This is a list of sources of light, the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Light sources produce photons from another energy source, such as heat, chemical reactions, or conversion of mass or a different frequency of electromagnetic energy, and include light bulbs and stars like the Sun. Reflectors (such as the moon, cat's eyes, and mirrors) do not actually produce the light that comes from them.
Incandescence
Incandescence is the emission of light from a hot body as a result of its temperature.
Nernst lamp – Early form of lamp using an incandescent ceramic rod
Volcanic eruption – Overview of different types of volcanic eruptionsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Combustion
Lamps
Argand lamp – Type of oil lamp (obsolete)
Carbide lamp – Acetylene-burning lamps
Coleman lantern – Series of pressure lamps
Betty lamp – Oil or grease burning lamp originating from Europe (error)
Electric spark – Abrupt electrical discharge through an ionised channel
Electrodeless lamp – Gas-discharge lamp using electric and magnetic fields to transfer energy to the gas insidePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Excimer lamp – Ultraviolet source based on spontaneous emission of excimer molecules.
Fluorescent lamp – Lamp using fluorescence to produce light
Compact fluorescent lamp – Fluorescent lamps with folded tubes, often with built-in ballast
Tanning lamp – Device which produces ultraviolet light used for indoor tanning
Blacklight – Light fixture that emits long-wave ultraviolet light and very little visible light
Geissler tube – Early gas-discharge lamp
Moore tube – American electrical engineer and inventor (Obsolete)
Ruhmkorff lamp – Artificial light sources powered by ionized gas electric dischargePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets (Obsolete)
High-intensity discharge lamp – Type of electric lamp/bulb
Carbon arc lamp – Lamp that produces light by an electric arcPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Ceramic metal-halide lamp
Hydrargyrum medium-arc iodide lamp – used for stage lightingPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Mercury-vapor lamp – Light source using an electric arc through mercury vapor
Metal-halide lamp – Type of lamp
Sodium-vapor lamp – Type of electric gas-discharge lamp
Sulfur lamp – Lighting system
Xenon arc lamp – Gas discharge lamp that produces intense white light
Hollow-cathode lamp – spectral line source used in physics and chemistryPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Induction lighting – Gas-discharge lamp using electric and magnetic fields to transfer energy to the gas insidePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Sulfur lamp – Lighting system
Neon and argon lamps – Light source based on gas discharge
Dekatron – Early and obsolete type of computer memory
Nixie tube – Electronic numeric display device
Plasma lamp – Type of electrodeless gas-discharge lamp
Xenon flash lamp – Incoherent light sourcePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Electrochemiluminescence
Electrochemiluminescence is light resulting from an electrochemical reaction.
Electroluminescence
Electroluminescence is light resulting from an electric current being passed through a substance.
Light-emitting diode – Semiconductor and solid-state light source
Organic light-emitting diode – Diode that emits light from an organic compound
Polymer light-emitting diode – Diode that emits light from an organic compoundPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
AMOLED, Active matrix OLED - typical OLED addressing scheme for color OLED displays. (Display content) Has to be periodically refreshed to maintain picture, as opposed to for example Electronic paper – Display technology for use in mobile devices and televisions
Light-emitting electrochemical cell – solid-state device that generates light from an electric currentPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Electroluminescent wire – Capacitive light source in the form of a wire
Field-induced polymer electroluminescent
Laser – Device which emits light via optical amplification
Chemical laser – Laser that obtains energy from chemical reactions
Dye laser – Equipment using an organic dye to emit coherent light
Free-electron laser – Laser using electron beam in vacuum as gain medium
Gas dynamic laser – Laser based on differences in relaxation velocities of molecular vibrational states
Gas laser – Laser in which electricity is discharged through gas
Ion laser – Type of gas laser
Laser diode – Semiconductor laser
Laser excited phosphor – Devices and processes that produce lightPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Long distance beam light
Metal-vapor laser
Nonlinear optics – Branch of physics
Quantum well laser – Laser diode in which the active region is so narrow that quantum confinement occurs
Quantum dot laser – Semiconductor laser that uses quantum dots as the active laser medium
Ruby laser – Solid-state laser
Solid-state laser – Laser which uses a solid gain medium
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
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
Radioluminescence is light resulting from bombardment by ionizing radiation.
Thermoluminescence
Thermoluminescence is light from the re-emission of absorbed energy when a substance is heated.
See also
List of reflected light sources
Luminous efficacy
Photometry (optics)
References
External links
A CD spectrometer Color spectrographs of common light sources