array of fibersOptical fibers fused together to form a solid, vacuum-tight assembly in the form of a slab or rod. Discs or rectangular...
inverse bremsstrahlungCollisional absorption of energy that occurs in inertial confinement fusion systems when hydrodynamic expansion of the...
active-matrixAn OLED display that has an integrated electronic backplane as its substrate. Active-matrix OLED displays use at least two...
coherent fiber bundleA coherent fiber bundle (CFB), also known as a coherent fiber optic bundle, is an assembly of multiple optical fibers...
Lambert's cosine lawFlux per unit solid angle leaving a surface in any direction is proportional to the cosine of the angle between that...
photronic cellA photovoltaic cell usually sensitive to infrared radiation. It may have a copper base and a film of cuprous oxide. When it...
sand holeA crude area on the polished surface, produced during coarse grinding, that subsequent fine grinding does not remove, owing,...
carbonizationCarbonization is a process in which organic materials are heated in the absence of air, leading to the decomposition of the...
strain viewerA viewer that uses the transmittance of polarized light through glass or a similar medium to examine strained regions. See...
biomarkerA biomarker, short for biological marker, refers to a measurable and quantifiable indicator of a biological condition,...
computer visionComputer vision enables computers to interpret and make decisions based on visual data, such as images and videos. It...
erect imageAn image, real or virtual, whose spatial orientation is identical to that of the object. The image obtained at the retina...
light-activated silicon-controlled switchSimilar to LASCR, except that all four regions are available.
diurnal phase shiftPhase shift in electromagnetic signals caused by daily variations in the ionosphere, often during sunrise or sunset.
servo motionServo motion is the controlled motion of a mechanical system achieved through the use of a servo motor, which utilizes...
roughening laserA roughening laser is a laser-based surface modification technique aimed at altering the surface texture of a material to...
point source lampA lamp, usually incandescent, that has a very compact filament, permitting a greater concentration of emitted light, aided...
pulse durationThe lifetime of a laser pulse, generally defined as the time interval between the halfpower points on the leading and...
line of sightThe line of vision; the optical axis of a telescope or other observation system. The straight line connecting the object and...
deep learningDeep learning is a subset of machine learning that involves the use of artificial neural networks to model and solve complex...
dual-axis laserDual-axis laser is a laser device or system capable of emitting laser beams along two orthogonal axes (typically X and Y...
inertial confinement fusionInertial confinement fusion (ICF) is a method of achieving nuclear fusion, a process where two atomic nuclei combine to...
beaconA device, either visual or electronic, that emits signals to identify set positions for use in the navigation of aircraft...
photoelastic constantA formulaic description of the linear change of the reciprocal optical dielectric tensor with either stress or strain.
color scannerAn instrument that uses a beam of light to scan a color transparency, and three differently filtered photosensors to record...
coupling efficiencyThe fraction of available output from a radiant source that is coupled and transmitted by an optical fiber.
optical gateAn optical gate typically refers to a device or system that controls the transmission of light, allowing it to pass through...
CIECommission Internationale de l'Eclairage, the international commission on illumination.
CCD image sensorA CCD image sensor, or charge-coupled device image sensor, is a type of electronic device used to convert optical images...
light filamentPhenomenon caused by an ultrashort and ultra-intense light pulse propagating in a Kerr medium, such as air or water. When...
reflectiveThe term reflective is an adjective that describes the ability of a surface or material to reflect light or other forms of...
x-ray spectrometerAn instrument designed to produce an x-ray spectrum of a material as an aid in identifying it. This technique is...
plasma noiseIntroduced into the laser beam from localized fluctuations in current density within the plasma itself. These fluctuations...
photoemulsionIn photolithography, an opaque material used in masks that has a lower optical density and grainier composition than chrome.
rail
single molecule localization microscopySingle molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) is a group of super-resolution microscopy techniques that surpass the...
neutron drip linePrediction based on observations of nuclear masses in the valley of stability that indicates the maximum number of electrons...
laser trimmingThe use of lasers in tailoring of such components as thin-film resistors. The process improves speed and accuracy.
piezoresistancePiezoresistance is a phenomenon in materials science and physics where the electrical resistance of a material changes in...
photolithographyPhotolithography is a key process in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices, integrated circuits, and...
topological photonicsTopological photonics is a branch of physics and optics that explores the application of topological concepts to the...
laser pointerHandheld optical laser device containing a semiconductor or DPSS source. The output is corrected via internal collimating...
specular reflectionPertaining to the manner in which light is reflected, as by a mirror or speculum.
holographic tomographyHolographic tomography is an advanced imaging technique that combines holography and tomography to provide three-dimensional...
retinaThe retina is a light-sensitive tissue layer located at the back of the eye, opposite the lens. It plays a crucial role in...
scintillation detectorA scintillation detector is a radiation detection device that utilizes scintillation crystals to detect and measure ionizing...
CMOS quantitative polymerase chain reaction systemThis type of miniaturized system, referred to as CMOS qPCR, combines microfluidic technology with an ultralow-light CMOS...
color temperature meterA device containing two photocells behind deep red and blue filters to measure color temperatures. The amplifier gain is...
equatorial mountA telescope stand equipped with a polar axis that can be set parallel to the Earth's axis of rotation and a declination axis...
prelasingWhen uncontrolled laser energy leaks from a laser cavity prematurely, it causes serious damage to optical components and...
cascade showerA shower of cosmic rays whereby a high-energy electron produces one or more photons that convert into electron pairs, the...
pixel pitchPixel pitch refers to the distance between the centers of two adjacent pixels on a display screen or imaging sensor. It is...
bilinear interpolationIt is often necessary to estimate the value of what a pixel would be between neighboring pixels. This is accomplished by...
spectroradiometerA spectroradiometer is a device used to measure the intensity of light at different wavelengths across the electromagnetic...
second-order nonlinear optical propertiesSecond-order nonlinear optical properties refer to a class of phenomena exhibited by certain materials in response to...
blackbody sourceA blackbody source, often simply referred to as a blackbody, is a theoretical or practical physical object that absorbs all...
Raman fiber probeA flexible fiber cable with a small diameter that transports light from the excitation laser to the target. Used in Raman...
photoelectric relayA relay that opens or closes an electrical circuit depending on the intensity of the light incident to a photoelectric...
Mollier diagramGraphic evaluation of the operation of a steam thermodynamic cycle of a solar energy system on which enthalpy is plotted...
ion laserA laser in which the transition involved in stimulated emission of radiation takes place between two levels of an ionized...
curvilinear distortionA lens aberration in which the focal length varies radially outward from the center of the field. It has the effect of...
parityIn data transmission, a self-checking code using a separate bit (the parity bit) to assure that all bytes of transmitted...
quantum key distributionQuantum key distribution (QKD) is a method of secure communication that utilizes principles from quantum mechanics to...
Faraday effectThe Faraday effect, named after the English scientist Michael Faraday, is a phenomenon in physics where the polarization...
binocular magnifierA device having a pair of decentered lenses, one for each eye, that focuses on a single object as a magnifier. It is often...
low Earth orbitLow Earth orbit (LEO) refers to a region in space that is relatively close to Earth's surface, typically characterized by...
photobiomodulationA light therapy that utilizes nonionizing light sources, including lasers, LEDs, and broadband light, in the visible and...
moiré deflectometryAn optical interference technique widely utilized as a method of nondestructive testing when determining the ray deflection...
cryogenically cooled LWIR cameraA cryogenically cooled long-wave infrared (LWIR) camera is a specialized thermal imaging device designed to detect infrared...
terminated crossbarAn optical matrix that does not require perfection in both states of the crosspoint, so that all the optical switches can be...
neurodegenerativeNeurodegenerative refers to a process or condition characterized by progressive dysfunction or loss of structure and...
optical pumpingThe process whereby the number of atoms or atomic systems in a set of energy levels is changed by the absorption of light...
InGaAs photodiodeAn InGaAs photodiode refers to a photodetector device that is constructed using a semiconductor material composed of a...
pitch polishing compoundPitch for polishing mixed with other materials to give it the right viscosity so that it will follow the fine-ground lens...
wave trainThe continuous group of waves that persists for a short time only.
Raman scatteringRaman scattering, also known as the Raman effect or Raman spectroscopy, is a phenomenon in which light undergoes inelastic...
angular spectrum approachThe angular spectrum approach is a mathematical and computational technique used in the field of optics to analyze and...
modal bandwidthModal bandwidth is a crucial parameter in optical fiber communication systems, particularly in multimode fiber (MMF)...
colmascopeA polariscope used to demonstrate strain inherent in a piece of glass.
neural networkA computing paradigm that attempts to process information in a manner similar to that of the brain; it differs from...
discontinuously reinforced aluminumA composite derived from aluminum alloy powder and silicon carbide, used as an optical substrate in air- and spacecraft...
wide-field fluorescence microscopyWide-field fluorescence microscopy uses either naturally occurring structures or staining with fluorescent tags that are...
silver halide emulsionAn emulsion in which grains of the photosensitive material silver halide are deposited. Each grain, when exposed to light,...
solid-state imaging systemAn imaging system that uses a mosaic of tiny light-sensitive semiconductors (phototransistors) to produce individual outputs...
decision-tree classificationA structural method of optical character recognition, used where the input media are variable, as in hand-written or...
hero experimentsLaboratory experiments that focus on demonstrating new capabilities of a certain technology or device, usually without...
iconoscopeA camera tube that employs a high-velocity electron beam to scan a photoemissive mosaic and to store electrical charge...
aerial surveyThe creation of a planned sequence of data input that is obtained while airborne for use in aerial photogrammetry and other...
beamwidthThe angular width of a radiation beam. With respect to a conical beam of light, it is the vertex angle of the cone. The...
microstereoscopeA binocular microscope designed for the viewing of stereo pairs. As these stereoscopic image pairs are seen through a...
organic dyeAny organic substance, that when dissolved in appropriate liquid based solvents will absorb and emit electromagnetic...
birefringenceBirefringence is an optical property of certain materials that causes them to exhibit different refractive indices for light...
photoelectric photometryThe use of photoelectric sensors to detect and measure the intensity of a light source. This application, as compared to...
infrared lensAn infrared lens is an optical component specifically designed and optimized for transmitting, focusing, or manipulating...
crosshairs
superconductorA metal, alloy or compound that loses its electrical resistance at temperatures below a certain transition temperature...
superreflectorA reflector having a surface that has been superpolished to reduce residual sleeks and scratches and microroughness so that...
backscatterBackscatter refers to the phenomenon in which radiation or waves are scattered backward, opposite to the direction of the...
luminous paintA mixture of phosphor with a trace of a radioactive element that emits faint light continually. It is used on watch dials...
activity (radioactivity)Radioactivity refers to the spontaneous emission of radiation from the nucleus of an unstable atom. This emission occurs as...
phase screenA phase screen, in the context of optics and wave optics, refers to a surface or medium that introduces a phase delay to an...
ablative wall flashlampAn ablative wall flashlamp typically refers to a type of flashlamp used in certain high-energy laser systems.
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decimationThe process of reducing the size of an image by removing a certain proportion of the samples produced from the original...
face-pumped laserA device in which slab geometry internally compensates for thermal-optic distortion; the solid host material -- glass or...
principal axisA straight line connecting the curvature centers of the refracting lens surfaces. In a mechanical sense, a line joining the...
point cloudA point cloud is a set of data points in a three-dimensional coordinate system, where each point represents a specific...
voltaic cellAn electric cell having two electrodes of unlike metals immersed in a solution that chemically affects one or both of them,...
Van der WaalsVan der Waals forces refer to the attractive or repulsive forces between molecules (or parts of molecules) that arise from...
ion pairTwo oppositely charged particles.
microradianEquivalent to 10-6 radian, where 1 radian equals 180/pi degrees. A rod 1 km in length will be moved by an angle of 1...
visual fieldThe angular field of view that is seen by the eyes when fixed on a point straight ahead. The normal binocular visual field...
nonlinear polarizationNonlinear polarization refers to the phenomenon where the polarization of a material responds nonlinearly to an applied...
curieStandard maintained by the International Commission on Radiological Units as a unit of radioactivity defined as the quantity...
hermetic bondingThe total fusion and sealing of materials, or usually an enclosure, to ensure that they are airtight.
magneto-opticsMagneto-optics refers to the study and manipulation of the interaction between magnetic fields and light (electromagnetic...
excitonAn exciton is a quasiparticle that represents the bound state of an electron and a hole in a solid-state material, typically...
binocularsBinoculars are optical instruments used for magnifying distant objects by using two parallel telescopes mounted side by...
integrated circuitMultiple, interconnected circuit elements, contained on or in a common substrate, that function as a unit and not separately.
polymerase chain reactionThe polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a widely used molecular biology technique used to amplify a specific segment of DNA...
multiline laser systemA multiline laser system refers to a type of laser that is capable of emitting multiple discrete wavelengths or spectral...
runoutIn a linear stage, any deviation from the desired translation across a flat, straight line.
laser annealingLaser annealing is a process that involves using a laser beam to heat and modify the microstructure of a material, typically...
photoacoustic imagingAbbreviated PAI. An imaging modality with a hybrid technique based on the acoustic detection of optical absorption from...
speckle imagingA technique for obtaining improved resolution of images produced by large telescopes and distorted by the effects of...
Ritchey-Common testAn interferometric method for describing the surface shape of large coated or uncoated optical flats. The procedure uses a...
fiber optic spectrometerA fiber optic spectrometer is a device used for measuring the spectral content of light. It utilizes optical fibers to...
coverslipA coverslip, also known as a cover glass or cover slip, is a thin and flat piece of transparent material typically made of...
coherent communicationsA fiber optic communications system that works on the principles of homodyning or heterodyning. The transmitting laser...
fluorochromeThe combination of the organic dye in a stained specimen and the antibodies produced that is detected by exposure to light.
helium-neon laserA helium-neon (HeNe) laser is a type of gas laser that emits visible red light at a wavelength of 632.8 nm. It operates...
lens discA rotating disc that holds several lenses of differing focal length about a diameter. Used to switch lenses in a system...
American Association for the Advancement of ScienceThe American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to...
strainIn optics, the mechanical tension, compression or shear in optical glass due to internal stress caused by improper cooling...
photochemicalThe term photochemical pertains to chemical processes or reactions that are initiated or influenced by the absorption of...
illuminated tableA desklike apparatus with an opal glass surface illuminated from beneath by fluorescent tubes. It is equipped with roll...
dye laserA laser using a dye solution as its active medium. Its output is a short pulse of broad spectral content and its achievable...
morphological processingA set of algorithms used to study the structural and spatial characteristics of objects in a digitized image for...
maskingIn image processing, the assigning of certain portions (or pixels) of an image a constant value of either 0 (black) or 1...
heatseekerA guided missile that uses an infrared sensor to detect and home in on an enemy target. The missile is guided by the high...
blind approach beacon systemA ground-based navigation beacon that emits pulsed signals which are picked up by aircraft making an instrument (blind)...
azadioxatrianguleniumAzadioxatriangulenium is a type of organic compound with a unique triangular molecular structure. It is often abbreviated as...
