Talk:Photoluminescence

Physics Mid‑importance

	Physics portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject Physics, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Physics on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.PhysicsWikipedia:WikiProject PhysicsTemplate:WikiProject Physicsphysics articles
Mid	This article has been rated as Mid-importance on the project's importance scale.

Spectroscopy (inactive)

This article is within the scope of WikiProject Spectroscopy, a project which is currently considered to be inactive.SpectroscopyWikipedia:WikiProject SpectroscopyTemplate:WikiProject SpectroscopySpectroscopy articles

Difference between this and photoexcitation?

"This is one of many forms of luminescence (light emission) and is distinguished by photoexcitation (excitation by photons), hence the prefix photo-." They both have the prefix photo, indicating photons. They both involve absorption of photons by electrons. The only difference I see stated here is that photoluminesence is followed by re-emission of a photon. However, due to finite excited lifetimes, it will be re-emitted in both cases. Thus I do not see a distinction between the two. Zylorian (talk) 18:20, 19 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Actually, just realized that the distinction comes from where the energy goes afterwards. One example is that of photodiodes where the excited electrons spend their energy elsewhere, e.g. charging a battery; that would be photoexcitation. In photoluminesence, at least some of the energy specifically goes towards photon(s). Zylorian (talk) 18:32, 19 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]