fluorescence etymology

Etymology

The term "fluorescence" is derived from the Latin word "fluoresco," which means "to flow with light." It was coined by Sir George Stokes in 1852 to describe the phenomenon of certain substances emitting visible light after absorbing invisible radiation.

Meaning

Fluorescence is a form of luminescence in which a substance absorbs electromagnetic radiation (usually ultraviolet or visible light) and then re-emits it as light of a longer wavelength (usually visible light). This process occurs when electrons in the substance are excited to a higher energy level and then fall back to a lower energy level, releasing energy in the form of light.

Origin

The discovery of fluorescence can be traced back to 1560, when the Italian physician and alchemist Gerolamo Cardano observed that a solution of wood in water emitted a faint glow when exposed to sunlight. However, it was not until the 19th century that the phenomenon was fully understood and investigated.

In 1833, Sir David Brewster coined the term "internal dispersion" to describe the phenomenon of fluorescence. In 1852, Sir George Stokes conducted a series of experiments on the emission of light by uranium glass and proposed the term "fluorescence" to distinguish it from phosphorescence, which is a related phenomenon in which a substance continues to emit light after the excitation source has been removed.

Fluorescence has since become a valuable tool in various scientific and technological fields, including microscopy, spectroscopy, and medical imaging.

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