reflecˈtometer
[See -ometer.]
Any of various instruments for measuring quantities associated with reflection; spec. (a) one for measuring the critical angle of a transparent solid so that its refractive index may be calculated; (b) one for measuring the intensity of light reflected or scattered by a surface so that its reflectance may be calculated.
| 1891 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. LX. 513 (heading) Measurement of refractive indices at high temperatures by means of the total reflectometer. 1895 Times 14 Jan. 4/6 Among new..methods introduced by recent discoveries were the use of the reflectometer. 1920 Sci. Papers U.S. Bureau of Standards XVI. 435 The use of an incomplete sphere as a reflectometer furnishes two new absolute methods for the determination of diffuse reflection factors. 1935 Sci. Abstr. A. XXXVIII. 1223 (heading) Ultrasonic total reflectometer to measure speed of sound and elastic constants of solids. 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. 1977 Sci. Amer. Feb. 88/3 (Advt.), A time domain reflectometer (TDR) works in a manner similar to radar. It generates repetitive pulses of energy that are sent down a cable and displayed on a cathode-ray tube screen. Any cable faults (impedance changes) cause pulse reflections. 1977 Boxall & von Fraunhoffer Conc. Paint Technol. ix. 193 The contrast ratio is the reflectometer reading obtained over the black tile after the reflectometer has been set to 100% over the white tile. |
Hence reflecˈtometry.
| 1967 Jrnl. Optical Soc. Amer. LVII. 445 (heading) Terms, definitions, and symbols in reflectometry. 1977 Sci. Amer. Feb. 88/2 (Advt.), I knew that the TV industry used time domain reflectometry a lot. |