View source for Physics:List of light sources

{{Short description|Devices and processes that produce light}}
This is a '''list of sources of light''', the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. [[Physics:Light|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, [[Engineering:Cat's eye (road)|cat's eye]]s, 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.
{{main|Physics:Incandescence}}

===Combustion===
{{main|Physics:Combustion}}

====Lamps====
<!-- THIS SECTION IS FOR COMBUSTION-BASED LAMPS ONLY -->
*{{annotated link|Engineering:Argand lamp}} (obsolete)
*{{annotated link|Physics:Carbide lamp}}
*{{annotated link|Engineering:Butter lamp}}
*{{annotated link|Engineering:Flash-lamp}}
*{{annotated link|Physics:Gas lighting}}
*{{annotated link|Physics:Gas mantle}}
*{{annotated link|Engineering:Lantern}}s
*{{annotated link|Physics:Limelight}} (obsolete)
*{{annotated link|Engineering:Oil lamp}} [[File:NOLA19thCenturyOilLamp.JPG|right|thumb|115px|Oil lamp]]

====Other====
*{{annotated link|Chemistry:Argon flash}} - shock wave
*{{annotated link|Physics:Brazier}}
*{{annotated link|Organization:Bunsen burner}}
*{{annotated link|Astronomy:Fire}} [[File:Montana 16 bg 062406.jpg|thumb|115px|Fire]]
*{{annotated link|Physics:Fire whirl}} [[File:Fire-whirl.jpg|right|thumb|115px|Fire whirl]]
*{{annotated link|Physics:Fireworks}}[[File:2013 Fireworks on Eiffel Tower 49.jpg|thumb|115px|Fireworks]]
*{{annotated link|Physics:Flamethrower}}
*{{annotated link|Physics:Muzzle flash}}
*{{annotated link|Physics:Rubens tube}}
*{{annotated link|Earth:Torch}}

===Nuclear and high-energy particle===
{{main|Physics:Nuclear physics|Physics:Particle physics}}
*{{annotated link|Physics:Annihilation}}
*{{annotated link|Physics:Nuclear reaction}}
** {{annotated link|Physics:Nuclear fission}}
** {{annotated link|Physics:Nuclear fusion}}
*{{annotated link|Engineering:Nuclear weapon}}
*{{annotated link|Physics:Cherenkov radiation}}
*{{annotated link|Physics:Synchrotron radiation}}
*{{annotated link|Physics:Free-electron laser}}
*{{annotated link|Physics:Bremsstrahlung}}

===Celestial and atmospheric===
[[File:EmissionNebula NGC6357.jpg|right|thumb|115px|Nebula and stars]]
[[File:Perseid Meteor.jpg|thumb|right|115px|Starry sky, the Milky Way, and a shooting star]]
{{main|Astronomy:Astronomical object}}

*[[Astronomy:Astronomical object|Astronomical object]]s
**[[Astronomy:Sun|Sun]] ([[Astronomy:Sunlight|sunlight]], [[Physics:Solar radiation|solar radiation]]) 
*** {{Annotated link |Stellar corona}}
*** {{Annotated link |Photosphere}}
**[[Astronomy:Star|Star]] ([[Astronomy:Starlight|Starlight]])
***[[Astronomy:Nova|Nova]] / [[Astronomy:Supernova|supernova]] / [[Astronomy:Hypernova|hypernova]]
*** {{Annotated link |Galaxy}}
**** {{Annotated link |Milky Way}}
*** {{Annotated link |Star cluster}}
** {{Annotated link |Deep-sky object}}
*** {{Annotated link |Quasar}}
*** {{Annotated link |Accretion disk}}
*** {{Annotated link |Blazar}}
*** {{Annotated link |Magnetar}}
*** {{Annotated link |Pulsar}}
* {{Annotated link |Atmospheric entry}}
**Meteor [[File:Bolide.jpg|thumb|115px|Meteor]]
*** {{Annotated link |Meteor shower}}
** {{Annotated link |Bolide}}
*** {{Annotated link |Earth-grazing fireball}}
*[[Astronomy:Lightning|Lightning]] ([[Physics:Plasma|Plasma]])
** {{Annotated link |Sprite (lightning)}}
** {{Annotated link |Ball lightning}}
** {{Annotated link |Upper-atmospheric lightning}}
** {{Annotated link |Dry lightning}}
* {{Annotated link |Aurora}}

==Luminescence==
{{main|Physics:Luminescence}}
Luminescence is emission of light by a substance not resulting from heat.

===Bioluminescence===
{{main|Physics:Bioluminescence}}
Bioluminescence is light resulting from biochemical reaction by a living organism.
*{{annotated link|Biology:Aequorea victoria}}
*{{annotated link|Physics:Biophoton}}
*[[Biology:Mantis shrimp#Claws|Cavitation bubbles made by mantis shrimps]]{{cn|date=August 2022}}
*{{annotated link|Biology:Firefly}}
*{{annotated link|Biology:Foxfire}}
*{{annotated link|Biology:Glowworm}}
*{{annotated link|Biology:Luciferase}}
*{{annotated link|Biology:Panellus stipticus}} [[Image:PanellusStipticusAug12 2009.jpg|thumb|115px|Bioluminescent panellus stipticus]]
*{{annotated link|Biology:Chaetopterus|Parchment worm}}
*{{annotated link|Biology:Pholadidae|Piddock}}
*{{annotated link|Biology:Anglerfish}}

===Cathodoluminescence===
{{main|Cathodoluminescence}}
Cathodoluminescence is light resulting from a luminescent material being struck by electrons.