Floquet Fermi liquid stateThe Floquet Fermi liquid state refers to a concept in condensed matter physics that arises when a system is subjected to...
remote inspectionRemote inspection refers to the process of inspecting, evaluating, or monitoring assets, equipment, infrastructure, or...
contact microradiographyThe radiography of small objects having detail too fine to be seen by the unaided eye. The resulting negative, when...
flame emission spectroscopyA technique in photometry that uses an oxyhydrogen or oxyacetylene flame to optically excite a solution containing the...
dielectricExhibiting the characteristic of materials that are electrical insulators or in which an electric field can be sustained...
anamorphicA term used to denote a difference in magnification along mutually perpendicular meridians. Anamorphic systems are basically...
breakout cableA breakout cable, also known as a fan-out cable or breakout assembly, is a type of cable that combines multiple individual...
pleochroismThe property exhibited by certain birefringent crystals in which the degree with which they transmit polarized light is...
die bondingDie bonding is a critical process in semiconductor manufacturing and microelectronics assembly, where a semiconductor die or...
flash radiographyA technique used in radiography to obtain an unblurred image of a moving object by the use of very short x-ray exposures,...
laser powder bed fusionLaser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a type of additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that uses a high-power...
hydroxyl ion absorptionAn optical fiber's absorption of electromagnetic waves due to hydroxyl ions remaining after contact with water.
molecular motorA molecular motor refers to a nano-sized device composed of organic molecules or other small-scale components that can...
pigtailA short length of optical fiber permanently fixed to a component and used to couple power between it and the transmission...
laser headContains elements which produce lasing., e.g. gain medium, oscillator mirrors as well as housing.
tungsten lampAn evacuated bulb containing a tungsten filament that is heated by passing an electric current through it. In domestic light...
GRIN lensA GRIN (gradient index) lens is a type of optical lens that utilizes a gradient in refractive index across its volume rather...
straight-path approximationThe determination of axially symmetric and asymmetric refractive-index distributions by use of interferometry carried out on...
coupler1. In color development, the chemical that combines with certain by-products of the development procedure to form a dye. 2....
optical design and engineering servicesOptical design and engineering services involve the development, customization, and optimization of optical systems and...
microcircuitA microcircuit typically refers to an integrated circuit (IC) or chip that contains miniaturized electronic components, such...
optoacousticOptoacoustic, or photoacoustic, refers to a phenomenon and related techniques that involve the generation of acoustic waves...
Pockels cellA Pockels cell, also known as an electro-optic modulator, is an optical device used to control the polarization of light by...
stereo compilationExtraction of three-dimensional measurements from a stereo pair of photographs.
sensitometryPrimarily the measurement of photographic sensitivity of certain materials such as photographic film. It refers to the...
cone1. A solid figure whose base is a circle and whose sides taper upward evenly to a point or apex. Light rays diverging from...
diasporometerIn an optical rangefinder, the system of wedges that rotate in opposite directions to aid in the detection of deviation in...
outside vapor-phase oxidationA process for the production of optical fibers. A glass bait is rotated in a traversing flame of a reaction burner....
traveling wave phototubeA traveling wave tube (TWT) containing a photocathode and window that, receiving a laser beam, produces a modified...
stereoplottingThe imaging of two photographs of a stereo pair, in complementary colors, for the preparation of contour maps.
dopingIn the context of materials science and semiconductor physics, doping refers to the intentional introduction of impurities...
superliminal transmissionSuperluminal transmission refers to the hypothetical process of transmitting information faster than the speed of light,...
Forbush decreaseDecrease in cosmic ray activity that is observed approximately 24 hours after a solar flare, attributed to a shielding...
base-altitude ratioIn aerial photography, the ratio derived from a stereoscopic pair of photographs that represents the air-base length divided...
thermionic diodeA diode electron tube that contains a heated cathode.
optical air massA measure of the optical path length for light traveling from the sun or other celestial source through Earth's atmosphere...
octaveIn optics, an octave typically refers to a range of frequencies or wavelengths that spans a factor of 2. In other words,...
arc flashAn arc flash is a sudden release of electrical energy due to an electric arc — a continuous, high-current discharge of...
scaling lawIn coherence theory, an optical law put forth by physicist Emil Wolf that explains the behavior of light as it travels away...
acrylicAcrylic refers to a type of synthetic polymer material known for its versatility, clarity, and durability. It is commonly...
hysteresisThis term literally means "to lag behind.'' It is quite often used to describe the residual effect that remains after...
Craik-O'Brien effectObserved when alterations in the luminous sterance at the contour of an object create the illusion of the outer zones...
optical rail
jig transitAn optical instrument containing a gimballed sighting telescope, used to measure angular relationships in horizontal and...
micro-LEDMicro-LED (micro-light-emitting diode) refers to a technology that involves the use of very small light-emitting diodes to...
split Stirling coolerA cooling system used to attain and maintain desired low temperatures in infrared systems. The Stirling type is a mechanical...
event-based sensorAn event-based image sensor, also known as a dynamic vision sensor (DVS), is a type of digital imaging device designed to...
modulated zone plateA zone plate produced by a computer and having a binary structure that can be etched into a chromium or quartz layer. It...
photoluminescencePhotoluminescence is a phenomenon in which a material absorbs photons (light) at one wavelength and then re-emits photons at...
metasurfacesMetasurfaces are two-dimensional arrays of subwavelength-scale artificial structures, often referred to as meta-atoms or...
microdensitometerThe fundamental tool of microdensitometry, the microdensitometer is an instrument used for the precise measurement of...
incident rayA ray of light that falls upon or strikes a surface of an object such as a lens. It is said to be incident to the surface.
deep ultraviolet laserA deep ultraviolet (DUV) laser is a type of laser that emits light in the deep ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic...
polished moldA mold for glass or plastics often made of stainless steel to prevent pitting or oxidation in service. It is polished to the...
optical cements and adhesiveOptical cements and adhesives are specialized materials used in the assembly and bonding of optical components in optical...
infrared light-emitting diodeAn infrared light-emitting diode (IR LED) is a semiconductor device that emits infrared light when an electric current...
pluggable opticsPluggable optics, also known as pluggable transceivers or optical transceivers, are modular devices used in optical...
reliefThe discernment of depth or apparent difference in distance that causes the object to stand out from its background because...
atmospheric refraction correlationFormulaic compensation to correct laser ranging data for the effects of horizontal refractivity gradients; it requires the...
picture monitorA kinescope used to survey the details of television video transmission.
optical noiseOptical noise refers to undesirable fluctuations or disturbances in an optical signal that can affect the quality or...
stochastic optical reconstruction microscopyStochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) is a superresolution microscopy technique that enables imaging of...
kinematic mountA mount for an optic element or optics assembly, designed so that all six degrees of freedom are singly constrained. This...
pentaprsimA pentaprism is a five-sided glass prism used in optical devices, particularly in SLR cameras, to deviate the path of light...
polarization-preserving fiberSingle-mode fiber that preserves the plane of polarization of the light launched into it as the beam propagates through its...
tolerancingThe determination of the degree to which a manufactured component can deviate from its ideal specifications of material and...
catoptric systemAn optical system in which the only image-forming elements are curved-surface mirrors; e.g., a Cassegrain lens system.
lens blankA lens blank is a piece of optical material in a raw, unfinished state, typically in the form of a disk or block, from which...
positioningPositioning generally refers to the determination or identification of the location or placement of an object, person, or...
epitaxialEpitaxial refers to the growth of a crystalline layer on a crystalline substrate in such a way that the orientation of the...
line scanLine scan refers to a method of capturing images or data by scanning a single line at a time, as opposed to capturing the...
fiber optic sensorA fiber optic sensor is a device that uses optical fibers to detect and measure physical, chemical, biological, or...
moiré topographyContour mapping technique that involves positioning a grating close to an object and observing its shadow on the object...
microscope objectiveThe lens located at the object end of a microscope tube. A wide range of objectives is available, including simple...
cell adhesionCell adhesion refers to the process by which cells interact and attach to neighboring cells or to the extracellular matrix...
Foucault prismA polarizing prism formed from calcite that is like the Nicol prism but has the two parts divided by a thin air-film and cut...
atmospheric opticsThe analysis of the properties of radiation, such as light, when acted upon by variations in the atmosphere. Blue and red...
astronomical telescopeAn astronomical telescope is a type of optical instrument designed to gather and magnify light from distant celestial...
pseudo-second-derivativeA method used to approximate the values of the homogeneous second derivatives at each iteration in the course of lens design...
air doseA quantitative measure of the amount of radiation given off by an instrument, expressed in roentgens per unit of free air.
ultraviolet microscopyThe study and photographing of microscope specimens in ultraviolet light; using an optical microscope containing fluorite...
saccadic motionThe movement of the eye as it focuses on details of a scene. Some imaging systems mimic this movement by small, rapid...
Nernst glowerA Nernst glower, also known simply as a Nernst lamp or Nernst filament, is a type of incandescent lamp or radiant heater...
rugateBearing alternate ridges and grooves; corrugated. Said of some optical surfaces.
polychromatic acousto-optic modulatorA crystal-based device that combines and adjusts the intensities of multiple wavelengths of laser light in order to obtain...
separate absorption and multiplication region avalanche photodiodeAn avalanche photodiode in which the light-absorbing area is a low-bandgap material and the PN junction is placed in an area...
etalonAn etalon is an optical device that consists of two parallel reflecting surfaces separated by a precise and known distance....
laser active elementsLaser active elements typically refers to the substances or materials within a laser system that play a critical role in the...
microwave mappingThe pattern of microwave field intensity that can be obtained by detecting the minute expansion of a microwave absorber slab...
epitaxial equipmentEpitaxial equipment refers to a set of specialized tools and systems used in the process of epitaxy, which is the growth of...
advanced communication technology satelliteThe advanced communication technology satellite (ACTS) was a program developed by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space...
substrateA substrate refers to a material or surface upon which another material or process is applied or deposited. In various...
extinction voltageThe lowest anode voltage at which a gas tube can sustain a discharge.
saturation1. The decrease of the absorption (or gain) coefficient of a medium near some transition frequency when the power of the...
clinometerAn instrument for measuring the vertical angle of an object. It usually contains an accurately made protractor, a sensitive...
gain-switchingGain-switching is a technique used in lasers to generate short pulses of light by modulating the gain of the laser medium....
Q-switchA device used to rapidly change the Q of an optical resonator. It is used in the optical resonator of a laser to prevent...
adsorptionThe process by which a substance, usually a solid, attracts and retains on its surface the molecules of another substance.
multispectral scannerAn instrument used to record the emittance or reflectance of an object by scanning with discrete spectral resolution over a...
fluorescenceFluorescence is a type of luminescence, which is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other...
accelerometerAn accelerometer is a sensor or transducer that measures the rate of change of velocity of an object, or in simpler terms,...
photoelectric exposure meterA device consisting of a microammeter, a photovoltaic cell and a battery. It is used for the measurement of scene brightness...
pixel binningPixel binning, also known as pixel merging or pixel combining, is a technique used in digital imaging and camera technology....
laser lithotripsyLaser lithotripsy is a medical procedure that uses laser energy to break down or fragment stones in various parts of the...
air-spaced doublet
Kerr effectThe Kerr effect, named after the physicist John Kerr who first observed it in 1875, is a nonlinear optical phenomenon where...
field effect transistor photodetectorA photodetector employing photoregeneration of carriers in the channel region of an FET structure to provide photodetection...
gyroscopic camera mountA mount that uses a floating suspension and a motor-driven gyroscope to keep a motion picture or still camera at a set angle...
Rowland circleThe circle that contains the slit, grating and primary astigmatic focus of a concave diffraction grating.
multichannel direct-reading spectrometerAn instrument that contains a spectrograph with a grating in which an array of slits, in place of a photographic plate, is...
vacuum spectrographA spectrograph that functions in a vacuum and therefore eliminates any air-absorption of the emission being surveyed.
Bunsen screenA photometer screen that contains a diaphragm of paper or parchment with a translucent central spot of oil or paraffin.
rectilinear propagationStraight line travel. This denotes the fact that light travels in a straight line when traveling through a medium with a...
diamond-turned opticDiamond turning refers to a precision machining process used to produce complex optical components, particularly lenses and...
resonance spectrumThe fluorescent emission spectrum emitted by certain substances following the irradiation of one of these substances with...
Babinet compensatorA device containing two opposed quartz wedges of equal angle, one wedge being movable along its length by a micrometer...
macula luteaThe small central portion of the human retina that is responsible for providing the clearest, and most distinct aspects of...
skyrmionA skyrmion is a topologically stable, vortex-like configuration of spins in a magnetic material. These configurations are...
blown fiberA technique developed by British Telecom in which the viscous drag of air is used to install optical fibers in narrow...
laser-light-scattering photometerA scattering photometer using scattered light in the solid angle 4.51+0 19° with respect to the forward direction, and...
coagulationCoagulation refers to the process of transforming a liquid, particularly blood or a solution containing dispersed particles,...
index dipThe decrease in the refractive index at the center of a fiber's core, caused by certain fabrication techniques. Also called...
cross dispersionRecombination of only the light that is correctly dispersed by the first stage of a polychromator through its wide...
thin-film deposition equipmentThin-film deposition equipment refers to machinery and tools used in the process of depositing thin layers of material onto...
optical time-domain reflectometerAn optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) is a specialized instrument used in optical fiber communications to characterize...
light amplifierA device that serves to emit light of the same wavelength as the input light, only with an increase in intensity. It may be...
atmospheric absorption line parameters compilationCompilation of the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories that contains values of the line parameters of the 1-0 bands of...
mirageThe distortion of an object's true image as the result of abnormal atmospheric disturbances along the path traveled by the...
femtosecond laserA femtosecond laser is a type of laser that emits ultrashort pulses of light with durations on the order of femtoseconds,...
photonic engineA photonic engine refers to a device or system that utilizes photonics, or the science and technology of generating,...
reticleA reticle, also known as a reticule or graticule, is a pattern or set of markings placed in the focal plane of an optical...
micromanipulatorA device that provides means for accurately moving minuscule tools over the surface of a microscopic object. The motion...
permanent magnetic focusingThe focusing of an electron beam by a magnetic field that permanently retains the majority of its magnetic properties.
high-speed motion cameraA high-speed motion camera, also known as a high-speed camera or slow-motion camera, is a specialized imaging device...
Silsbee effectThe ability of an electrical current to destroy superconductivity by means of the magnetic field generated by the current....
AI system-on-chipAn AI system-on-chip (SoC) is an integrated circuit that integrates hardware components optimized for performing AI...
Petzval lensA high-speed, narrow-field lens consisting of two achromats spaced about the aperture stop. Its uses include portrait...
germanium crystalGermanium crystal refers to a crystalline form of the element germanium (Ge), which is a metalloid and semiconductor...
camera chainThe term sometimes used to describe the sequential arrangement of components in a video system -- from transmitter to...
quantum sensingQuantum sensing refers to a class of sensing technologies that leverage principles from quantum mechanics to enhance the...
meso formA form of an element that cannot demonstrate optical activity as a result of dextrogyrate and levogyrate effects that are...
