Optics / Photonics 101

Promethium Doped Phosphate Glass Lasers – Properties and Applications

Phosphate glass lasers are glass materials that are based on phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) along with added chemicals. They are used as the gain medium in optical and bulk lasers.

25 Apr 2014

Sagnac Interferometer - Definition and Applications

The Sagnac interferometer uses counter-propagating beams in a ring path. This is realized by either using multiple mirrors or with an optical fiber. Generally, three or more mirrors are used, so that the counter-propagating light beams follow a closed path such as a triangle or square.

12 Feb 2014

Gain Medium - Definition and Use in Laser Construction

Gain medium is a quantum system that amplifies laser beams by means of stimulated emission.

12 Feb 2014

Schmidt Prism - Definition and Properties

Schmidt prism, also referred to as Schmidt–Pechan prism, is a prism that reverts an image while deviating the line of sight by 45°. It is a type of optical roof prism.

12 Feb 2014

What is the Optical Kerr Effect?

The Kerr effect (also known as quadratic electro-optic effect) is a phenomenon observed in non-linear optic materials where the refractive index of the material changes in response to an electric field.

10 Oct 2013

Argon Laser – Properties and Applications

The argon laser is a unique gas laser, as it uses a noble gas (argon) as the active medium. It is commonly referred to as argon ion laser.

10 Oct 2013

Semiconductor Lasers: AlGaInP (Aluminum Gallium Indium Phosphide) Laser Properties and Applications

The aluminium gallium indium phosphide laser is a type of visible-light diode laser. Visible diode lasers emit wavelengths of red and green in the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation.

10 Oct 2013

What is a Metal Halide Lamp?

Metal halide lamps or metal halide arc lamps consist of a high performance arc discharge tube housed in an elliptical reflector that focuses the output into a microscopic optical train. The arc tube is filled with metal halide salts.

8 Oct 2013

Sum Frequency Generation - Non-Linear Optics for Advanced Spectroscopy

Sum frequency generation (SFG) may be defined as a second order non-linear optical process in which a tunable infrared beam is combined with a visible beam, such that that the frequency of the output beam is the sum of the input frequencies.

8 Oct 2013

Acousto-Optical Effects - Principles and Applications

Acousto-optics is a phenomenon which deals with the interaction of light (optics) and sound (acoustics). The existence of an interaction between light and sound was discovered by Brillouin in the year 1922.

8 Oct 2013