Optics / Photonics 101

What is Adaptive Optics?

Adaptive Optics can be defined as the optical systems that adapt to rectify for optical effects which is presented by the medium between the object and its image.

9 Jan 2008

Nano-Optics and Nano-Photonics - How Nanotechnology is Revolutionizing Optics and Photonics

With a growing demand for faster, tinier, and more extremely integrated optical and electronic devices or instruments. There are also demands for smaller and exceptionally sensitive detectors for environmental and biomedical applications. Studying the many encouraging optical properties of nanostructures is an emerging field known as nano-optics and nano-photonics.

29 Dec 2007

Optical Filters – What is an Optical Filter and What Does it Do?

Filters are manufactured into a number of shapes and sizes. Filters can be used to pass or eliminate bands of wavelength ranging from hundreds of nanometers in size down to a single wavelength.

26 Dec 2007

White Balance - The Definition of White Balance

White balance is a term referred to as the process of eliminating unrealistic color casts.

23 Dec 2007

Energy-Efficient Lighting – Using Less Energy to Produce the Same Brightness as Incandescent Lighting

Using electricity to generate lighting is a major consumer of energy. A massive amount of energy can be saved by using energy-efficient equipment. Currently, commercially available energy-efficient lighting can save up to 75 percent the energy used to light homes.

22 Dec 2007

What is Lens Flare and the Mechanisms of Lens Flare

Lens flare is one of those optical phenomena which can ruin an otherwise perfect photograph, and all too often you don'tknow it until after the fact when you get your photos back from processing. Lens flare can show up as streaks, geometrically shaped spots, or an overall haze which reduces contrast and saturation and masks subject detail.

15 Dec 2007

Geometrical Distortion - A Form of Optical Aberration

Geometrical Distortion is form of optical aberration which is normally observed in stereoscopic microscopy.

13 Dec 2007

Comatic Aberration – What is Comatic Aberration?

Comatic aberration is an optical aberration which mainly occurs with off-axis light fluxes. Comatic aberration is most serious when a microscope is out of alignment.

10 Dec 2007

Optical Aberration - Astigmatism Aberration

Astigmatism aberration is a result of an off-axis image of a point of specimen which appears as an ellipse of a line rather than a point.

7 Dec 2007

Field Curvature Aberration – What is Field Curvature Aberration?

In optical microscopy, field curvature is an optical aberration that most of the experienced microscopists are familiar with. Field curvature occurs when lenses that have curved surfaces are used.

7 Dec 2007