Risley prismA Risley prism, also known as a Risley prism pair or Risley rotating prism, is an optical device used for controlling the...
metallographic microscopeA specially designed microscope for observing the etched surface of a polished metal specimen. The specimen is often laid...
CCD cameraA CCD camera, or charge-coupled device camera, is a type of digital camera that utilizes a CCD image sensor to capture and...
computer numerically controlled grindingComputer numerically controlled (CNC) grinding is a manufacturing process that utilizes computerized controls and precision...
bodyIn the optical field, a piece of glass to which a lens or prism is cemented. The unit is ground and polished as a whole to...
three-axis stageA three-axis stage, also known as a three-axis positioning stage, is a precision mechanical device designed to control the...
Er:YAG laserAn Er:YAG laser is a type of solid-state laser that uses a crystal made of erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet...
points per profilePoints per profile in imaging refers to the density or resolution of data points sampled along a line or profile within an...
lithographyLithography is a key process used in microfabrication and semiconductor manufacturing to create intricate patterns on the...
silicon monoxideA material used as a protective layer on an aluminized or silvered mirror. It is evaporated on the mirror as a thin layer,...
x-ray absorbing filterA window made of glass containing a high percentage of lead or other dense material known to absorb x-rays readily.
linear opticsLinear optics refers to the study and manipulation of light in a linear and deterministic manner, where the response of...
Dall-Kirkham telescopeA telescope similar to the customary Cassegrain telescope, but having a primary mirror that is ellipsoidal and a secondary...
pulse compressionA means of achieving higher peak powers and more efficient harmonic generation by narrowing the pulse width and thus...
oriented crystalA crystal having the axes of its grains aligned so that they have directional magnetic characteristics.
lasing thresholdThe lowest excitation power level at which a laser's output is mainly the result of stimulated emission rather than...
photodynamic inactivationPhotodynamic inactivation (PDI) is a therapeutic approach that utilizes the combination of light, a photosensitizer, and...
laser driftLaser drift typically refers to a phenomenon where the frequency or wavelength of a laser source gradually changes over...
frequency combA frequency comb is a precise and regular series of equally spaced spectral lines, or frequencies, that are generated with...
geosynchronous satelliteA man-made satellite that orbits 35,680 km from the Earth at a rate of one orbit per 24-hour period, thereby retaining its...
fata morganaA type of mirage that creates a distorted vertical image of relatively flat objects so that they appear as mountains,...
fractional photothermolysisA laser skin-resurfacing method that creates microscopic thermal wounds referred to as microscopic treatment zones (MTZs),...
bright-field illuminationThe illumination generally used in microscopy, whereby the specimen appears dark against a light background.
resonanceResonance can be defined in various contexts, including physics, chemistry, and music. Here are definitions for resonance in...
tourmalineA naturally occurring crystalline mineral that has the property of polarizing transmitted light. It is little used now that...
attenuatorAn attenuator is an electronic or optical device used to reduce the power or intensity of a signal without significantly...
spectralPertaining to or as a function of wavelength. Spectral quantities are evaluated at a single wavelength.
light throughput efficiencyThe fraction of incident light power in an optical modulator that is available to the output beam.
active-matrix displayAn active-matrix display is a type of flat-panel display technology where each pixel is actively controlled by one or more...
Bravais-Miller indexOne of the constants h, k, f or I, used to demonstrate any set of parallel planes in a crystal of the hexagonal system.
sunlight recorderAn instrument consisting essentially of a photoelectric cell filtered to respond to a specified wavelength region, an...
electron microscopeA device utilizing an electron beam for the observation and recording of submicroscopic samples with the aid of photographic...
particle accelerationParticle acceleration refers to the process by which charged particles, such as electrons or protons, gain kinetic energy...
hybrid cableA cable assembly containing both optical fibers and copper electrical conductors in the same jacket.
Q-switchingQ-switching, short for "quenching-switching," is a technique used in lasers to generate short, high-energy pulses of light....
silver-disc pyrheliometerAn instrument that uses a blackened silver-disc reflector with a shutter to create temperature fluctuations that are...
Zener diodeA type of semiconductor diode used in voltage-limiting circuits; when voltage reaches a certain value, the device becomes a...
attenuated total reflectance spectroscopyAttenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy is a technique used in analytical chemistry to obtain IR spectra of samples....
dichalcogenideDichalcogenides are a class of compounds composed of two atoms of a chalcogen element bonded to a single atom of a metal or...
Q-switched pulseA laser output that occurs when the cavity resonator Q is first kept very low, using rotating mirrors or saturable...
image restorationFiltering procedures aimed at estimating the original image by removing the blurring and noise suppression that occur during...
fiber distributed data interfaceA standard for fiber optic data transmission systems being developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and...
Cassegrain lens systemA two-mirror lens design used in astronomical telescopes, the primary being a parabola, the secondary a smaller hyperbola....
receiver primariesAlso known as display primaries. Colors formed by a television receiver that are of constant chromaticity and variable...
meta-opticsMeta-optics, also known as metasurface optics or flat optics, is a branch of optics that involves the design, fabrication,...
path-reversal principleThe criterion maintaining that if light follows a specific path through an optical system, it will, if reversed, traverse...
translucent screenA screen composed of a sheet of diffusing plastic material that reveals excellent image detail for close viewing. It is...
holographic interferometryThe interferometric analysis of a complex object by utilizing the three-dimensional hologram. By causing a laser beam to...
multijunction deviceA photovoltaic device that consists of multiple p-n junctions to produce a greater efficiency when in use than that of...
wave functionIn quantum mechanics, a wave function (often denoted by the Greek letter Ψ, psi) is a mathematical description that...
optical barcode readerAn optical barcode reader, commonly known as a barcode scanner, is a device that uses optical technology to capture and...
Nd:YAG laserNd:YAG laser refers to a solid-state laser that utilizes neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:Y3Al5O12) as the gain...
Pechan prismA prism made up of two air-spaced components. It has the ability to revert, and not invert, an image, and can be used in...
gram negativeGram-negative bacteria are a group of bacteria that possess a cell envelope composed of a thin layer of peptidoglycan...
Porro prism erecting systemThe arrangement of two Porro prisms so that the inverted image formed by certain types of optical instruments is the same as...
indium phosphideIndium phosphide (InP) is a compound semiconductor material composed of indium (In) and phosphorus (P). It belongs to the...
ocular accommodationOcular accommodation is the process by which the eye changes its optical power to maintain a clear image (focus) on an...
mid-infrared cameraA mid-infrared camera is a type of imaging device designed to capture images in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral range,...
active mediumAn active medium is a material or substance used in various optical devices and systems, where it plays a critical role in...
idiochromaticPertaining to the possession of photoelectric characteristics as a result of the properties of the true crystal and not of...
air-to-ground phototransmission systemA category of systems designed to communicate a photo taken from the air (e.g., aircraft, balloon, satellite) to a ground...
MTF optimizationComputerized lens design algorithm that permits the lens MTF characteristic to be included and controlled during the...
internet of thingsThe internet of things (IoT) refers to a network of interconnected physical devices, vehicles, appliances, and other objects...
continuous spectrumThe radiation spectrum of matter found in condensed states, liquid or solid, that is continuous and not a line spectrum. The...
quantum cascade laserA quantum cascade laser (QCL) is a type of semiconductor laser that operates based on the principles of quantum mechanics....
videographyVideography refers to the process of capturing moving images and recording them in a digital format. It involves the use of...
structured illumination microscopyStructured illumination microscopy (SIM) is an advanced optical imaging technique used in microscopy to enhance the...
equalized-response densitometerA densitometer having a receiver that indicates when a desired radiation level has been attained.
microscopicCharacteristic of an object so small in size or so fine in structure that it cannot be seen by the unaided eye. A...
enantiomerEnantiomers are a pair of molecules that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other, similar to left and right...
laser-triggered switchingA process by which the ionizing capabilities of a laser beam are used to break initiate conduction between pairs of...
acoustic surface waveAn acoustic surface wave, often abbreviated as ASW, is a type of mechanical wave that travels along the surface of a...
scintillation crystalA scintillation crystal, also known simply as a scintillator, is a material that emits light when it interacts with ionizing...
doublet1. A compound lens consisting of two elements. If there is an air space between the elements it is called an...
tunnelingAn observed effect of the ability of certain atomic particles to pass through a barrier that they cannot pass over because...
light-activated silicon-controlled rectifierA PN-PN device with incident light taking the place of gate current; three of the four semiconductor regions are available...
spectrum measuring instrumentA traveling microscope or an automatic microdensitometer used to measure the spectrum plate obtained in a spectrograph.
turbidityTurbidity is a measure of the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by the presence of suspended particles. These...
silicon photodiodeA silicon photodiode is a semiconductor device that converts light into an electrical current. It is a type of photodetector...
mode 1 (and mode 2)In compact disc systems, the two principal frame formats for data storage. Mode 1 devotes 2048 bytes to user data, reserving...
Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensorThe Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor is an optical device used for measuring the wavefront aberrations of an optical system....
periscopeAn optical instrument designed to displace the line of sight in a vertical direction. For submarines and other military uses...
terahertz spectrometerA terahertz spectrometer is a scientific instrument used to measure and analyze the properties of materials in the terahertz...
feature extractionIn image processing and machine vision, the process in which an initial measurement pattern or some subsequence of...
adaptation (visual adaptation)Visual adaptation refers to the process by which the visual system adjusts to changes in the environment or stimuli over...
cathode-ray tubeA vacuum tube with an electron gun at one end and a fluorescent screen at the other. Electrons emitted from a heated...
optical surfaceA reflecting or refracting surface contained within an optical system.
luminaireA complete unit containing a light source, globe, reflector, housing, socket and other necessary components for lighting.
near-infrared spectroscopy cerebral oximetryA monitoring technique used to measure the oxygen saturation levels in the brains of patients, commonly in operating room...
molybdenum diselenideMolybdenum diselenide (MoSe2) is a dichalcogenide compound composed of molybdenum (Mo) and selenium (Se). It belongs to the...
spectral flow cytometrySpectral flow cytometry is an advanced flow cytometry technique that expands the capabilities of traditional flow cytometry...
translucentPertaining to materials having the property of reflecting a part and transmitting a part of the incident radiation.
attoampereAn attoampere (aA) is a unit of electric current in the International System of Units (SI). It is equal to one quintillionth...
wide-angle lensA wide-angle lens is a type of camera lens that has a shorter focal length than a standard or normal lens, allowing it to...
sandwich holographyThe simultaneous exposure of two holographic plates with emulsions facing the object. After deformation, a second pair of...
chronophotographThe continuous record containing the series of pictures formed by chronophotographic methods.
bandgapIn semiconductor physics, the term bandgap refers to the energy range in a material where no electronic states are allowed....
parallel scanningParallel scanning refers to a method of acquiring data or images simultaneously from multiple sources or in parallel, rather...
optical Fourier transformThe optical Fourier transform is a mathematical operation applied to optical signals that involves transforming a spatial...
charge-coupled deviceA charge-coupled device (CCD) is a type of electronic image sensor used in various imaging devices, including digital...
diode-pumped solid-state laserA diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) is a type of laser system that uses semiconductor diode lasers to pump energy into...
zirconium arcA small bulb containing a conducting gas, an arc being formed between a metal ring and a tiny zirconium electrode near the...
anisotropyAnisotropy refers to the property of exhibiting different values or characteristics when measured in different directions....
imagery rectificationPhotogrammetric compensation for incidental camera movement (which prevents attainment of true vertical photographs) whereby...
critical flicker frequencyRelative to a light source, the frequency at which the source appears to fluctuate in light intensity half the time and...
splice trayA container that prevents spliced fibers from becoming damaged or being misplaced.
Sonnar lensA photographic objective that uses the thick meniscus principle to obtain its power. It is designed to photograph small...
addressability (optical)Optical addressability refers to the capability to control or manipulate individual elements that emit or modulate light...
absolute luminance thresholdThe absolute luminance threshold is the lowest luminance level of a light source or illuminated object that can be detected...
active transportActive transport is a biological process by which cells move molecules or ions across their cell membrane against their...
photovoltaic detector
scientific CMOS cameraA scientific CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) camera is a type of digital camera specifically designed for...
component1. A constituent part. It may consist of two or more parts cemented together, or with near and approximately matching...
starting voltageIn a laser, the voltage necessary to initiate electrical discharge, somewhat higher than that needed to sustain it.
piezoelectric transducers and ceramic materialsPiezoelectric transducers are devices that utilize the piezoelectric effect to convert electrical energy into mechanical...
narrow-angle dark-field illuminationAn imaging system designed to highlight small deviations in a planar reflective object such as a mirror. The system can be...
active-matrix liquid crystal displayAn active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) is a type of flat-panel display technology that utilizes an array of...
cold fingerA cryogenically cooled component incorporated into the Dewar of an infrared detector assembly to maintain the sensing...
pointer eyepieceA Huygenian eyepiece containing a pointer at its focal plane that is used -- when viewing an object through the eyepiece --...
passive optical networkA passive optical network (PON) is a telecommunications network architecture that uses optical fibers and passive optical...
saturable absorberA saturable absorber is a type of optical device that exhibits variable absorption properties depending on the intensity of...
3D scanners3D scanners are devices used to capture the three-dimensional shape and characteristics of physical objects or environments....
Weibull distributionA statistical means of characterizing the failure of a fiber or device as related to strain or time. Results are plotted on...
polarization photometerA photometer having a pair of Nicol prisms introduced into the beam from the brighter of two sources to be compared. Turning...
crustA stain in a glass surface.
acoustical hologramAn acoustical hologram refers to a three-dimensional representation of sound waves in space, analogous to optical holography...
heat sinkA heat sink for a laser is a device designed to absorb and dissipate the excess heat generated by the laser during...
Airy discThe central peak (including everything interior to the first zero or dark ring) of the focal diffraction pattern of a...
gray1. A measure of absorbed dose, equal to the energy imparted by ionizing radiation to a mass of matter corresponding to 1 J...
aiming beamA visible laser beam generated coaxially with an infrared or other invisible laser beam to aid in its positioning.
Fresnel diffraction1. Also known as near-field diffraction. The field of radiation sent through an aperture in an absorbing screen at large...
circumzenithal arcThe halo phenomenon of a brightly colored arc having the colors of the rainbow and lying parallel to the horizon.
halo1. The faintly hued ring that is seen to surround a light source viewed through fog or light clouds. The size of scattering...
Polarization ImagingA subsurface imaging technique based upon the polarization of light reflected off an object. The polarization of reflected...
Fresnel lensA Fresnel lens is a type of optical lens that consists of a series of concentric grooves or steps carved into a flat, thin...
advanced driver assistance systemsAdvanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) refers to a set of safety features and technologies designed to assist drivers in...
high-pressure cloud chamberA cloud chamber designed to maintain the gas within it at a high pressure as a means of reducing the range of the...
