Collimations

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The process of aligning light rays to a common direction for improved focus and precision in optics
2. The act of adjusting beams of particles or waves to a parallel orientation for better measurement or imaging
3. Referring to the technique in scientific instrumentation where measurements are made more accurate through spatial alignment of signals

Etymology: "Collimations" is the plural of "collimation," so it names several acts or instances of collimating, the process of making light or other beams travel in parallel lines. The root idea is alignment: collimation is the work of bringing rays into line so they neither spread nor converge. Telescopes, lasers and surveying instruments all depend on it, and each adjustment of such an instrument counts as one collimation.