Latest Articles

RSS

Beam Combining - Definition and Applications

Beam combining is done through a number of processes in order to scale up the power and radiance of laser sources. There are a number of techniques that allow the build up of high power laser sources that result in high beam quality and high brightness.

19 Jun 2014

Bragg Grating - Introduction and Applications

Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) is a type of Bragg reflector (distributed type) that is constructed as a short segment of optical fiber to reflect light of certain wavelength and transmit the rest.

29 May 2014

Photodiodes - Their Working Principles and Applications

Photodiode is a kind of light detector which involves conversion of light into voltage or current based on the mode of operation of the device. It consists of built-in lenses, optical filters, and has small or large surface areas.

29 May 2014

Photometer - Definition and References

Photometer is an instrument for measuring the light intensity or optical properties of optical sources or detectors. It operates more like a transducer which converts electric current into mechanical signal.

29 May 2014

Quantum Efficiency - Introduction and References

Quantum efficiency (QE) may be defined as the fraction of incident photons that are recorded by a photo detector. The quantum efficiency of a photosensitive device is measured in terms of electrons per photon or amps per watt.

29 May 2014

Population Inversion - Definition and References

Population inversion is a condition of the laser medium where a system consisting of a group of molecules or atoms exists in a higher excited state with more quantum systems than that of the lower energy state of a laser transition.

29 May 2014

Plano-Convex Lens - Equation and Explanation

A plano-convex lens is a convergent lens with one flat surface and one convex surface. It focuses parallel light rays to a positive focal point to form real images that can be manipulated using spatial filters.

29 May 2014

Wavefront - Introduction and References

A wavefront may be described as a surface over which an optical wave presents a constant phase. In other words, a wave front may be the surface over which a wave represents a crest (maximum point) or a trough (minimum point).

29 May 2014

Radiant Flux - Explanation and References

Radiant flux is the energy per unit time that is radiated from an optical source, expressed in terms of Watts.

29 May 2014

Laser Mode Locking - Theory and Applications

Mode locking is a technique used to obtain ultra short pulses from lasers. Lasers that are mode locked are capable of producing pulses having pulse widths in the order of sub-pico seconds or even femto seconds.

29 May 2014