Ti:sapphire laserA Ti:sapphire laser is a type of solid-state laser that utilizes a titanium-doped sapphire crystal as the gain medium. The...
retroreflectionRetroreflection is a phenomenon in optics where light is reflected back toward its source, typically in a direction nearly...
nonlinear crystalA nonlinear crystal is a type of crystal that exhibits nonlinear optical properties when subjected to intense...
accessible radiationAccessible radiation refers to the portion of radiation from a source that can be reached or detected by humans,...
volume Bragg gratingsVolume Bragg gratings (VBGs) are specialized optical elements that consist of periodic variations in refractive index...
neuromorphicNeuromorphic refers to the design and development of computing systems or devices that are inspired by the structure and...
lapA metal tool used to grind lenses with loose abrasive (see diamond cutting tool). The functional surface of the lap is...
vacuum breakerA valve that serves to release air into an evacuated system.
surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopySurface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an analytical technique that combines the principles of Raman spectroscopy...
liquid marbleLiquid marble refers to a unique form of microscale liquid encapsulation, where small droplets of liquid are coated with a...
leukocyteLeukocytes, commonly known as white blood cells, are a crucial component of the immune system in vertebrates, including...
metabolic imagingMetabolic imaging refers to the visualization and quantification of metabolic processes within living organisms, tissues, or...
linear image sensorA linear image sensor is a type of solid-state electronic device used to capture and convert light into electrical signals....
fiber-coupled LEDA fiber-coupled LED (light-emitting diode) refers to an LED device that is optically coupled to an optical fiber for the...
aperture illuminationThe amplitude, polarization and phase contained in the field distribution over the aperture.
photoresistPhotoresist is a light-sensitive material used in photolithography processes, particularly in the fabrication of...
borescopeA device for the internal inspection of hard-to-get-at mechanical parts, such as rifle barrels, sewer pipes, oil wells, or...
actinideThe actinides are a series of 15 chemical elements in the periodic table, with atomic numbers from 89 to 103. They are named...
Lorentz oscillator modelThe Lorentz oscillator model is a theoretical model used in physics to describe the response of a charged particle (such as...
photovoltaic cellA photovoltaic cell, commonly known as a solar cell, is a semiconductor device that directly converts light energy into...
interlayer attractionInterlayer attraction refers to the attractive forces between adjacent layers of atoms or molecules in a material,...
fiber jointsFiber joints, also known as fiber optic splices, refer to the connection points where two optical fibers are permanently...
sondeA ruggedized scintillation counter used in oil well logging. The cylindrical housing contains a gamma ray source, a...
holographic cameraA holographic camera, also known as a holographic imaging system or holographic recorder, is a specialized device used to...
modulation transfer function analysis/measurement equipmentMTF analysis/measurement equipment refers to instruments and tools used to measure and analyze the modulation transfer...
erbium-doped fiber amplifierAn optical fiber that can be used to amplify an optical input. Erbium rare earth ions are added to the fiber core material...
semiconductorA semiconductor is a type of material that has electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator. In...
Weissenberg methodThe Weissenberg method, named after the German physicist Karl Weissenberg, is a technique used in x-ray crystallography for...
fiber photometryAn optical recording technique that uses light source(s), a beamsplitting cube, light detector(s) and an optical fiber...
claddingThe low-refractive-index material that surrounds the core of an optical fiber to contain core light while protecting against...
texelA contraction for "texture element." A base unit used in computer graphics that defines the surface of three-dimensional...
modified chemical vapor depositionModified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) is a technique used in the fabrication of optical fibers. It is a specialized form...
uniformly redundant arrayArray used in coded-aperture imaging experiments with two-beam CO2 lasers that provide an artifact-free process, faithful...
drum scannerAn image-processing device that scans in a straight line parallel to the axis of a rotating cylinder to which the material...
crystalA solid with a structure that exhibits a basically symmetrical and geometrical arrangement. A crystal may already possess...
smart citiesSmart cities are urban environments that use information and communication technologies (ICT) and data-driven solutions to...
vertical external cavity surface-emitting laserA laser that has a surface-emitting semiconductor gain element coupled to an external mirror designed to complete the laser...
simultaneous location and mappingTechnology that uses data from an array of sensors, one of which is commonly lidar, to solve the problem of creating a map...
photographic photometryA form of photometric measurement, often used with light sources that are transparent or fluctuating, in which a...
additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a manufacturing process that involves creating three-dimensional...
circular dichroismCircular dichroism (CD) is a spectroscopic technique used to study the structural characteristics of chiral (asymmetric)...
contrastThe apparent difference in brightness between light and dark areas of an image. For a light target against a dark...
beam profilingBeam profiling is a technique used to characterize and analyze the spatial intensity distribution of a laser beam. It...
optical bistabilityThe phenomenon that can render an optical resonator the equivalent of a semiconductor flip-flop. A bistable device will...
negative ghostA ghost image that has the reverse lightness relations of the original image. This phenomenon is a common optical illusion...
deep multiphoton microscopyDeep multiphoton microscopy is an advanced imaging technique used in biological and biomedical research to visualize...
spatial intensity perturbationA beam instability, induced by index of refraction inhomogeneities and component damage of dirt and dust particles, that...
photon fluxPhoton flux refers to the rate at which photons (particles of light) pass through a unit area per unit time. It is a measure...
zoom lensAn optical system of variable focal length, the focal plane remaining in a fixed position. This result is achieved by moving...
design and engineering consulting servicesDesign and engineering consulting services refer to professional services provided by specialized firms or individuals to...
law of BrewsterThe law stating that when light strikes a surface at such an angle that the reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular...
Wynne-Rosin telescopeA Cassegrain telescope having a parabolic primary mirror, a spherical secondary mirror and a zero-power doublet in the...
anaglyphAn image that can be studied three-dimensionally through a pair of complementary color filters composed of two superimposed...
Photoelastic equipment and suppliesPhotoelastic equipment and supplies refer to instruments and materials used in photoelasticity, a technique used to analyze...
Nomarski microscopyAlso referred to as differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy; Nomarski microscopy is a unique form of microscopy...
high dynamic rangeHigh dynamic range (HDR) refers to a technology that allows for a broader and more dynamic range of luminosity in visual...
hyperspectral imagingHyperspectral imaging is an advanced imaging technique that captures and processes information from across the...
augmented realityAugmented reality (AR) is a technology that integrates digital information, typically in the form of computer-generated...
isolatorIn the context of electronics and optics, an isolator refers to a device that allows the transmission of signals in one...
optical strain sensorsOptical strain sensors are devices that utilize optical principles to measure the deformation or strain experienced by a...
heat affected zoneThe heat-affected zone (HAZ) refers to the portion of a material, typically metal, that experiences changes in its...
optogeneticsA discipline that combines optics and genetics to enable the use of light to stimulate and control cells in living tissue,...
ductingPropagation of electromagnetic waves through the Earth's atmosphere in a path that conforms to the curvature of the Earth...
swindle ghost imageA positive after-image that is maintained for a minute or more.
electroless platingThe deposition of a metallic coating, usually nickel, on a component by chemical means rather than by electroplating; the...
computer graphics workstationThe physical area containing an assembly of computer graphics equipment for presenting generated images and allowing...
dark-line spectrumA spectrum having some lines that are darker than others or that contrast against a light, continuous-spectrum background.
active regionIn the context of a laser diode, the active region is a critical part of the device where the primary light generation...
diffuse reflectance spectroscopyDiffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) is a nondestructive analytical technique used to investigate the optical properties...
phototoxicityPhototoxicity refers to the harmful effects caused by exposure to light, particularly intense or ultraviolet (UV) light, on...
sensitometerAn instrument for determining the sensitivity of a photographic film to light. The film is given either a stepped exposure...
modulation bandwidthThe highest frequency at which a laser diode can be driven and still be modulated acceptably that further results in the...
aerial reconnaissanceThe use of optical or electronic recording systems to extract information from the terrain, while aloft, for reconnaissance...
fiber laserA fiber laser is a type of laser in which the active gain medium is an optical fiber doped with rare-earth ions such as...
luminescent greenhouse collectorA collector for photovoltaic power generation that consists of a thin plate that strongly absorbs sunlight striking its...
variable-focus lensA lens assembly containing several movable elements to permit changing of the effective focal length (EFL). Unlike a zoom...
virtual histologyVirtual histology refers to the use of digital technology and computational methods to simulate or recreate histological...
aperture distortionA loss of resolution or detail in a television signal caused by the size of the electron scanning beam.
spectral integral densityWith respect to color photography, the measurement, at a given wavelength, of the way the color film modulates the radiant...
lens testing equipmentLens testing equipment refers to a range of specialized tools and instruments used to evaluate the optical performance,...
ophthalmicPertaining to the human eye.
excess noise factorA factor, F, indicating the increase in shot noise in an avalanche photodiode as compared with the ideal multiplier, which...
liquid core optical fiberMultimode straight fiber capable of transporting linearly polarized light with any incident polarization angle, and in which...
analog-to-analogAnalog-to-analog (AA) refers to the process or system that involves the conversion or transmission of analog signals from...
embedded visionEmbedded vision refers to the integration of computer vision technologies into various embedded systems, devices, or...
distributed Bragg reflectorA device similar to distributed feedback lasers in construction and operation, but in which the period grating that produces...
electrophoretic displayAn electrophoretic display, often referred to as an electronic paper display or e-paper display, is a type of electronic...
Rayleigh scatteringRayleigh scattering is a phenomenon that occurs when light waves interact with particles or molecules that are much smaller...
luminosityLuminosity refers to the total amount of energy emitted by an astronomical object, typically measured per unit time. It...
camera shutterAn apparatus, designed for use with a camera, that is used to rapidly open the path from lens to film, to maintain the...
multi-axis alignmentMulti-axis alignment refers to the process of aligning or adjusting components or systems in multiple spatial dimensions or...
phototheodoliteA camera equipped with angular scales in altitude and azimuth. The scale readings are imprinted on the film when an exposure...
free radicalsShort-lived molecular or atomic particles, with an unpaired electron, that play an important part in many photochemical...
active opticsActive optics refers to a technology used in telescopes and other optical instruments to improve the quality of images by...
grain boundaryIn a multicrystalline material, the meeting point between crystallites.
photon jetA photon jet is a narrow, highly collimated beam of light that is formed when light interacts with small dielectric...
Geometrical opticsThe area of optics in which the propagation of light is described by geometrical lines (or rays) governed by Fermat's...
visual binariesA pair of stars (double star) that can be seen separately with a telescope, generally by setting a filar micrometer for the...
Fresnel reflectionFresnel reflection refers to the reflection of light at the interface between two different media with different refractive...
extensometer1. A strainmeter capable of measuring the change in the relationship between two reference points, provided that the points...
image intensifierAn image intensifier, also known as an image intensification tube or image intensification device, is a specialized...
chirped-pulse amplification laserA laser whose pulses are expanded, using gratings and optical fibers, before amplification and compressed to increase beam...
Haidinger fringesAlso known as constant angle or constant deviation fringes. The interference fringes observed with dense flat plates near...
gauze techniqueThe masking of all openings of an optical transform -- except the hole at the symmetrical center -- with a thin wire gauze...
vertical imbalanceThe difference in base up or down prism power at corresponding points located on the two lenses of a pair of spectacles.
acceptorIn various scientific fields, the term acceptor has distinct meanings:
Chemistry: An acceptor is an atom, ion, or...
ferroelectric materialsFerroelectric materials are a type of dielectric materials that exhibit spontaneous electric polarization, meaning they...
laser sinteringLaser sintering is an additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that involves using a laser to selectively fuse...
aplanatic surfaceAn aplanatic surface is an optical surface that is specifically designed or shaped to minimize spherical aberration and...
filar eyepieceA measuring eyepiece with a screw-micrometer-driven crosshair used to measure the size of the image.
hybrid mosaic on stacked siliconA sensor module used in advanced pattern recognition systems, containing signal-processing integrated circuits stacked and...
linear motionLinear motion is the movement of an object or particle along a straight path in a single direction. It is one of the...
aerial photographyPhotographing of terrain on the ground and objects in the air by cameras mounted in aircraft; utilized in satellites,...
Rayleigh rangeIn the region of a Gaussian beam focus by a diffraction-limited lens, it is the axial distance from the point of minimum...
oculometerAn electro-optical infrared tracker consisting of a beamsplitter, an illuminating source, an image dissector tube and an...
arc light sourceIn present usage, especially for spectroscopic identification, an arc between electrodes that serves as a radiation source....
unmanned aerial vehicleAn unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without a human pilot onboard. UAVs are remotely...
colorimeterA colorimeter is a device used to measure and quantify the color characteristics of an object or a light source. It provides...
cassetteA container designed to hold recording material (film, video- and audiotape) so that when it is loaded into a recording...
half bandwidthThe term half bandwidth (HBW) generally refers to the width of a spectral band or frequency range at half of its maximum...
capnometerAn instrument incorporating an infrared detector assembly, used to analyze carbon dioxide gases and in medical applications...
excited-state absorptionIn laser pumping, parasitic absorption that occurs at certain wavelengths, decreasing pump efficiency and gain.
laser strainmeterAn instrument usually consisting of a very long interferometer, 3 to 800 m, and a laser light source for the study and...
retroreflectivityRetroreflectivity refers to the property of a surface or material to reflect light back to its source, regardless of the...
soliton laserA color center laser whose output is coupled to an external control laser cavity and then fed back to the main laser cavity...
laser-induced cut and patchA process used in the design, repair and customization of integrated circuits. A low-power laser etches a silicon wafer...
focus control1. A mechanism that permits the focusing of an optical system.2. A means of obtaining the sharpest image from a cathode-ray...
crystal ovenA temperature-controlled container used to stabilize the temperature and resonant frequency of a crystal found in a...
data cubeA multidimensional array of values that is commonly used in programming to describe a time series of image data. Each...
microcombA microcomb, short for microresonator frequency comb, is a novel photonic device that generates a precise series of evenly...
threshold testIn laser damage testing, the exposure of many sites of a sample to different intensities of laser irradiation to discover...
optically compensating zoom systemA variable focal length lens system that retains the object in focus as one or more lenses move as a unit along its optical...
soft mold blockingBlocking by means of a pitch ring, pitch button or a totally pitched block. Pitch, containing a soft filter, may be used...
line-scan recordingA type of recording in which the recording line remains fixed and the recording medium is fed past the recording device.
infrared beaconAn infrared source, set in a stationary position, that is used as a reference in certain navigational systems.
waferIn the context of electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, a wafer refers to a thin, flat disk or substrate made of a...
atomic clockAn atomic clock is a highly precise timekeeping device that uses the vibrations or oscillations of atoms as a reference for...
metaboliteA metabolite is any small molecule that is a product of metabolism, the chemical processes that occur within living...
molded blankA blank whose basic surface curves are attained by heating and forming a given weight of raw glass; a rough glass blank...
