Glossary: Q

Technique for obtaining energetic short (but not ultrashort) pulses from a laser by modulating the intracavity losses.

See also Kerr Cell

The intrinsic ability of a detector to convert photons into electrons. It is the ratio of generated electrons to incident photons expressed as a percentage.

The layer of optical coating that is equal in optical thickness to one quarter the design wavelength. Coating layers at this thickness result in the maximum destructive interference of reflected light, and consequently maximum transmittance through the optic.