List of light sources

This is a list of sources of light, including both natural and artificial processes that emit light. This article focuses on sources that produce wavelengths from about 390 to 700 nanometers, called visible light.

Incandescence

Incandescence is the emission of light from a hot body as a result of its temperature.

Main article: Incandescence

Combustion
Main article: Combustion

Lamps

Other

Nuclear and high-energy particle
Main articles: Nuclear physics and Particle physics

Celestial and atmospheric
Nebula and stars
Starry sky, the Milky Way, and a shooting star
Main article: Astronomical object

Luminescence
Main article: Luminescence

Luminescence is emission of light by a substance not resulting from heat.

Aventurescence

In gemology, aventurescence (sometimes called aventurization) is an optical reflectance effect seen in certain gems.

Bioluminescence
Main article: Bioluminescence

Bioluminescence is light resulting from biochemical reaction by a living organism.

Cathodoluminescence
Main article: Cathodoluminescence

Cathodoluminescence is light resulting from a luminescent material being struck by electrons.

Chemiluminescence
Main article: Chemiluminescence
Chemiluminescence glow sticks

Chemiluminescence is light resulting from a chemical reaction.

Cryoluminescence

Cryoluminescence is the emission of light when an object is cooled.

Crystalloluminescence
Main article: Crystalloluminescence

Crystalloluminescence is light produced during crystallization.

Electric discharge (Electrical energy.)

Electrochemiluminescence
Main article: Electrochemiluminescence

Electrochemiluminescence is light resulting from electrochemical reaction.

Electroluminescence
Main article: Electroluminescence

Electroluminescence is light resulting from an electric current being passed through a substance.

Light-emitting diodes

Mechanoluminescence
Main article: Mechanoluminescence

Mechanoluminescence is light resulting from a mechanical action on a solid.

  • Triboluminescence, light generated when bonds in a material are broken when that material is scratched, crushed, or rubbed
  • Fractoluminescence, light generated when bonds in certain crystals are broken by fractures
  • Piezoluminescence, light produced by the action of pressure on certain solids
  • Sonoluminescence, light resulting from imploding bubbles in a liquid when excited by sound

Photoluminescence
Main article: Photoluminescence

Photoluminescence is light resulting from absorption of photons.

  • Fluorescence, the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation
  • Phosphorescence, the delayed re-emission of light by substance that has absorbed it

Radioluminescence
Radioluminescent
Main article: Radioluminescence

Radioluminescence is light resulting from bombardment by ionizing radiation.

Thermoluminescence
Main article: Thermoluminescence

Thermoluminescence is light from the re-emission of absorbed energy when a substance is heated.

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See also

References
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