Laurent polarimeterA Laurent polarimeter is an instrument used in optics for measuring the rotation of plane-polarized light caused by...
population inversionThe condition in which there are more atomic systems in the upper of two energy levels than in the lower, so stimulated...
fluoresceinFluorescein is a synthetic organic compound extensively used as a fluorescent tracer in various applications, particularly...
convolutional neural networkA powerful and flexible machine-learning approach that can be used in machine vision to help solve difficult problems....
photodiode detectorA photodiode detector is a semiconductor device that converts light into an electrical current. It operates based on the...
case hardeningA surface heat-treating process that produces a highly stressed surface. In case-hardening of glass, a plate of glass is...
splice closureA container which secures multiple splice trays and protects the trays and their contents from damage.
equal-energy whiteA stimulus that contains equal energy at each wavelength in the visible region of the spectrum.
optical assemblyAn optical assembly refers to a collection of optical components that are carefully arranged and aligned to perform a...
time-lapse optical coherence tomographyTime-lapse optical coherence tomography (OCT) refers to a medical imaging technique that captures a series of sequential OCT...
Abbe refractometerAn Abbe refractometer is a scientific instrument used to measure the refractive index of liquids and solids. Named after the...
actuatorAn actuator is a mechanical or electromechanical device that is responsible for moving or controlling a mechanism or system....
laser cell sortingA moving group of fluid-suspended biological species directed through separate channels by which the population is isolated....
cleanroomAn area in which airborne particulates can be monitored and controlled so that given size particles do not exceed a...
excitation1. The process by which an atom acquires energy sufficient to raise it to a quantum state higher than its ground state. 2....
aperture stopA physical constraint, often a lens retainer, that limits the diameter of the axial light bundle allowed to pass through a...
chromaticity diagramThe plane diagram produced by plotting one of the three chromaticity coordinates (X,Y,Z) against another. The most common...
ferroelectricityThe phenomenon whereby certain crystals exhibit spontaneous electric polarization. It is analogous with ferromagnetism.
Mie scatteringMie scattering, named after the German physicist Gustav Mie, refers to the scattering of electromagnetic radiation (such as...
cursorOn a display monitor, a small, mobile rectangle, cross-hair or pointer that locates a feature in an image that is the object...
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...
laser texturingLaser texturing is a manufacturing process that involves using a laser beam to selectively modify the surface of a material,...
light source powerThe electrical power used to stimulate any light source. Power supplies may be step-up or step-down transformers; rectifiers...
solid opticsOptical elements arranged with no spaces between, so that the light travels only through glass, not air.
photometricPertaining to the measurement of the intensity of light.
volumetric imagingVolumetric imaging refers to the capture, visualization, and analysis of three-dimensional (3D) information from a volume of...
vapor degreasingA method of cleaning and drying coated optical components. The cooled parts are placed in a container above a boiling...
polaritonA polariton is a quasiparticle resulting from the strong coupling between photons (light particles) and certain types of...
monomer exchange diffusionProcess that occurs when a polymerized soft plastic rod with higher refractive index is placed in a bath of a lower...
rhomboid prismA reflecting prism that is rhomboidal in shape. It has two parallel transmitting faces, and two parallel reflecting faces;...
annular eclipseA type of solar eclipse that occurs when the sun is at perihelion and the moon is at apogee. Because the apparent size of...
diaphragmA flanged or plain ring with a restricted aperture, located in an optical system at any of several points, that cuts off...
fluorescence lifetime imagingFluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) is an advanced imaging technique that provides information about the lifetime of...
inductanceInductance is a fundamental property of an electrical circuit or component that describes its ability to store energy in a...
CID cameraCID, or charge injection device, camera refers to a type of imaging device that utilizes a specific kind of solid-state...
instantaneous field of viewInstantaneous field of view (iFOV) is a term commonly used in the context of remote sensing, imaging systems, and optical...
ospinOpsins are a group of light-sensitive proteins found primarily in the retinas of vertebrate and invertebrate eyes, as well...
cosine law of illuminationLaw relating the illuminance (or irradiance) of a surface to the cosine of the angle, q, between the normal to the surface...
optical tooling targetSets of paired lines carefully designed to give the most accurate pointing possible for various lengths of sight.
double slitA pair of long, slender parallel apertures used in experiments on diffraction and interference.
3D printing3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), is a manufacturing process that builds three-dimensional objects...
stoneAn opaque inclusion in glass that contains undissolved or crystalline material. Also known as a seed.
single-mode waveguide (or fiber)An optical waveguide in which only the lowest order bound mode, which may consist of a pair of orthogonally polarized...
abridged spectrophotometerAn abridged spectrophotometer refers to a simplified or compact version of a traditional spectrophotometer, which is a...
geometric opticsA field of physics that deals with light as if it truly were composed of rays diverging in various directions from the...
fiber optic windowThe face of a cathode-ray tube (CRT) that has a fiber optic sheet attached to its surface. The sheet's fibers are at right...
Brace-Lemon spectrophotometerA spectrophotometer having a pair of identical collimators with two Glan polarizing prisms, one fixed in azimuth and the...
hyperchromic shiftHyperchromic shift refers to an increase in the absorption of light, leading to a higher absorbance, often observed in...
luminescenceLuminescence is the emission of light that occurs without the involved substance undergoing a significant increase in...
relative brightnessA figure of merit corresponding to the amount of light seen by a viewer through binoculars. A higher number indicates a...
filovirusFiloviruses are a family of viruses that are responsible for severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fevers in humans and...
fiber optic cable assemblyA fiber optic cable assembly refers to a complete unit consisting of optical fibers, connectors, protective jackets, and...
copper oxide photocellAn early type of nonvacuum photocell consisting of a layer of copper oxide on a metallic substrate, with a thin transparent...
autofluorescenceAutofluorescence refers to the natural emission of fluorescence exhibited by certain biological structures or molecules when...
gradient-index profileThe term gradient-index profile refers to a specific type of refractive index distribution within an optical material. In...
atomic force microscopeAn atomic force microscope (AFM) is a high-resolution imaging and measurement instrument used in nanotechnology, materials...
antigenAn antigen is any substance that is capable of triggering an immune response in an organism. Antigens are typically proteins...
vibrational transitionA vibrational transition refers to a change in the vibrational energy of a molecule. Molecules consist of atoms that are...
computer-generated holographic scannerA phase reflection scanner that eliminates the need for a complex translation device while maintaining a high-energy-density...
image motion compensationThe active control of various aspects (optical element position, airspace thickness, etc.) of an optical system that...
superresolutionSuperresolution refers to the enhancement or improvement of the spatial resolution beyond the conventional limits imposed by...
compound crosspointA device for obtaining very low crosstalk in a crosspoint by arranging two simple switches along different arms of a passive...
short wavelength infraredShort wavelength infrared (SWIR) refers to the portion of the infrared spectrum that encompasses wavelengths roughly between...
hydrophobicHydrophobic is a term used to describe substances or materials that repel or do not readily interact with water. The word...
residual gas analysisA measurement in optical thin-film coating processes whereby the gases remaining in the vacuum chamber after coating are...
stereoscopic rangefinderA rangefinder similar to a pair of binoculars with a long base, a dot or other wander mark provided in each eyepiece field,...
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assayAn enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a laboratory technique used to detect and measure the presence of specific...
actinic radiationActinic radiation refers to electromagnetic radiation that has enough energy to induce photochemical reactions. This type of...
equilibrium lengthThe length of optical waveguide needed to attain equilibrium mode distribution for a specified excitation condition.
electron-beam gun1. A device generally used in a cathode-ray or camera tube to emit a stream of electrons moving at uniform velocity in a...
cross-linked plasticPlastic in which the polymer chains become irreversibly joined during molding. The cross-linking can be achieved by heating,...
loose-tube bufferingIn fiber optic cable, containment of the fiber or fibers within an outer protective tube in which they can move to some...
stereoscopic radiusThe maximum distance at which the stereoscopic effect may be observed. With respect to the unaided human eye, it has been...
line-scan cameraA line-scan camera, also known as a line-scan image sensor or linear array camera, is a type of digital camera designed to...
scanning microdensitometerA microdensitometer that contains a scanning stage to provide simultaneous representations of position vs. density.
digital radiographyMedical diagnostic (x-ray) imaging using laser printers to produce high-resolution digital hard copy instead of film exposed...
absorption lensAn absorption lens is a type of optical lens that not only focuses or diverges light but also significantly absorbs certain...
photoacoustic spectroscopyA method for obtaining the optical absorption spectra of solids, semisolids, liquids and gases. PAS is inherently...
fluoride glassOptical glass containing zirconium fluoride that results in special characteristics such as improved transmission.
color visionColor vision refers to the ability of organisms to perceive and distinguish different wavelengths of light as different...
dispersion-shifted fiberA dispersion-shifted fiber (DSF) refers to a type of optical fiber designed to minimize the effects of chromatic dispersion,...
micro-optical coherence tomographyMicro-optical coherence tomography (micro-OCT) is an imaging technique that is an adaptation of optical coherence tomography...
after-imageThat image remaining on the detector after the primary stimulus has been removed. In the visual system, the after-image...
photoelasticityThe process of determining, with the aid of plane-polarized light, the stress distribution in materials under complex...
barrier layerIn the fabrication of an optical fiber, a layer that can be used to create a boundary against OH-ion diffusion into the core.
hair-trigger operationTriggering a laser at a predetermined time by pumping it to a level just below its threshold and then using an auxiliary...
reactive evaporationReactive evaporation refers to a process in thin-film deposition where a material is deposited onto a substrate through...
YAG crystalA YAG crystal refers to a solid-state crystal made of yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), which is a synthetic crystalline...
dewettingDewetting is a phenomenon in materials science and physics where a thin film or coating spontaneously undergoes a process of...
continuous waveContinuous wave (CW) refers to a type of signal or transmission where the signal is constant and does not vary with time. In...
supercontinuumSupercontinuum refers to a broad spectrum of light that spans a wide range of wavelengths, typically from the visible to the...
gamma rayThe spontaneous emittance of electromagnetic radiation by the nucleus of certain radioactive elements during their quantum...
sun-tracking concentratorControlled beam technology that introduces beams of sunlight through holes in a roof that are relayed throughout the...
double-clad fiberDouble-clad fiber (DCF) is a specialized optical fiber that features two concentric cladding layers surrounding a core. The...
aptamerAn aptamer is a short, single-stranded DNA or RNA molecule that can bind to a specific target molecule with high affinity...
ophthalmologyOphthalmology is a branch of medicine that focuses on the anatomy, physiology, and diseases of the eyes and visual system....
neutral density coatingA coating applied to a neutral density glass that is designed to reduce the amount of light evenly across the transmitted...
oscillation thresholdPoint at which a laser's material gain is equal to, or greater than, the circuit losses.
quasi-monochromatic lightSingle wavelength source with a larger linewidth often containing multiple longitudinal modes.
optical materialsOptical materials refer to substances or compounds specifically chosen for their optical properties and used in the...
x-ray diffractionThe bending of x-rays by the regular layers of molecules in a crystal acting like a very small diffraction grating. The...
holmium laserHolmium lasers are a type of medical laser that utilizes holmium-doped crystals as the gain medium. The term holmium laser...
neon tubeAn electron tube containing neon gas that uses the transmission of an electric current through the gas to ionize the neon...
actinometerAn actinometer is a device used to measure the intensity of radiation, particularly solar radiation or light, often with a...
Secondary Speckle PatternA self-interference effect that generates random patterns; secondary speckle pattern (SSP) typically occurs in diffuse...
chromophoreA naturally occurring pigment in tissue that may selectively absorb certain wavelengths and can be used to aid in targeting...
flexible displayA flexible display refers to a type of electronic visual display that is designed to be bendable, foldable, or rollable,...
NTSC triangleThe triangle in a chromaticity diagram joining the chromaticities of the NTSC phosphors, and containing all chromaticities...
excitation potentialThe amount of energy required to raise the energy level of an atom; a necessity if the atom is to radiate energy. High...
MylarE.I. duPont's trade name for a polyester film. The most practical beamsplitter for use beyond the 15-µm wavelength...
magnetorheological finishingMagnetorheological finishing (MRF) is a precision optics polishing technique used for shaping and finishing optical surfaces...
bosonA boson is a type of fundamental particle that follows Bose-Einstein statistics, which dictate the statistical distribution...
microchannel plateA microchannel plate (MCP) is a specialized electron multiplier device used in various applications such as particle...
anisotropicAnisotropic is a term used to describe a material or substance that exhibits different properties or behaviors in different...
double-pass transmittance hologramA hologram having an object wave that has been transmitted through the transparent object media to a mirror, reflected again...
gram positiveGram-positive bacteria are a group of bacteria that have a thick cell wall composed primarily of a substance called...
functional near-infrared spectroscopyFunctional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that measures changes in hemoglobin...
laser markingLaser marking is a process in which a laser beam is used to mark or engrave a surface by altering its properties or...
phenotypeIn biology, particularly genetics and evolutionary biology, the phenotype refers to the observable characteristics or traits...
germicidal UVGermicidal ultraviolet (GUV) refers to a specific range of UV radiation that has disinfectant properties capable of killing...
quantum wellA quantum well is a structure in quantum mechanics that confines particles, such as electrons or holes, in one spatial...
photon tunneling microscopeAn instrument in which visible light beyond the critical angle from a metallurgical microscope is focused on a reference...
adapter (optical adapter)An optical adapter typically refers to a device or component used in optical systems to facilitate connections between...
free-space opticsFree-space optics (FSO), also known as optical wireless communication or optical wireless networking, refers to the...
orange peelIn the context of imaging, particularly digital imaging and printing, "orange peel" refers to a texture or visual distortion...
modulatorA modulator is a device or component that modifies a carrier signal in order to encode information for transmission over a...
adaptive deconvolutionAdaptive deconvolution is a computational method that aims to improve the resolution and fidelity of signals or images that...
rhodamineRhodamine refers to a family of fluorescent organic dyes that are widely used in various fields, including biology,...
photogrammetryPhotogrammetry is a technique used to obtain accurate three-dimensional measurements of objects and environments through the...
neuromorphic vision sensorA neuromorphic vision sensor is a type of imaging device designed to mimic the structure and functioning of the human visual...
chirped mirrorsChirped mirrors are optical devices designed to manipulate the spectral properties of ultrashort laser pulses. They consist...
compensating glassAlso known as clear glass or clear filter. The clear glass plate is used to simulate a filter, in converging or diverging...
beamsplitterA beamsplitter is an optical device used to divide a beam of light into two or more separate beams, typically by reflecting...
relative indexThe ratio of the velocities of light in two adjacent media, neither of which is air.
intrinsic detectorA photodetector composed of a photoconductive material that, when exposed to radiation, conducts without the aid of added...
scratchA defect on a polished optical surface whose length is many times its width. Block reek is a chainlike scratch formed in...
swept-source laserA swept-source laser, also known as a wavelength-swept laser, is a type of laser that rapidly and continuously changes its...
scanning electron microscopeA scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a powerful imaging instrument used in scientific research, materials...
resonatorA resonator is a device or system that exhibits resonance, which is a phenomenon that occurs when an external force or...
aperture cardA combination 80-column computer card containing a 35-mm microfilm frame. Reference data can be punched onto the card to...
photon-richPhoton-rich typically refers to an environment or situation where there is an abundance of photons present. In the context...
metaverseThe term "metaverse" refers to a collective virtual shared space, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical...
lenticularAn array or mosaic of optical surfaces. May be a number of lenses closely packed to form multiple images or many parallel...
laser tubeThe device, usually made of glass or a similar material, that contains the resonant cavity and optics of a gas laser.
