The impending dominance of robots in our world is almost taken for granted. Smartphones and computers have shown us how useful and versatile technological devices can be, let alone truly intelligent ones. ...

Introduction When most people think of fiber optics, they think of cable TV and high-speed internet. However, fiber optics have also been prevalent in the medical community for a number of years. Today, ...

Introduction While often considered a rather new technology, the concept behind fiber optics has actually been around since the 1840’s, when Swiss physicist Daniel Colladon discovered he could shine ...

Polarization As A Property of Light Conversation about light waves typically focuses on frequency, wavelength, or intensity. Many introductory physics courses cover these concepts in great detail so that ...

Introduction X-rays are one of the most versatile forms of radiation.  The rays can penetrate thick objects without absorbing or scattering, rendering them extremely useful for imaging purposes. X-ray ...

Introduction to Motion Control Instrumentation Motion control is the combination of mechanics and electronics to regulate the position, speed and acceleration of moving parts in a controlled manner. It is ...

Introduction to Spectroscopy Imaging We have discussed many applications of spectrometers, but how do we attain the final spectral image to analyze? Spectrometers contain varying types of imaging systems ...

Introduction to Prisms Even as early as in the 13th century, six-sided crystals of natural quartz were used to generate rainbows. In the late 1660s, people believed that color was a mixture of lightness ...

Basics of Lamp-Pumped Solid State (LPSS) Lasers As the trailblazer for many modern day laser designs, LPSS lasers are a mature technology that have been around since the invention of the first laser. The ...

Introduction to Diffraction Gratings Diffraction gratings are optical components that diffract and separate light into several beams at different angles by wavelength. Their working principle is hinged ...