reflectometern.
/ˌriːflɛkˈtɒmᵻtə/, /rᵻˌflɛkˈtɒmᵻtə/, U.S. /rəˌflɛkˈtɑmədər/, /riˌflɛkˈtɑmədər/ Physics.
1. In full total reflectometer. An instrument for determining the refractive index of a transparent solid (or liquid) by measuring the critical angle for total reflection. Also in extended use. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > optical instruments > instruments for measuring > [noun] > light or radiation
phaometer1747
photometer1779
diaphanometer1789
lucimeter1825
refractometer1842
Abbe refractometer1876
dietheroscope1877
reflectometer1879
radiomicrometer1887
holophotometer1888
flicker photometer1896
microphotometer1899
diffractometer1909
spot meter1952
photopolarimeter1971
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > reflection > [noun] > instrument
Fresnel's rhomb1835
Fresnel('s) mirror or mirrors1874
reflectometer1879
gloss-meter1930
Brewster window1965
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > refraction > [noun] > index of refraction > measurement of indices > instrument for
spectrometer1874
reflectometer1879
transmissometer1955
1879 Mineral. Mag. & Jrnl. Mineral. Soc. 2 57 The angle of total reflection is determined by means of a small instrument named a ‘Total-reflectometer’.
1898 E. W. Streeter Precious Stones & Gems (ed. 6) 315 An instrument called a Reflectometer has been introduced for the purpose of readily ascertaining the refractive index.
1935 Sci. Abstr. A. 38 1223 (heading) Ultrasonic total reflectometer to measure speed of sound and elastic constants of solids.
1966 R. Webster Pract. Gemmol. (ed. 4) vii. 63 Of prime important to the gemmologist is the method whereby use is made of a special optical instrument termed a refractometer, or, as it is sometimes called, a total reflectometer.
2. An instrument for determining the reflectance of a surface by measuring the intensity of light reflected or scattered by it.
ΚΠ
1920 Sci. Papers U.S. Bureau of Standards 16 435 The use of an incomplete sphere as a reflectometer furnishes two new absolute methods for the determination of diffuse reflection factors.
1962 R. H. Kay in J. Thewlis Encycl. Dict. Physics VI. 240/1 Instruments primarily designed to measure reflecting power of materials are known as reflectometers and usually compare the test specimen against such a standard as magnesium oxide or aluminium.
1993 J. Park Instrumental Colour Formulation v. 22 Goniophotometers, reflectometers and transmission meters are used to measure the geometric attributes of materials, such as gloss or haze.
3. In full time-domain reflectometer. An instrument for locating discontinuities (e.g. faults in electrical cables) by detecting and measuring reflected pulses of energy.
ΚΠ
1967 Plasma Physics 9 742 The plate separation was..adjusted accurately so as to match the cable impedance by the use of a time-domain reflectometer.
1985 S. D. Personick Fiber Optics xiii. 236 The reflectometer is essentially an optical radar set.
1991 Power Sept. 48/2 By using an optical time-domain reflectometer to apply a light pulse to a fiber and recording the backscatter along the line, the fiber itself can be used to measure the temperature of the line.
2002 Wired Aug. 68/3 No self-respecting geek would try to debug a home network without a handheld LAN tester... Top testers include a time-domain reflectometer (TDR) for spotting wire issues.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1879