the emission of light or other radiation from atoms or molecules that are bombarded by particles, such as electrons, or by radiation from a separate source. The bombarding radiation produces excited atoms, molecules, or ions and these emit photons as they fall back to the ground state
b.
such an emission of photons that ceases as soon as the bombarding radiation is discontinued
c.
such an emission of photons for which the average lifetime of the excited atoms and molecules is less than about 10–8 seconds
2.
the radiation emitted as a result of fluorescence
Compare phosphorescence
Word origin
C19: fluor + -escence (as in opalescence)
fluorescence in American English
(ˌfluəˈrɛsəns)
noun
1.
the property of a substance, such as fluorite, of producing light while it is beingacted upon by ultraviolet rays, X-rays, or other forms of radiant energy
2.
the production of such light
3.
light so produced
Word origin
< fluorspar + -escence
Examples of 'fluorescence' in a sentence
fluorescence
The dashboard's fluorescence cast a ghostly apparition on the windscreen, losing me a heartbeat till I realized it was my own nervy face.
Gash, Jonathan THE TARTAN RINGERS (1991)
Sue followed me down the steps into the storage room with its garish fluorescence of vivid artificial daylight.
Malcolm, John GOTHIC PURSUIT (1991)
It was a light that showed nothing: as dim and diffuse as the fluorescence of rotting fish.
Pritchard, John NIGHT SISTERS (1991)
Sudden fluorescence illuminated a clan of silken Siamese fighting fish.