Nyquist criterionIn image acquisition (and sampling theory), the postulate that the pickup sampling frequency must be a minimum of twice as...
panoramic telescopeA telescope so manufactured that the image remains erect and the position of the eyepiece is unchanged as the line of sight...
f-Theta lensAn f-theta lens, also known as an f-theta scan lens or simply an f-theta lens system, is a specialized optical component...
halftone screenA plate containing a uniform pattern of transparent holes in an opaque background, the clear area being nearly equal to the...
filter kernalA function used in a convolution filtering operation. The image to be filtered is convolved with the filtering kernel to...
gallium arsenide phosphideGallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) is a semiconductor alloy composed of gallium (Ga), arsenic (As), and phosphorus (P). It...
long-wave infraredLong-wave infrared (LWIR) refers to a specific range of the infrared spectrum. Infrared radiation is divided into three main...
rectilinear scanningThe scanning of a region in a given sequence of slender, straight parallel strips.
ratiometryRatiometry is a technique used in various scientific fields, particularly in analytical chemistry and biochemistry, to...
star testingThe visual examination by a trained observer of the image of a point source. Any coloring or departure from the Airy disc...
analog-to-digitalAnalog-to-digital (A/D) is a process that converts continuous analog signals into discrete digital signals. This process...
back-side illuminationBack-side illumination (BSI) is a technology used in imaging sensors, particularly in digital cameras, where the light is...
nonlinear opticsNonlinear optics is a branch of optics that studies the optical phenomena that occur when intense light interacts with a...
cooled infrared detectorAn infrared detector that achieves a specified sensitivity through the application of certain cryogenic temperatures.
piezo wormA piezoelectric translator that moves up and down a spindle like a caterpillar. It clamps itself at one end, expands, clamps...
directed energyDirected energy refers to a type of energy that is emitted and transferred in a controlled direction. The term is often...
micro-roboticsMicro-robotics refers to the field of robotics that involves the design, development, and application of miniature robotic...
laser parametersLaser parameters are the characteristics that define the behavior and performance of a laser. These parameters can be...
visibleThat term pertaining to the spectral region that can be perceived by the eye.
glass bariumA type of glass containing barium oxide, which is added to increase the refractive index while maintaining a relatively low...
Bunsen-Roscoe lawThe law stating that the amount of chemical change produced is proportional to the amount of light absorbed. Actually, the...
vacuum ultraviolet sourceAny source that emits radiation of wavelengths between 100 and 300 nm. Instruments used to study these sources must be...
silicon carbide light-emitting diodesSilicon carbide (SiC) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor devices that emit light when an electric current is...
flash sensitometerA sensitometer that utilizes an electronic flashtube or a photoflash lamp as both the light source and the shutter for...
fiber Bragg gratingA fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is a type of optical filter that is inscribed or "written" into the core of an optical fiber. It...
impurity levelIn the context of optical materials, the term "impurity level" refers to the presence of foreign atoms or molecules within...
fiber optic gyroscopeA fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) is a type of gyroscope that uses the interference of light waves to detect changes in...
laser opticsLaser optics refers to a broad category of optical components and systems designed for manipulating and controlling laser...
flow channelIn various fields such as fluid dynamics, microfluidics, and biotechnology, a flow channel refers to a defined pathway...
quasi-linear theoryThe first nonlinear theory in plasma physics that details the time and space evolution of plasma wave instability from a...
antireflection coatingAn antireflection coating (AR coating) is a thin film or coating applied to optical surfaces, such as lenses or windows, to...
structural colorStructural color refers to coloration in materials that is not caused by pigments or dyes but is instead a result of the...
multiple lens cameraA camera that uses a rotating mirror to project sequential images onto lenses that are arranged in an arc. The reflected...
gas tubeAn electron tube whose current flow is affected by the pressure on the gas or vapor contained in the tube.
multimodal vision-language modelsMultimodal vision-language models (MVLMs) are advanced AI systems designed to understand and process information that...
telescope lensA telescope lens is a primary optical component of a telescope system that gathers and focuses light to form an image. It is...
thermographyThermography is a technique that involves the use of an infrared imaging device, called a thermal camera or infrared camera,...
sensor1. A generic term for detector. 2. A complete optical/mechanical/electronic system that contains some form of radiation...
indium gallium arsenide cameraAn InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide) camera is a type of imaging device that utilizes InGaAs sensors to capture images in the...
Compton scatteringThe phenomenon observed by A.H. Compton in 1923 -- that some scattered radiation possesses a longer wavelength and...
effect filterA color filter, generally used in photography, to emphasize certain color tones and to modify others in a picture for a more...
head-up displayAn optical system that superimposes a synthetic display providing navigational or weapon-aiming information on a pilot's or...
attosecond photonics sourcesAttosecond photonics sources refer to devices or systems that generate extremely short pulses of light on the order of...
Laser scanningLaser scanning is a technology used to create precise digital representations of physical objects or environments by...
biometricsBiometrics refers to the automated recognition of individuals based on their physiological or behavioral characteristics....
glass annealing furnaceA furnace, generally electrically heated, with a control system capable of following a cam by which the temperature can be...
metalensA metalens, short for "metasurface lens," is a type of optical lens that uses nanostructured materials to manipulate light...
index-guided laserA laser diode with an output beam contained in the active layer by means of a built-in refractive index profile formed in...
qubitA qubit, short for quantum bit, is the fundamental unit of information in quantum computing and quantum information...
dual attachment stationIn a dual-ring local area network, a node that is connected both to the primary, active ring and also to a secondary ring...
rectilinear systemAn optical system that is corrected for distortion and spherical aberration and therefore forms the image of a straight line...
beauty defectA defect on or in an optical element that does not appreciably impair the function of the surface.
digital twinA digital twin refers to a virtual representation or digital counterpart of a physical object, system, or process. This...
multimodality imagingA technique that combines two or more imaging processes in order to minimize the disadvantages within each of the...
hydrogelA hydrogel is a three-dimensional network of polymer chains that are hydrophilic, meaning they have a strong affinity for...
duplet lens systemAn optical system having two sets of components separated by an air space, while successive lenses in each set are cemented...
Michelson-Morley experimentAn optical experiment carried out conclusively in 1887 that demonstrated that the ether, a hypothetical medium postulated by...
complementary wavelengthAlso called complementary dominant wavelength. On a chromaticity diagram, the wavelength on the spectrum locus that lies on...
label-freeLabel-free refers to a technique or method that does not require the use of additional labels, tags, or markers to detect or...
lapping and polishing servicesLapping and polishing services involve specialized processes used to improve the surface finish and dimensional accuracy of...
carbon dioxide laserA gas laser in which the energy-state transitions between vibrational and rotational states of CO2 molecules give emission...
CMOS cameraA CMOS camera refers to an imaging device that employs a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor to...
Huygenian eyepieceAn ocular having two planoconvex lenses that are formed from similar glass and that are separated by a space equal to half...
quantum efficiencyQuantum efficiency (QE) is a measure of the effectiveness with which a device or system, typically in the context of...
burnishingThe process of lapping a thin edge of metal over the bevelled edge of a lens to maintain it within its cell.
photographic resolutionA measure of the ability of a photographic system to record fine detail. Usually stated in terms of cycles per millimeter on...
attosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopyAttosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopy (APAP) is an advanced technique in ultrafast spectroscopy that allows...
infrared signal generatorA device that combines electronic and optical techniques to form a monitored infrared signal between 1 and 14 µm. It...
magnificationThe ratio of the size of the image of an object to that of the object. The ratio of the linear size of the image to that of...
glassA noncrystalline, inorganic mixture of various metallic oxides fused by heating with glassifiers such as silica, or boric or...
Monte Carlo simulationSimulation of radiative transfer in which each photon is generated by a source and its path through the medium is...
cathode-ray tube faceplateA fiber optic end plate constructed by drawing a bundle of parallel fibers embedded in glass and cutting it into thin...
liquid mirrorA mirror composed of liquid, taking advantage of the parabolic shape of a spinning liquid and the fact that the mirror's...
ionosphereThe gas of charged particles that begins approximately 50 km above the surface of the Earth and contains a sufficient...
microRNAMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, single-stranded RNA molecules, typically consisting of about 19 to 24 nucleotides,...
waveguideA waveguide is a physical structure or device that is designed to confine and guide electromagnetic waves, such as radio...
Casimir forceThe Casimir force is a quantum phenomenon that results in an attractive force between two closely spaced uncharged...
optical coherence tomography imaging systemOptical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging technique used in medical diagnostics and biomedical research to obtain...
analogA physical variable that is proportionally similar to another variable over a specified range. An analog recording contains...
optical filterAn optical filter is a device that selectively transmits or blocks specific wavelengths, or colors, of light. Optical...
junction diodeA semiconductor device with the property of conducting current more easily in one direction than the other. It has two...
prism binocularsA pair of telescopes with prismatically erected images, mounted side by side with the eyepieces at the interocular distance...
sputtering equipmentSputtering equipment is machinery used in the process of physical vapor deposition (PVD), specifically sputtering....
actinismActinism refers to the property of radiation, particularly light, that enables it to produce photochemical effects. This...
holographic particle velocimetryA method of measuring flow velocity by seeding the flow with neutrally buoyant particles and using a pulsed laser to...
quantum detectorA photodetector in which an electrical charge is produced when incident photons change electrons within the detecting...
optical phase distortionOptical phase distortion refers to a phenomenon where the phase of an optical wavefront is altered as it propagates through...
back-wall photovoltaic cellA photovoltaic cell designed so that light travels through the front electrode and a semiconductor before it comes to the...
photon sieveA photon sieve is an optical device used in the field of optics and imaging. It's designed to focus and shape light,...
magnetron sputteringA variation from standard physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating techniques, magnetron sputtering is a plasma coating...
dichroic coatingA dichroic coating, also known as a dichroic filter or dichroic mirror, is an optical coating designed to selectively...
mask proximity correctionA technique used in photolithography of computer chips to compensate for errors caused by the proximity effect, which...
q-switched operationQ-switched operation, or q-switching, is a technique used in lasers to produce short and intense pulses of light. The term...
mode beatingIn optics, "mode beating" refers to an interference phenomenon that can occur in laser systems with multiple longitudinal...
phase-change optical discAn erasable data recording and storage medium that uses a laser to heat the crystalline surface of the disc to a certain...
lymphocyteA lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell (leukocyte) that plays a central role in the immune system. Lymphocytes are...
adjacency effectThe adjacency effect refers to a phenomenon in remote sensing and image analysis where the characteristics of an object or...
microscopyMicroscopy is a scientific technique that involves the use of microscopes to observe and study objects that are too small to...
quantum-ehanced metrologyQuantum-enhanced metrology refers to the use of quantum mechanics principles and techniques to enhance the precision and...
Geiger counterAlso called Geiger-Müller counter. An instrument designed to detect and measure radioactivity through the use of a...
dynamic stare sensorA type of mosaic detector array that combines features of scanning and staring sensors by using a small rapid scanning...
linear plasticA term for thermoplastic optical materials; that is, those in which the polymer chains remain linear after heating and...
optical artifactsOptical artifacts refer to undesired or unintended effects that can occur in optical systems, such as microscopes, cameras,...
interferometerAn interferometer is a scientific instrument that utilizes the principle of interference to measure differences in the path...
CMOS image sensorA CMOS image sensor, short for complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor image sensor, is a type of semiconductor device used...
fiber optic preformA fiber optic preform is a cylindrical glass rod or tube used as the starting material for manufacturing optical fibers. It...
swept source optical coherence tomographySwept-source optical coherence tomography is an imaging technique used in medical diagnostics, particularly in...
optical probeAn optical probe is a device equipped with optical components such as lenses, fibers, or detectors, designed to transmit and...
nanoimprint lithographyNanoimprint lithography (NIL) is a nanolithography technique used for fabricating nanoscale patterns on a substrate. It is a...
Rayleigh criterion of resolving powerWhen a lens system with a circular aperture is free of aberrations, the image of a point object will appear as a disc of...
mode sweepingA form of laser output noise that is caused by thermal, mechanical, or acoustical disturbances of the cavity length. Mode...
electron-beam recordingThe recording of the information contained in a modulated electron beam onto photographic or silicon resin-coated materials....
photoimmunotherapyPhotoimmunotherapy (PIT) is a medical treatment approach that combines elements of phototherapy and immunotherapy to target...
holographyHolography is a technique used to capture and reconstruct three-dimensional images using the principles of interference and...
aerial mappingThe use of photographs taken from the air to construct graphic maps and charts of ground surfaces.
sapphire windowA sapphire window refers to a transparent optical component made from sapphire crystal. Sapphire is a single-crystal form of...
permeabilityTypically represented by the Greek letter μ, magnetic permeability is the measure of a material's ability to generate and...
prismA prism is a geometric optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light. It is typically a solid, transparent...
telemeter1. The term used to describe any of the many instruments used to remotely record physical dimensions, such as strain,...
optoelectronicPertaining to a device that responds to optical power, emits or modifies optical radiation, or utilizes optical radiation...
optical manufacturing tools and machineryOptical manufacturing tools and machinery encompass a wide range of equipment, instruments, and systems used in the...
counting chamberIn microscopy, the chamber that is contained on a microscope slide to hold a certain amount of fluid. It is calibrated...
pixelA pixel, short for "picture element," is the smallest controllable element of a digital image or display. It is a...
