Fotonemission

Fotonemission is the process by which an atom or molecule loses energy in the form of a photon. This typically occurs when an electron in an excited state transitions to a lower energy level. The energy difference between the two levels is released as a photon with a specific wavelength, corresponding to that energy difference. This phenomenon is fundamental to the emission of light from sources like stars, lamps, and lasers. When an atom absorbs energy, for example from heat or electrical current, its electrons are promoted to higher energy orbitals. These excited states are generally unstable. As the electrons return to their ground state, they emit photons. The color of the emitted light is determined by the energy difference between the electron's states, meaning different elements emit photons of characteristic wavelengths. This principle is utilized in spectroscopy, where the analysis of emitted light can reveal the elemental composition of a substance. Fluorescence and phosphorescence are related phenomena where absorbed light is re-emitted.