Space capsule re-entering atmosphere of earth

How to Measure Thermal Emissivity: Tools, Techniques, and Applications

Thermal emissivity is a fundamental property of materials that describes their ability to emit thermal radiation normalized to an ideal blackbody (i.e. 0-1 scale). This characteristic is crucial in applications ranging from aerospace thermal coatings to solar energy harvesting to environmentally friendly building materials, where understanding and controlling heat transfer can significantly impact safety, efficiency, […]

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Cyphastrea serailia coral

Unlocking the Secrets of Coral Health with Hyperspectral Imaging

The Challenge of Monitoring Coral Reefs Coral reefs are among the most vibrant and ecologically significant ecosystems on Earth. However, they are also under threat due to changing ocean temperatures, pollution, and ocean acidification. Understanding how corals respond to environmental stressors is crucial for conservation efforts, but traditional methods of monitoring reef health are often […]

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Understanding Plenoptic Division of Wavefront Multispectral Imaging

Multispectral imaging is a powerful tool used in a wide range of applications, from detecting bruised fruit to non-invasive monitoring of blood oxygenation levels. Also referred to as imaging spectroscopy, spectral imaging devices record spectral radiance signatures emanating from a surface that are a result of reflected, transmitted, or emitted light and are unique to […]

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Validating Thermo-Optical Properties for NASA’s SPHEREx Mission

NASA is targeting late February 2025 to launch the agency’s next astrophysics observatory, SPHEREx. The Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer—will take stock of the sky in optical and near-infrared light over two years. Scientists will use it to study about 450 million galaxies, with an additional haul […]

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Surface Optics Announces New CEO

Announcing the appointment of Marian Geremia as Chief Executive Officer. A long-standing member of SOC’s Board of Directors and formerly SOC’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Marian brings unparalleled expertise and a proven track record of leadership to guide the company through its next phase of growth and innovation.

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3D visualization of bidirectional reflectance distribution function of a machine learning designed metasurface material

A New AI-Powered Method for Designing Infrared Metasurfaces

Metasurfaces are a revolutionary development in the world of optics. These are extremely sophisticated, customizable surfaces that have been tailored to reflect, absorb, or transmit light based on the designer’s needs. The complex structures on the material’s surface are of a sub-wavelength scale compared to the wavelength of interest. These structures act as “mini transmitters […]

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Hyperspectral Microscopy: Techniques and Opportunities

Hyperspectral cameras combine imaging and spectroscopy to measure light from a scene in hundreds of contiguous spectral bands. A two-dimensional image is created, with each pixel containing a full reflectance or transmission spectrum. Resulting data can be used to identify chemical composition, changes in material properties, or differentiate plant species (amongst many other applications). As […]

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Join Surface Optics at SPIE DCS 2025 in Orlando!

We’re excited to invite you to the SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing Conference in Orlando, Florida, from April 13-17, 2025! We’d love to meet with you in person to showcase our latest innovations in optical systems and surface measurement technology. Our team will be offering exclusive one-on-one product demos and Q&A sessions to dive deep […]

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