PIN photodiodeA PIN photodiode is a type of photodetector or semiconductor device used to convert light signals into electrical signals....
electromagnonAn electromagnon is a quasiparticle excitation that combines aspects of both magnetism and electric polarization in a...
sapphire optical fiberSapphire optical fiber is a type of optical fiber made from single-crystal sapphire, which is a form of aluminum oxide...
pressurizationInjecting a gas (usually nitrogen) with a very low moisture content into the body of an optical instrument to create a...
electron multiplication charge-coupled device cameraAn EMCCD (electron-multiplying charge-coupled device) camera is a type of scientific camera specifically designed for...
freeform mirrorsFreeform mirrors refer to reflective optical components that deviate from traditional symmetric or rotationally symmetric...
lapping1. The process of wearing down the surface of a softer material by rubbing it under pressure against the surface of a harder...
aplanatic pointsAplanatic points refer to specific points in an optical system where certain aberrations, such as spherical aberration or...
electro-optic detectorA device that detects radiation by utilizing the influence of light in forming an electrical signal. It may be a phototube;...
laser frequency measurementMod Method of obtaining precise temporal mode characteristics.
forward-looking infraredA night-vision device that uses one or more infrared transducers to scan a scene in the 3- to 5-µm or 8- to...
refracted rayA light ray that has had its direction altered because of its traversing an air-to-glass interface at some angle. In an...
videodiscA disc whose surface contains recorded digital data at high-packing densities arranged in concentric rings. The data,...
spectrographic slitsThe slits in a spectrograph that form images of spectral lines. Slits may be bilateral or unilateral, and generally close...
rare earth dopantsRare earth dopants refer to elements from the lanthanide series, also known as rare earth elements, that are intentionally...
ultrasonic grating constantThe space between diffracting centers of an ultrasonic wave that is forming certain light diffraction spectra.
superfluorescenceThe process in which the normal rate of fluorescent emission from a substance is enhanced by virtue of the optical gain of...
medical lasersMedical lasers are devices that produce intense beams of light with specific characteristics and properties, which are used...
spheric lensA spheric lens, also known as a spherical lens, is a type of optical lens with at least one surface that is part of a...
photonic crystalsPhotonic crystals are artificial structures or materials designed to manipulate and control the flow of light in a manner...
virtual realityVirtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment or experience that can be...
mosaic detector arrayA group of photosensors arranged in a grid-like pattern covering the entire field of view, enabling them to record it all at...
CubeSatA CubeSat is a type of miniaturized satellite characterized by its standardized size and modular design. CubeSats are...
meridional planeThat plane in an optical system containing its optical axis and the chief ray. Also called the tangential plane.
triple aplanatA compound lens consisting of two negative lenses of flint glass. A double-convex lens of crown glass is cemented between...
noise equivalent thermal distanceNoise equivalent thermal distance (NETD) is a performance metric used to quantify the sensitivity of thermal imaging...
hyperspectral resolutionHyperspectral resolution refers to the level of detail or granularity in the spectral information captured by a...
Dewar vesselAn evacuated, double-walled container for storing liquids at low temperatures. Often made of glass, the vessel resembles a...
lithium triborate nonlinear crystalLithium triborate (LiB3O5), commonly abbreviated as LBO, is a nonlinear optical crystal widely used in various applications...
quantumThe term quantum refers to the fundamental unit or discrete amount of a physical quantity involved in interactions at the...
off-axis paraboloid and ellipsoid mirrorOff-axis paraboloid and ellipsoid mirrors are specialized optical components used in various optical systems, particularly...
photoelectromotive forceThe force that stimulates the emission of an electrical current when photovoltaic action creates a potential difference...
mosaic mirrorA large telescope mirror fabricated from several smaller sections.
infrared detectorAn infrared detector is a device that is used to detect and measure infrared radiation, which lies beyond the visible...
fifth-order aberrationsSecondary aberrations remaining after the primary (Seidel) aberrations have been corrected.
radioactive tracerA radioactive element that is placed or injected into a system to obtain an autoradiogram of the system. It is used in a...
interfacial angleThat angle found between a pair of adjacent faces of a crystal.
hazeAn aggravated form of fog in a polished surface caused by the scattering of light. The defects causing haze are larger than...
ammonia maserAn ammonia maser is a device that amplifies microwave radiation using ammonia gas molecules in a process analogous to how...
mixed-signal oscilloscopeA mixed-signal oscilloscope (MSO) is a type of electronic test instrument that combines the capabilities of both a...
scanning electron microscopyScanning electron microscopy (SEM) is an advanced imaging technique used in microscopy to obtain high-resolution,...
optical distanceThe physical length of the light path in a substance divided by the refractive index of that substance. See also equivalent...
metrologyMetrology is the science and practice of measurement. It encompasses the theoretical and practical aspects of measurement,...
laser-induced fluorescenceLaser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is a spectroscopic technique that involves using a laser to excite molecules or atoms,...
electrowetting displayAn electrowetting display (EWD) is a type of electronic display technology that utilizes the principles of electrowetting to...
endoscopeAn endoscope is a medical device used for visualizing and examining the interior of hollow organs, body cavities, or...
dark-field condenserA condenser that forms a hollow cone-shaped beam of light with its focal point in the plane of the specimen. If it is used...
diode laserA diode laser is a type of laser that uses a semiconductor diode as the active medium to generate coherent light....
high-sensitivity cameraA high-sensitivity camera is a type of camera designed to perform well in low light conditions, capturing clear and detailed...
neon indicator tubeA cold-cathode tube containing neon and designed to visually determine a potential difference or field.
opticsOptics is the branch of physics that studies the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter...
digital video compressionA step-by-step method of reducing the amount of data in a digital video signal to transmit or store a high-quality image....
laser diode moduleA laser diode module is a compact device that incorporates a laser diode, optics, and often other components into a single...
evaporagraphA sensor generally used for infrared imaging. It consists of two chambers separated by a thin, blackened membrane. An...
laserA laser, which stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation," is a device that produces coherent and...
microstereologyMicroscopic investigation of two-dimensional areas of a three-dimensional object that can be quantitatively evaluated by...
agri-photonicsAgri-photonics refers to the application of photonics technologies in agriculture. Photonics involves the generation,...
Twyman-Green interferometryTwyman-Green interferometry is a technique used in optics to measure the flatness or surface profile of optical components...
chain scissionThe breakdown of the bonds in polymer chains caused by illumination.
thermoplastic recording deviceA display device having a thermoplastic film as the control layer medium. The film, moving from a playoff reel, is scanned...
fluorescent light sourceA tube containing mercury vapor and lined with a phosphor. When current is passed through the vapor the strong ultraviolet...
knife-edge scanning microscopeAn imaging device originally created to image whole mouse brain volumes at microscopic resolution. The main component of the...
absolute colorimetricAbsolute colorimetric refers to a color management rendering intent used in color profiles and conversion processes,...
carbonaceousConsisting of, containing, pertaining to or yielding carbon.
topologyTopology is a branch of mathematics that focuses on the properties of space that are preserved under continuous...
cartesianOf or pertaining to the methods of the French philosopher Rene Descartes. Refers to the standard orthogonal X-Y-Z coordinate...
biocularA term pertaining to devices (generally optical) designed for use with both eyes viewing through a single exit pupil. The...
zip-cordA two-fiber optical cable containing two single-fiber cables that are connected by a strip of jacket and that can easily be...
field tiltThe angle measured between the focal surface containing the image and a plane normal to the optical axis.
tip-enhanced Raman scatteringTip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) is a powerful technique that combines Raman spectroscopy with the enhanced spatial...
ammonia pelletsCharged frozen pellets that are rapidly bombarded with a focused high-power laser to form a dense plasma that can be heated...
valence bandIn a crystalline substance, the spectral range of states of energy that contains the crystal's binding valence electrons.
lab-on-a-chipA lab-on-a-chip (LOC) is a miniaturized device that integrates various laboratory functions and capabilities onto a single,...
optical waveguideAny structure having the ability to guide the flow of radiant energy along a path parallel to its axis and to contain the...
linewidthLinewidth, also known as spectral linewidth or line width, refers to a measure of the width of a frequency spectrum of a...
air bearingA support device in which a column or chamber of air permits the free travel of a mobile part. In optical mounting and...
magnifying powerThe ability of an optical system to make an object appear larger. An optical element or optical system causing an object to...
radixTotal number of characters available to each position of a digital numeric system.
pulsed-dye laserA laser with a gain medium consisting of an organic dye, which is carbon-based. The dye is mixed with a solvent, allowing...
Babinet-Jamin compensatorA Babinet compensator that contains the controlled motion of one prism with respect to the other. This idea was introduced...
optical time-domain reflectometryA method for characterizing a fiber wherein an optical pulse is transmitted through the fiber, and the resulting light...
phase distrortionPhase distortion refers to a change in the phase relationships between different frequency components of a signal. In the...
surface-enhanced Raman scatteringSurface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful analytical technique that enhances the Raman scattering signal of...
Abney effectThe Abney effect, named after its discoverer Sir William de Wiveleslie Abney, refers to a phenomenon in color perception...
optical channel monitorAn optical channel monitor (OCM) is a device used in optical communication systems to monitor and analyze the performance of...
edge-emitting LEDAn edge-emitting light-emitting diode is a type of LED structure where light emission occurs primarily along the edge of the...
multiple invarianceCharacteristic of optical correlators in which invariance to more than one distortion parameter per axis of the processor is...
Lawson criterionDefines the minimum operational standards for a self-sustaining fusion reactor as equivalence between energy released per...
near-infrared spectrometerA near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer is an analytical instrument used to measure the absorption, transmission, or reflection...
optical character recognitionOptical character recognition (OCR) is a technology that is used to convert printed or handwritten text into...
theodoliteA precise telescope set on a pair of rotation axes, the horizontal and vertical axes equipped with two divided circles. One...
additive color processThe additive color process refers to the method of creating color by combining different wavelengths of light.
This...
rare-earth type glassOptical glasses containing the oxides of rare earths such as lanthanum to impart a very high refractive index combined with...
glide planeThe plane shared by the pair of axes in a twin crystal.
photovoltaicPhotovoltaic (PV) refers to a technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductors. The term...
vacuum chamberA vacuum chamber is a sealed enclosure from which air and other gases are removed to create a low-pressure environment,...
Kerr solitonA Kerr soliton refers to a specific type of soliton, a self-reinforcing wave packet, that arises in nonlinear optical...
Schrödinger's catSchrödinger's cat is a thought experiment devised by the physicist Erwin Schrödinger in 1935 to illustrate the...
color-translating microscopeA type of compound microscope that uses three visible wavelengths to translate details produced by invisible radiation.
common optoelectronics laser detection systemA laser warning and countermeasure system containing a sensor that indicates the direction of a laser beam, and analytical...
bright-line spectrumAn emission spectrum consisting of bright bands against a dark background.
modulation transfer functionAlso called sine wave response and contrast transfer function. The modulation transfer function is the ratio of the...
reflected ultraviolet photographyA photographic method used to obtain an image of a subject by means of its reflectance of incident ultraviolet radiation. An...
secondary colorAn aberration that remains after primary color is corrected. Primary color causes the back focus of a lens to vary with...
circle, aiming
Franck-Condon principleThe principle that electronic energy transitions occur at such speeds that the nuclei of the atoms in the molecular system...
constant deviationThat property of certain optical devices, e.g., a penta prism, that maintains the angular relationship between the entering...
polycarbonateA tough, durable, heat- and cold-resistant optical quality plastic used in injection-molded items such as streetlight...
solar radiationRadiation from the sun that is made up of a very wide range of wavelengths, from the long infrared to the short ultraviolet...
cylindrical lensA cylindrical lens is an optical component that has different curvatures along its two orthogonal axes, resulting in a shape...
hematoporphyrin derivativeA material used in photodynamic therapy that is retained selectively by tumor tissue when injected into the body; it then...
fusion ignitionFusion ignition refers to the point in a controlled nuclear fusion reaction where the energy released by the fusion...
vernier acuityThe degree to which a pair of fine lines can be aligned to each other. A normal observer will demonstrate an accuracy of 10...
system-on-chipA system-on-chip (SoC) is an integrated circuit (IC) that incorporates all necessary components of a computer or electronic...
measuring wedgeA wedge in a rangefinder or heightfinder used to displace the image produced by one telescope so that it coincides with that...
laser oscillatorContains the light or beam path within a laser device. The oscillator uses reflective optical components that are oriented...
leading edge spikeIn a sequence of laser pulse emissions, the intitial pulse that often helps initiate a reaction at the target surface,...
axisA straight line, real or imaginary, passing through a body and indicating its center; a line so positioned that various...
strain measuring equipment
microdisplayA microdisplay is a miniature electronic display technology that is designed to project visual information onto a small...
monocyteA monocyte is a type of white blood cell (leukocyte) that is part of the innate immune system. Monocytes are produced in the...
Rowland mountingThe mounting of a concave diffraction grating and a plate holder at the ends of a rigid bar. The ends follow separate...
spectral order (diffraction grating)When, for example, a beam of monochromatic light passes through a diffraction grating, the emergent rays that have remained...
plastic optical fiberPlastic optical fiber (POF) is a type of optical fiber made from transparent plastic, typically polymethylmethacrylate...
inertial fusion energyInertial fusion energy (IFE) refers to a proposed method of generating electricity by harnessing the energy released from...
gallium arsenide injection laserA laser system consisting of a planar PN junction within a single crystal of gallium arsenide. The pair of parallel,...
microfluoroscopeA fluoroscope equipped with a magnified, fine-grained fluorescent screen to determine the fluorescence emitted by a...
MSM photodiodeA metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodiode is a type of photodetector that consists of metal electrodes on a semiconductor...
optical clockAn optical clock is a highly precise and advanced timekeeping device that relies on the oscillations of electromagnetic...
slicing and cutting machines - for crystals, quartz, glass, etc.A crystal, glass, or quartz slicing and cutting machine is a specialized piece of equipment used in the manufacturing...
GaN-based LEDsGallium nitride-based light-emitting diodes (GaN-based LEDs) are semiconductor devices that emit light when an electric...
Cooper pairsThe coupled pairs of electrons that carry supercurrents through the body of a superconductor, relative to a coherent...
radial distribution methodA statistical analysis of facts obtained when the intensity of x-ray diffraction is calculated at different angles. In this...
pairingIn interlaced television scanning, an effect in which the lines of one field fail to fall exactly within the lines of the...
hard elasticsHigh-modulus elastic fibers that exhibit the following differences from conventional elastic fibers: Increasing temperature...
polymerPolymers are large molecules composed of repeating structural units called monomers. These monomers are chemically bonded...
liquid crystal light valveA liquid crystal light valve (LCLV), also known as a spatial light modulator (SLM), is an optical device that modulates the...
optical aberrationOptical aberration refers to imperfections or deviations from ideal optical behavior in an imaging system, such as a lens or...
microfluidicsMicrofluidics is a multidisciplinary field that involves the manipulation and control of very small fluid volumes, typically...
pump laserA pump laser is a type of laser used to provide the necessary energy to the gain medium of another laser or laser system,...
free-abrasive machiningThe process whereby a rotating wheel carries grains of an abrasive, suspended in a vehicle, across the surface of the...
cathetometerA type of comparator with a telescope equipped with a cross wire mounted on a vertical sliding column. It is used to measure...
phageA phage, short for bacteriophage, is a type of virus that infects and replicates within bacteria. Phages are composed of...
solid-state laserA solid-state laser is a type of laser that uses a solid gain medium (as opposed to a liquid or gas) to produce coherent...
rainbow hologramEssentially, a hologram of a hologram, in which the first-generation hologram is masked with a narrow slit. During image...
orthiconA television camera tube in which a low-velocity electron beam scans a photoactive mosaic that has been created by an...
coded aperture imagingAn imaging process in which the single opening of a simple pinhole camera is replaced with many openings called,...
pulsed laserA laser that emits energy in a series of short bursts or pulses and that remains inactive between each burst or pulse. The...
dust counterAn instrument that uses a photoelectric system to determine the size and volume of dust particles in a given unit of air.
scotoscopeAn instrument that uses an image intensifier to aid in the viewing of subjects in low-light-level environments.
metallic mesh filterAn interference filter in which a very thin metal foil with a periodic array of square holes (inductive mesh) or a thin...
burst pressureThe measure used in vacuum technology to quantify the total pressure capacity of the ferrofluidic seal before it fails.
ytterbium laserA ytterbium laser is a type of solid-state laser that employs ytterbium ions (Yb³?) as the dopant in the gain medium....
selective laser meltingSelective laser melting (SLM) is an additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing technology that belongs to the powder bed...
meridional rayA ray that lies in the meridional plane; a ray that lies in the plane that contains the optical axis. A tangential ray.
negative stereoscopic imageWhen a stereo pair of images is switched so that the right eye sees the left image and the left eye the right, the stereo...
spectral repeatabilitySpectral repeatability refers to the consistency and reproducibility of spectral measurements across multiple trials or...
fast axis collimation lensA FAC lens, or fast axis collimation lens, is an optical component used in laser diode systems to collimate the fast axis of...
gain-guided laserA laser diode in which the beam is confined to the region of the active layer with gain high enough to accomplish such...
halogen lampA halogen lamp, also known as a tungsten halogen, quartz-halogen, or quartz iodine lamp, is an incandescent lamp that uses a...
