Luminescence
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Luminescence
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Light emission by a process in which kinetic heat energy
is not essential for the mechanism of excitation.
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Electroluminescence is luminescence from electrical discharges
- such as sparks or arcs. Excitation in these cases results mostly
from electron or ion collision by which the kinetic energy of
electrons or ions, accelerated in an electric field, is given
up to the atoms or molecules of the gas present and causes light
emission. Chemiluminescence results when energy, set free in
a chemical reaction, is converted to light energy. The light
from many chemical reactions and from many flames is of this
type. Photoluminescence, or fluorescence, results from excitation
by absorption of light. The term phosphorescence is usually applied
to luminescence which continues after excitation by one of the
above methods has ceased. Compare incandescence.
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References
This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use