===Chemiluminescence===    
{{main|Chemiluminescence}}[[Image:Knicklichter.jpg|thumb|115px |Chemiluminescence [[Physics:Glow stick|glow stick]]s]]
Chemiluminescence is light resulting from a [[Chemistry:Chemical reaction|chemical reaction]].

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

===Crystalloluminescence===
{{main|Physics:Crystalloluminescence}}
Crystalloluminescence is light produced during [[Physics:Crystallization|crystallization]].

===Electric discharge (electrical energy)===
*{{main|Physics:Electric arc}}
**{{annotated link|Physics:Arc lamp}}
**{{annotated link|Physics:Flashtube}}
*{{main|Physics:Electrostatic discharge}}
**{{annotated link|Astronomy:Lightning}}
**{{annotated link|Physics:Electric spark}}
*{{main|Physics:Gas-discharge lamp}}
**{{annotated link|Physics:Electrodeless lamp}}
**{{annotated link|Physics:Excimer lamp}}
**{{annotated link|Physics:Fluorescent lamp}}
***{{annotated link|Physics:Compact fluorescent lamp}}
***{{annotated link|Physics:Tanning lamp}}
***{{annotated link|Physics:Blacklight}}
***{{annotated link|Physics:Geissler tube}}
**{{annotated link|Physics:High-intensity discharge lamp}}[[File:Sodiumlamp.jpg |thumb|115px| High-intensity discharge lamp]]
***{{annotated link|Physics:Ceramic metal-halide lamp}}
***{{annotated link|Physics:Hydrargyrum medium-arc iodide lamp}}
***{{annotated link|Physics:Mercury-vapor lamp}}
***{{annotated link|Physics:Metal-halide lamp}}
***{{annotated link|Physics:Sodium-vapor lamp}}
***{{annotated link|Physics:Sulfur lamp}}
***{{annotated link|Physics:Xenon arc lamp}}
**{{annotated link|Physics:Hollow-cathode lamp}}
***{{annotated link|Physics:Sulfur lamp}} [[File:Air & Space sulfur lamps.JPG|thumb|right|115px|Sulfur lamps]]
**{{annotated link|Engineering:Neon lamp|Neon and argon lamps}}
***{{annotated link|Dekatron}} [[Image:Dekatron.gif|thumb|115px|Dekatron]]
***{{annotated link|Engineering:Nixie tube}}
**{{annotated link|Physics:Plasma lamp}}

===Electrochemiluminescence===
{{main|Physics:Electrochemiluminescence}}
Electrochemiluminescence is light resulting from an [[Chemistry:Electrochemistry|electrochemical reaction]].

===Electroluminescence===
{{main|Physics:Electroluminescence}}
Electroluminescence is light resulting from an electric current being passed through a substance.
[[File:RBG-LED.jpg|thumb|115px|Light-emitting diodes]]
*{{annotated link|Engineering:Light-emitting diode}}
*{{annotated link|Chemistry:OLED|Organic light-emitting diode}}
*AMOLED
*{{annotated link|Chemistry:Light-emitting electrochemical cell}}
*{{annotated link|Physics:Electroluminescent wire}}
* {{annotated link|Physics:Laser}} [[File:LASER.jpg|thumb|115px|Lasers]]
** {{annotated link|Engineering:Chemical laser}}
** {{annotated link|Physics:Dye laser}}
** {{annotated link|Physics:Free-electron laser}}
** {{annotated link|Engineering:Gas dynamic laser}}
** {{annotated link|Engineering:Gas laser}}
** {{annotated link|Engineering:Ion laser}}
** {{annotated link|Engineering:Laser diode}}
** {{annotated link|Physics:Nonlinear optics}}
** {{annotated link|Engineering:Quantum well laser}}
** {{annotated link|Physics:Quantum dot laser}}
** {{annotated link|Physics:Ruby laser}}
** {{annotated link|Physics:Solid-state laser}}

===Mechanoluminescence===
{{main|Physics:Mechanoluminescence}}
Mechanoluminescence is light resulting from a mechanical action on a solid.

*[[Physics:Triboluminescence|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
*[[Physics:Piezoluminescence|Piezoluminescence]], light produced by the action of pressure on certain solids
*[[Physics:Sonoluminescence|Sonoluminescence]], light resulting from imploding bubbles in a liquid when excited by sound

===Photoluminescence===
{{main|Physics:Photoluminescence}}
Photoluminescence is  light resulting from absorption of photons.

*[[Biology:Fluorescence|Fluorescence]], the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation
*[[Physics:Phosphorescence|Phosphorescence]], the delayed re-emission of light by substance that has absorbed it

===Radioluminescence===
[[File:Tritium-watch.jpg|thumb|115px|Radioluminescent]]
{{main|Physics:Radioluminescence}}
Radioluminescence is light resulting from bombardment by ionizing radiation.

===Thermoluminescence===
{{main|Physics:Thermoluminescence}}
Thermoluminescence is light from the re-emission of absorbed energy when a substance is heated.

== See also ==
* [[Physics:List of reflected light sources|List of reflected light sources]]
* [[Physics:Luminous efficacy|Luminous efficacy]]
* [[Physics:Photometry (optics)|Photometry (optics)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~zhuxj/astro/html/spectrometer.html A CD spectrometer] Color spectrographs of common light sources

{{Artificial light sources}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Light Sources}}
[[Category:Light sources| ]]

{{Sourceattribution|List of light sources}}