ACQUISITION OF FEMTOLASERS (Details 3) - FEMTOLASERS - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Oct. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014
Actual:
Net sales	$ 2,166		$ 4,489
Net income (loss) attributable to Newport Corporation	339		(1,480)
Supplemental pro forma information:
Net sales	147,560	$ 148,057	452,461	$ 453,786
Net income attributable to Newport Corporation	$ 7,121	$ 9,025	$ 21,926	$ 25,624
Net income per share
Basic	$ 0.18	$ 0.23	$ 0.56	$ 0.64
Diluted	$ 0.18	$ 0.22	$ 0.55	$ 0.63