Langmuir-Blodgett techniqueA method of depositing crystalline films one molecular layer at a time, by dipping the substrate into water containing a...
lock-in amplifierA lock-in amplifier is a specialized electronic instrument used to extract and measure small signals embedded in noise or...
oleophobicOleophobic is a term used to describe substances or materials that repel or resist oils. The word oleophobic comes from the...
phluometryThe term applied to the geometrical structure of radiometry or of the propagation of any quantity that is conversed and that...
polycrystalA substance that transmits the infrared, but which is too delicate or fragile to be used in the form of a single crystal....
hyperspectral imaging cameraA hyperspectral imaging camera is a sophisticated imaging device capable of capturing and processing data across a wide...
absolute whiteAbsolute white is a term used in color science and imaging to describe a reference white point that represents the...
central processing unitThe computer module whose circuitry interprets instructions and guides the actions of the peripherals. Also known as the...
optical coherence tomographyOptical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique used in medical and scientific fields to capture...
stress-applying partIn polarization-preserving optical fibers, the element used to induce birefringence. The SAP is highly doped to provide a...
photonic cavityA photonic cavity, also known as an optical cavity, is a structure that confines electromagnetic radiation within a certain...
whole slide imagingWhole slide imaging (WSI), also known as virtual slide microscopy or digital pathology, is a technology that involves the...
cathode-ray tube envelopeEnvelopes for cathode-ray tubes are made by blowing glass in the same manner as light bulbs. They have a fairly flat end...
analog adaptive resonance theoryAnalog adaptive resonance theory (AART) is a neural network model within the broader framework of adaptive resonance theory...
microfilm equipmentTwo essential pieces of equipment used in connection with the microfilming process: a camera capable of producing, on film,...
radiographic amplifier screenA solid-state panel of the photoconductor-electroluminescent type. The photoconductive layer, sensitive to x-rays, is coated...
quantum entanglementQuantum entanglement is a phenomenon in quantum mechanics where two or more particles become correlated to such an extent...
protein crystallographyProtein crystallography is a scientific technique used to determine the three-dimensional structure of proteins at atomic...
rectificationA technique used in photogrammetry to ensure parallelism during projection printing. Failure to do this will change a...
perovskiteThe term perovskite refers to a specific crystal structure commonly found in various materials. Perovskite structures have a...
cresyl violetCresyl violet, also known as cresyl violet acetate or cresyl echt violet, is a synthetic organic compound belonging to the...
fanA set of rays through a lens originating at a common point and contained in one plane.
pencil beamIn astronomy, the main lobe of an antenna pattern that has a small angular extent in two mutually perpendicular directions....
dark-field photomicrographyA photomicrographic recording technique that utilizes dark-field illumination to render an image of an object having a...
Ritchey-Chretien telescopeA form of Cassegrain telescope having a concave hyperbolic primary and a convex hyperbolic secondary. This form permits the...
second-harmonic generationSecond-harmonic generation (SHG) is a nonlinear optical process that occurs when two photons with the same frequency combine...
time-correlated single photon countingTime-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) is a technique used in photon counting applications, particularly in the...
STED microscopySTED microscopy, or stimulated emission depletion microscopy, is a superresolution imaging technique in fluorescence...
whispering gallery modeWhispering gallery mode (WGM) refers to a phenomenon in wave physics, particularly in optics, where waves, such as light or...
quantum dot light-emitting diodeQuantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) is a display technology that utilizes quantum dots, which are semiconductor...
clinical photographyThe application of photography, with the exception of radiography, to obtain pictures of parts or the whole of a patient to...
ordinary rayThe ray that has an isotropic speed and maintains a uniform polarization in all propagation directions when traveling in a...
automatic current controlAutomatic current control (ACC) refers to a system or mechanism designed to regulate and maintain a desired level of...
underwater television systemA television system designed to obtain pictures of objects or scenes beneath the surface of the water. Generally, a...
turretA rotating plate containing two or more lenses to provide a rapid interchange.
eye guardA shield of rubber, plastic or metal used to protect the eyes of the observer from stray light and wind, and to maintain the...
aerotriangulationIn aerial photography, the geometric method of indicating the three-dimensional location of ground points from a pair of...
objectThe figure seen through or imaged by an optical system. It may contain structures, natural or artificial, or it may be the...
Brillouin scatteringBrillouin scattering is a phenomenon in physics where an incident electromagnetic wave (usually light) interacts with...
dark operate modeAn operate mode in which the sensor is programmed to perform a task such as generating output when the light level falls...
chirped-pulse amplificationChirped pulse amplification (CPA) is a technique used in laser physics to amplify ultrashort laser pulses to high energies...
aliasingIn image processing, the result of a sampling frequency that is too slow to preserve the spatial frequencies of the image....
absorption hologramAn absorption hologram is a type of hologram in which the image is formed by variations in the absorption of light within...
mode lockingMode locking is a technique used in optics and laser physics to generate short pulses of light with extremely high peak...
image dissector tubeAn electron tube that is used as a camera tube for a television system. When the picture to be transmitted is focused on a...
x-ray image spectrographyIrradiation of a cylindrical crystal with an x-ray beam resulting in Bragg diffraction that produces a slightly enlarged...
vertical air photographAn aerial photograph produced when the optical axis of the camera is perpendicular to the surface below.
ray tracingRay tracing is a rendering technique used in computer graphics to simulate the way light interacts with objects in a scene....
aiming circleAn instrument designed to measure angles in azimuth; used in general topographic work and military gunnery.
image jumpIn optics, the term image jump refers to a displacement or shift in the apparent position of an image when a change occurs...
dual-chirped optical parametric amplificationDual-chirped optical parametric amplification (DC-OPA) is an advanced technique in ultrafast laser technology used to...
integrated photonicsIntegrated photonics is a field of study and technology that involves the integration of optical components, such as lasers,...
ZerodurZerodur is a type of glass ceramic material known for its exceptional thermal and mechanical properties, particularly its...
digital signal processingDigital signal processing (DSP) refers to the manipulation and analysis of signals, which are representations of physical...
gegenschein-zodiacal light photometerA photometer used to measure sky brightness and polarization associated with zodiacal light, background starlight, F-region...
optical coatingsOptical coatings are thin layers of materials applied to optical components, such as lenses, mirrors, filters, and prisms,...
transversely excited atmosphere laserAlso known as TEA laser. A coherent optical source with a wide wavelength range in the infrared, visible and ultraviolet...
diffractometryThe study of the diffraction of beams of a wave by matter to ascertain the structure of the matter.
custom opticA custom optic refers to an optical component that is designed, manufactured, and tailored to meet specific requirements or...
reflection x-ray microscopyA means of high resolution study through the application of soft and hard x-rays onto a sample surface in order to obtain...
dichroismDichroism refers to the property of certain materials to exhibit different colors or absorbance of light depending on the...
axial gradient technologyA method of designing lasers whereby the laser rod is cut into elliptical discs and cooled by running water over the disc...
point spread functionThe point spread function (PSF) is a fundamental concept in imaging that describes the response of an imaging system to a...
high-gain screenA screen with a reflected or transmitted light beam that is confined to a much smaller bundle than was received by the...
microradiographyRadiographic recording and enhancement of the micoscopic details within the structure of thin specimens at a high...
infrared jammingA countermeasure used against heat seeking missiles to reduce their effectiveness. Normally it involves the emittance of...
remote sensingRemote sensing is a method of data collection and observation where information about objects, areas, or phenomena on...
spectrohelioscopeAn instrument similar to the spectroheliograph, but having a scanning method that is performed by a pair of rapidly...
focus1. The focal point. 2. To adjust the eyepiece or objective of a telescope so that the image is clearly seen by the observer....
teloscopyTeloscopy, while not a commonly used term, could be understood in the context of principles related to telescopes and their...
multiband cameraA group of four cameras loaded with different combinations of filters and film (one is usually an infrared color film) to...
turnkey systemA system that is complete and self-contained, needing no further additions to permit its operation.
chemical vapor depositionChemical vapor deposition is a process of applying dopants to a glass bait by flame reactions of gaseous compounds. See also...
quasi-CW laserA laser that generates a succession of pulses at a high enough repetition rate to appear continuous. The pump source is...
single attachment stationIn a dual-ring local area network, a node that is connected only to the primary, active ring and not to the secondary ring...
iodine cycleA development aimed at extending the life of a tungsten filament. The iodine vapor in the lamp envelope combines with the...
adaptometerAn adaptometer is an instrument used to assess the adaptation of the human eye's sensitivity to changes in ambient light...
output couplerThe partially reflective mirror at the end of the laser cavity that is the source of the beam. It controls the coupling...
photodarkeningThe effect that the optical losses in a medium can grow when the medium is irradiated with light at certain wavelengths.
polymerizationProcess of synthesizing long molecular chain materials (polymers) by reaction of many small molecules (usually thousands)...
image retaining panelA type of electroluminescent display that will record and maintain an irradiated image on its phosphor screen, provided a DC...
friabilityThe resistance of individual grains of an abrasive to breaking down under pressure. If the grains break down under...
helical scanningA method used in facsimile scanning that sweeps the elemental area across the copy in a spiral motion as the result of the...
scanning tunneling microscopeA high-resolution imaging instrument that can detect and measure the positions of individual atoms on the surface of a...
bathymetric lidarBathymetric lidar is a remote sensing technique used to measure the depth of water bodies and map underwater terrain...
planar access couplerLow-insertion-loss fiber coupler fabricated from a sheet of light-sensitive material laminated onto a fused quartz substrate...
opal glassA material consisting of very small colorless particles imbedded in a clear glass matrix. It is available in two forms:...
monoergicPertaining to radiation or particle emission, whereby the emission is produced with minimal energy spread.
active-cavity radiometerAn active-cavity radiometer is a highly sensitive instrument used to measure radiant energy (power per unit area), often in...
laser guide starAn artificial star used to aid in adaptive optics imaging of the sky. The guide star is provided from a telescope system on...
optoelectronic integrated circuitA monolithic device containing both photonic and electronic sources, detectors, modulators, etc., on a single semiconductor...
polarizationPolarization refers to the orientation of oscillations in a transverse wave, such as light waves, radio waves, or other...
pentamirrorA pentamirror is an optical component found in SLR cameras, composed of multiple flat mirrors arranged in a pentagonal...
achromatAn achromat, in the context of optics, refers to a type of lens or lens system designed to reduce chromatic aberration....
2D profile sensorA 2D profile sensor is a type of sensor used in various industrial and technological applications to measure and capture...
mid-wave infraredMWIR stands for mid-wave infrared, referring to a specific range of wavelengths within the infrared spectrum. Infrared...
argon-fluoride excimer laserAn argon-fluoride (ArF) excimer laser is a type of ultraviolet laser that operates using a mixture of argon and fluorine...
well plateA well plate, also known as a microplate or microtiter plate, is a flat plate with multiple small wells or depressions...
spectroheliographAn instrument in which an image of the sun is scanned by the entrance slit of a monochromator, the exit slit simultaneously...
fixed axis of rotationThe locus of points in a system along a line that remains stationary while the remainder of the system rotates.
probeAcronym for profile resolution obtained by excitation. In its simplest form, probe involves the overlap of two...
optogenetic defibrillationAn optogenetic technique that embeds genetically-engineered proteins to the heart to aid in terminating arrhythmias. After...
laser anemometryThe process by which laser emission is used in measuring fluid velocity and, more specifically, the detection of air and...
light fidelityLiFi, short for light fidelity, is a wireless communication technology that utilizes visible light or infrared light to...
active-matrix OLED displayAn active matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display is a type of flat-panel display technology that combines the...
ring-laser gyroscopeA ring laser gyroscope (RLG) is a type of gyroscope that uses laser light to detect and measure changes in orientation. It...
cold shieldThat part of an infrared detector-Dewar assembly that limits the solid angle viewed by the sensor; it is maintained at a...
quasiparticleA quasiparticle is an emergent phenomenon that occurs in many-body systems, particularly in condensed matter physics, where...
Fermi liquid stateThe Fermi liquid state refers to a specific state of matter in quantum mechanics, particularly describing the behavior of...
phase contrast microscopyPhase contrast microscopy is an optical microscopy technique that enhances the contrast of transparent and colorless...
optical design softwareOptical design software refers to specialized computer programs used by optical engineers, physicists, and designers to...
Waidner-Burgess standardA standard of luminous intensity evaluated as the luminous intensity of 1 cm2 of a blackbody at the melting point of...
focal collimatorA collimator having, at one end of a tube, an objective lens, and at the other, a reticle with a pair of spaced lines...
optic lobeThe optic lobe refers to a specific part of the brain found in vertebrates and some invertebrates, particularly in the...
lens mountThe metal tube that maintains the optical components of a lens in proper relationship. Some lenses are mounted in metal...
flowmeterA flowmeter is a device used to measure the flow rate or quantity of a fluid passing through a particular point in a system....
beam waistThat point in a Gaussian beam where the wavefront has a curvature of zero and the beam diameter is a minimum.
gainAlso known as amplification. 1. The increase in a signal that is transmitted from one point to another through an amplifier....
penta prismA five-sided prism containing two reflecting surfaces at 45° to each other, and two refracting faces perpendicular to...
three-level laserA laser having a material, such as ruby, that has an energy state structure of three levels: the ground state (1) wherein...
curingThe use of chemicals or radiation to induce a desired change in a substance; e.g., some optical adhesives are set by...
ghost1. A faint second image caused by reflection that is sometimes seen when observing through an optical instrument. 2. With...
functional materialFunctional materials refer to materials that possess specific properties or functionalities that make them suitable for...
optical tableAn optical table, also known as an optical bench or an optical breadboard, is a specialized platform used in optics...
plasma acceleratorA plasma accelerator is a type of particle accelerator that uses electric fields and magnetic fields to accelerate charged...
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