Abszorberre

Abszorberre is the Basque term for an absorber, a material or device that absorbs energy from an incoming signal, wave, or particle, thereby reducing its intensity. Absorbing energy may convert it into heat or direct it into other internal modes such as molecular vibrations or electronic transitions. The concept is used across science and engineering to control waves and radiation.

There are different kinds of absorbers depending on the wave or particle they target. Acoustic absorbers dampen sound by converting acoustic energy into heat through viscous and thermal dissipation in porous or fibrous materials. Optical absorbers reduce light by promoting electrons to higher energy states or by broad-spectrum attenuation. Thermal and radiation absorbers shield or capture infrared, ultraviolet, or ionizing radiation, typically through interactions that trap energy within the material.

Key properties include the absorption coefficient, reflectance, transmittance, and impedance. Performance depends on thickness, density, porosity, and microstructure. Measurements often involve spectroscopy for optical absorbers or impedance-based methods and reverberation techniques for acoustics.

Applications span architecture, where acoustic tiles and panels shape sound within spaces; solar collectors and thermal insulation, which use absorbers to convert radiant energy into heat; radiation shielding in medical, industrial, and nuclear settings; sensors and detectors that convert absorbed energy into electrical signals; and consumer products such as noise-damping foams and dark coatings.

See also: absorption (physics), acoustic materials, optical coatings.