Synonyms
Definition
Luminescence is the emission of optical radiation caused by a non-thermal process [1]. Luminescence is therefore a form of “cold body radiation” or “cold light,” since it does not result from heating (i.e., from a relatively cool material, not above room temperature). It is therefore distinguished from light emitted by incandescence, which is a form of blackbody radiation from a heated material, that is, “hot light” whose spectral power distribution is determined by its thermal temperature.
The term luminescence is also often used to generally discuss fluorescence and phosphorescence phenomena. However, this is only one type of luminescence, known as photoluminescence, caused by the absorption of optical radiation, and there are many other types of luminescence (e.g., cathodoluminescence, electroluminescence, chemiluminescence, bioluminescence, triboluminescence, thermoluminescence, etc.) classified by their different modes of...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
CIE S 017/E: ILV – International lighting vocabulary, 2nd edn. CIE Central Bureau, Vienna (2020)
Nassau, K.: The physics and chemistry of color: the fifteen causes of color. John Wiley & Sons, New York (1983)
Birks, J.B.: Standardization in spectrophotometry and luminescence measurements, NBS Special Publication 466 (edited by K.D. Mielenz et al,) Gaithersburg (1977)
Mielenz, K.D.: Photoluminescence spectroscopy, optical radiation measurements, Vol. 3. Academic, Orlando (1982)
Bass, M.: Handbook of optics, devices, measurements & properties, vol. II, 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill Inc., New York (1995)
Kuehni, R.G.: Color – An introduction to practice and principles, 3rd edn. John Wiley & Sons, New York (2012)
Kitei, A.H.: Solid state luminescence – Theory, materials and devices. Chapman and Hall, London (1993)
Botter-Jensen, L., Thomsen, K.J., Jain, M.: Review of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) instrumental developments for retrospective dosimetry. Radiation Measurements. 45, 253–257 (2010)
Kitei, A.: Luminescent materials and applications. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, West Sussex (2008)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 Springer Science+Business Media LLC
About this entry
Cite this entry
Zwinkels, J. (2022). Luminescence. In: Shamey, R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Color Science and Technology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27851-8_383-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27851-8_383-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-27851-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27851-8
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics