Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
In collaboration with the University of Arizona's College of Optical Sciences (@uaosc), we explore the concept of photoluminescence.
Photoluminescence is the process of absorbing and emitting light through photoexcitation. Shorter wavelengths in the green, blue, and UV are absorbed, exciting electrons to a higher but unstable energy states, relaxing to a stable states, before dropping back to their ground states, emitting a longer wavelength photons in the process.
Photoluminescence includes both fluorescence and phosphorescence. Fluorescence is a quick process of absorption and emission of light, while phosphorescence is a much slower process. Phosphorescence remits light over a much longer period and is responsible for things that glow in the dark.
A property found in many naturally occurring rocks and minerals, the specific colors of the emitted light can be used for gem identification.
Photoluminescence is used as counterfeiting security feature in currency and as optical brighteners in paper to make white paper look whiter. It illuminates our everyday lives with white light LEDs, where blue LEDs excite fluorescent materials to create a broad spectrum of green, yellow, orange, and red wavelengths. This full spectrum combines into white light.
In collaboration with the University of Arizona's College of Optical Sciences (@uaosc), we explore the concept of photoluminescence.
Photoluminescence is the process of absorbing and emitting light through photoexcitation. Shorter wavelengths in the green, blue, and UV are absorbed, exciting electrons to a higher but unstable energy states, relaxing to a stable states, before dropping back to their ground states, emitting a longer wavelength photons in the process.
Photoluminescence includes both fluorescence and phosphorescence. Fluorescence is a quick process of absorption and emission of light, while phosphorescence is a much slower process. Phosphorescence remits light over a much longer period and is responsible for things that glow in the dark.
A property found in many naturally occurring rocks and minerals, the specific colors of the emitted light can be used for gem identification.
Photoluminescence is used as counterfeiting security feature in currency and as optical brighteners in paper to make white paper look whiter. It illuminates our everyday lives with white light LEDs, where blue LEDs excite fluorescent materials to create a broad spectrum of green, yellow, orange, and red wavelengths. This full spectrum combines into white light.
