prompt fluorescence
Quick Summary
Fluorescence is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation. This emission is nearly instantaneous, ceasing as soon as the exciting source is removed, distinguishing it from phosphorescence, which has an afterglow.1
Fluorescence occurs when atoms in a material absorb energy, causing excitation. They then reemit this energy almost immediately, typically within 10-8 seconds. This phenomenon is utilized in various applications, such as fluorescent lightbulbs, where electricity excites a gas to produce ultraviolet radiation, which in turn causes a powder coating to emit visible light. It's also used in television and computer screens, where electron beams strike pixels, causing them to fluoresce. In analytical chemistry, fluorescence helps in analyzing molecules, and it's even used in detergents to make fabrics appear whiter.1
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
radiation measurementScintillators…light, a process sometimes called prompt fluorescence. Such materials are known as scintillators and are commonly exploited in scintillation detectors. The amount of light generated from a single charged particle of a few MeV kinetic energy is very weak and cannot be seen with the unaided eye. However, some early…
Read More…light, a process sometimes called prompt fluorescence. Such materials are known as scintillators and are commonly exploited in scintillation detectors. The amount of light generated from a single charged particle of a few MeV kinetic energy is very weak and cannot be seen with the unaided eye. However, some early…
Read More- radiation measurementOrganic scintillators
…so-called π-orbital electron structure exhibit prompt fluorescence following their excitation by the energy deposited by an ionizing particle. The basic mechanism of light emission does not depend on the physical state of the molecule; consequently, organic scintillators take many different forms. The earliest were pure crystals of anthracene or stilbene.…
Read More…so-called π-orbital electron structure exhibit prompt fluorescence following their excitation by the energy deposited by an ionizing particle. The basic mechanism of light emission does not depend on the physical state of the molecule; consequently, organic scintillators take many different forms. The earliest were pure crystals of anthracene or stilbene.…
Read More