fluorescenties

Fluorescenties is the Dutch term commonly used to denote fluorescence, the emission of light by a substance after it has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation. In most cases the emitted light is of longer wavelength than the absorbed light, an effect known as the Stokes shift. Fluorescence results from the rapid relaxation of excited electrons from higher electronic singlet states to the ground state, typically occurring within nanoseconds.

Fluorescenties can be observed in a wide range of materials, including organic dyes, fluorescent proteins, and inorganic systems such as quantum dots and certain minerals. Common examples are fluorescein, rhodamine, and Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). The intensity and spectral characteristics depend on factors such as concentration, molecular environment, and quenching processes; high concentrations can lead to self-quenching and changes in emission.

Fluorescence is a type of luminescence triggered by photon absorption, and it is distinct from phosphorescence, which involves longer-lived excited states and emission after excitation ends. Fluorescent materials are often selected for specific excitation and emission properties to suit imaging, sensing, or display applications.

Applications of fluorescenties include biological imaging and microscopy, diagnostic assays, fluorescent labeling, environmental sensing, forensic analysis, and security or anti-counterfeiting inks. Measurements commonly use spectrofluorometry or fluorescence microscopy to quantify emission spectra and intensities.

The phenomenon was first described in the 19th century; the term fluorescence, and thus fluorescenties, were named by George Gabriel Stokes, who noted light emission following excitation. Since then, fluorescence has become a central tool in science and technology.