photons
Electromagnetic radiation units
Photons are particles of light and other electromagnetic radiation.
Unlike matter particles, photons have no mass and always travel at the speed of light.
Each photon carries a specific amount of energy determined by its wavelength—shorter wavelengths (like X-rays) carry more energy than longer ones (like radio waves).
The detector registered individual photons striking the sensor.
Negative subatomic particle
- protonPositive nuclear particle
- bosonInteger-spin subatomic particle
- fermionHalf-integer spin particle
- neutrinoUncharged, near-massless particle
positron · antiparticle · subatomic · elementary · quark · lepton · hadron · gluon
Provision of light
- brightnessDegree of light emitted
- luminosityIntrinsic brightness of source
- radianceGlowing luminous quality
- fluorescenceLight emitted after absorption
incandescence · luminescence · beam · ray · visible spectrum · ultraviolet · infrared · laser
Spatial repetition interval
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
- diffractionWaves spreading past obstacles
polarization · refraction · dispersion · spectrum · phase · coherence · oscillation · electromagnetic
Coexisting in multiple states
- entanglementState of being intertwined
- quantizationConversion to discrete values
- PlanckQuantum theory's founder
- qubitQuantum information unit
decoherence · uncertainty · eigenstate · Heisenberg · Schrödinger
High-energy nuclear emission
- X-rayPenetrating diagnostic beam
- microwaveRadiation-based kitchen heater
- radio waveElectromagnetic broadcast frequency
- electromagnetic radiationWave-propagating energy through space
blackbody · thermal radiation · ionizing · synchrotron · cosmic ray · solar radiation · spectral line
Light-to-electricity conversion device
- photomultiplier tubeVacuum device amplifying light signals
- CCDLight-sensitive imaging chip
- spectrometerMeasures electromagnetic radiation properties
- sensorInput-detecting device
exposure · photosensitive · image sensor · solar cell · photovoltaic · retina · chlorophyll · photoreceptor
electron
Negative subatomic particle
- protonPositive nuclear particle
- bosonInteger-spin subatomic particle
- fermionHalf-integer spin particle
neutrino · positron · antiparticle · subatomic · elementary · quark · lepton · hadron · gluon · meson
illumination
Provision of light
- brightnessDegree of light emitted
- luminosityIntrinsic brightness of source
- radianceGlowing luminous quality
fluorescence · incandescence · luminescence · beam · ray · visible spectrum · ultraviolet · infrared · laser · sunlight
wavelength
Spatial repetition interval
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
diffraction · polarization · refraction · dispersion · spectrum · phase · coherence · oscillation · electromagnetic · transverse
superposition
Coexisting in multiple states
- entanglementState of being intertwined
- quantizationConversion to discrete values
- PlanckQuantum theory's founder
qubit · decoherence · uncertainty · eigenstate · Heisenberg · Schrödinger
gamma ray
High-energy nuclear emission
- X-rayPenetrating diagnostic beam
- microwaveRadiation-based kitchen heater
- radio waveElectromagnetic broadcast frequency
electromagnetic radiation · blackbody · thermal radiation · ionizing · synchrotron · cosmic ray · solar radiation · spectral line
photodetector
Light-to-electricity conversion device
- photomultiplier tubeVacuum device amplifying light signals
- CCDLight-sensitive imaging chip
- spectrometerMeasures electromagnetic radiation properties
sensor · exposure · photosensitive · image sensor · solar cell · photovoltaic · retina · chlorophyll · photoreceptor
- cosmic matterstars, galaxies, dark matter, planets, cosmic dust
- radiobiologyradiobiology, DNA damage, mutations, ionizing radiation, cell damage
- astroparticlescosmic rays, neutrinos, gamma rays, protons, electrons
- cosmic rayscosmic rays, cosmic radiation, solar rays, proton, protons
- quantum particlesbosons, fermions, electrons, gluons, quarks
- energyelectricity, power, oil, fuel, gas
- photon torpedoesSci-fi spaceship armaments
- photon torpedoFictional spacecraft energy weapon
- photoelectric cellLight-activated electrical component
photon, photonics, photoelectric, photonic, photodiode, photosensitivity