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.

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

Chemiluminescence is light resulting from a chemical reaction.

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

Electrochemiluminescence is light resulting from electrochemical reaction.

Crystalloluminescence is light produced during crystallization.

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

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

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

Triboluminescence, a type of mechanoluminescence, is light generated when bonds in a material are broken when that material is scratched, crushed, or rubbed.

Fractoluminescence, a type of mechanoluminescence, is light generated when bonds in certain crystals are broken by fractures.

Piezoluminescence, a type of mechanoluminescence, is light produced by the action of pressure on certain solids.

Sonoluminescence, a type of mechanoluminescence, is light resulting from imploding bubbles in a liquid when excited by sound.

Photoluminescence is light resulting from absorption of photons.

Fluorescence, a type of photoluminescence, is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation.

Unlike fluorescence, a phosphorescent material does not immediately re-emit the radiation it absorbs.

Radioluminescence is light resulting from bombardment by ionizing radiation.

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

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

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