Uploaded November 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Scintillating detectors at CERN rely on luminescence, sometimes known as "cold light", to detect high-energy particles. In the first video of the online course of the #CERNSolvayEducation Programme, we discuss how light is created, how incandescence ("warm light") differs from luminescence ("cold light") and how we use the latter in scintillation detectors. Find the interactive version of this video over on our website: https://cern.ch/photons.
As part of the education portfolio of #CERNScienceGateway, the #CERNSolvayEducation programme was launched by CERN jointly with @SolvayGroup for the #STEMeducation of high-schoolers. It is designed for teenagers who want to go beyond high-school physics and get an introduction to CERN #physics and #technology. In each video, you can test your understanding by answering quiz questions. If you are at least 16 years old, you can enrol for free in the online CERN-Solvay Education Programme towards obtaining a digital certificate, which will allow you to apply for a CERN-Solvay residential student camp.
Enrol for free in the online course of the CERN-Solvay Education Programme: https://cern.ch/solvay-course
Find all the videos of the CERN-Solvay Education Programme: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAk-9e5KQYEpoWZHUQJQHE0bNSJX9bm_O
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Chapters
0:00-1:18 Introduction
1:18-5:39 Incandescence
5:59-12:27 Luminescence
12:27-16:40 Fluorescence & phosphorescence
16:40-18:03 Scintillators
18:03-19:15 Conclusion
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External works referenced in this video:
Visible Spectra of the Elements – umop.net/spectra
Taboada, Carlos, et al. "Naturally occurring fluorescence in frogs." PNAS 114.14 (2017): 3672-3677 – pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1701053114
Anich, Paula Spaeth, et al. "Biofluorescence in the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)." Mammalia 85.2 (2021): 179-181 – degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/mammalia-2020-0027/html
Black body spectrum in log-log scale – commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BlackbodySpectrum_loglog_150dpi_en.png
____________________________________________________
Research articles and presentations to go further:
University-level introduction to luminescence (in French): Valeur, Bernard. "Lumière et luminescence." 2e édition, Bibliothèque Scientifique, Belin, 2017. belin-editeur.com/lumiere-et-luminescence-2e-edition
Valeur, Bernard, and Mario N. Berberan-Santos. "A brief history of fluorescence and phosphorescence before the emergence of quantum theory." Journal of Chemical Education 88.6 (2011): 731-738. pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ed100182h
d’Ambrosio, Carmelo. "A short overview on scintillators." CERN, 13 April 2005. https://ph-dep-dt2.web.cern.ch/CAT2005_3a.pdf
The Crystal Clear Collaboration conducts research on scintillators and detectors for the LHC and future accelerators https://crystalclearcollaboration.web.cern.ch/ https://home.cern/news/news/experiments/crystal-clear-30-years
Scintillating detectors at CERN rely on luminescence, sometimes known as "cold light", to detect high-energy particles. In the first video of the online course of the #CERNSolvayEducation Programme, we discuss how light is created, how incandescence ("warm light") differs from luminescence ("cold light") and how we use the latter in scintillation detectors. Find the interactive version of this video over on our website: https://cern.ch/photons.
As part of the education portfolio of #CERNScienceGateway, the #CERNSolvayEducation programme was launched by CERN jointly with @SolvayGroup for the #STEMeducation of high-schoolers. It is designed for teenagers who want to go beyond high-school physics and get an introduction to CERN #physics and #technology. In each video, you can test your understanding by answering quiz questions. If you are at least 16 years old, you can enrol for free in the online CERN-Solvay Education Programme towards obtaining a digital certificate, which will allow you to apply for a CERN-Solvay residential student camp.
Enrol for free in the online course of the CERN-Solvay Education Programme: https://cern.ch/solvay-course
Find all the videos of the CERN-Solvay Education Programme: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAk-9e5KQYEpoWZHUQJQHE0bNSJX9bm_O
____________________________________________________
Chapters
0:00-1:18 Introduction
1:18-5:39 Incandescence
5:59-12:27 Luminescence
12:27-16:40 Fluorescence & phosphorescence
16:40-18:03 Scintillators
18:03-19:15 Conclusion
____________________________________________________
External works referenced in this video:
Visible Spectra of the Elements – umop.net/spectra
Taboada, Carlos, et al. "Naturally occurring fluorescence in frogs." PNAS 114.14 (2017): 3672-3677 – pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1701053114
Anich, Paula Spaeth, et al. "Biofluorescence in the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)." Mammalia 85.2 (2021): 179-181 – degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/mammalia-2020-0027/html
Black body spectrum in log-log scale – commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BlackbodySpectrum_loglog_150dpi_en.png
____________________________________________________
Research articles and presentations to go further:
University-level introduction to luminescence (in French): Valeur, Bernard. "Lumière et luminescence." 2e édition, Bibliothèque Scientifique, Belin, 2017. belin-editeur.com/lumiere-et-luminescence-2e-edition
Valeur, Bernard, and Mario N. Berberan-Santos. "A brief history of fluorescence and phosphorescence before the emergence of quantum theory." Journal of Chemical Education 88.6 (2011): 731-738. pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ed100182h
d’Ambrosio, Carmelo. "A short overview on scintillators." CERN, 13 April 2005. https://ph-dep-dt2.web.cern.ch/CAT2005_3a.pdf
The Crystal Clear Collaboration conducts research on scintillators and detectors for the LHC and future accelerators https://crystalclearcollaboration.web.cern.ch/ https://home.cern/news/news/experiments/crystal-clear-30-years
