LEGAL PROCEEDINGS (Details) (Former employees of Spectra-Physics versus Spectra-Physics and Newport)	1 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2010 item
Former employees of Spectra-Physics versus Spectra-Physics and Newport
Loss Contingencies
Number of former employees who filed a suit	2

Represents the number of plaintiffs who were former employees of the entity.

No definition available.

Name:	newp_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffsFormerEmployees
Namespace Prefix:	newp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration