Meanings
plural etalons
- An optical device containing parallel mirrors, used as a narrow band filter, often in laser design.
The laser output will be composed of longitudinal modes that fall inside the transmission band of the etalon, hence a narrowing of the laser line width is observed.
2006, Walter Koechner, Solid-State Laser Engineering, page 2642 more examples
It will be shown that the simple theory outlined in the preceding paragraph, which is applicable to single-plate etalons, can be used to predict the main features of the spectral curve of a multi element etalon.
2004, S. C. Gupta, Textbook On Optical Fiber Communication And Its Applications, page 153The next step of this experiment is to compare the etalon m₁m₂ (shortest length) with the etalon m₃m₄ (the next one). For this two etalons are arranged side by side as shown in Fig. 7.13a.
2009, V. Rajendran, Engineering Physics, page 7.15Synonyms: Fabry-Pérot interferometer
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAn optical device containing parallel mirrors, used as a narrow band filter, often in laser design.
Origin
- Frenchétalon
- Frenchétalon
- Englishetalon
Borrowed from French étalon (“measuring gauge, standard”).
More words from French
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
etalon. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/etalon
“etalon.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/etalon. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “etalon,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/etalon.
Source: etalon on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.