Fluorescence vs. Phosphorescence — What's the Difference?

Fluorescence is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation. It is a form of luminescence.

Phosphorescence is a type of photoluminescence related to fluorescence. When exposed to light (radiation) of a shorter wavelength, a phosphorescent substance will glow, absorbing the light and reemitting it at a longer wavelength.

The emission of electromagnetic radiation, especially of visible light, stimulated in a substance by the absorption of incident radiation and persisting only as long as the stimulating radiation is continued.

Persistent emission of light following exposure to and removal of incident radiation.

The property of emitting such radiation.

Emission of light without appreciable heat, as from chemiluminescence of phosphorus or bioluminescence of living organisms.

The radiation so emitted.

The emission of light without any perceptible heat; the quality of being phosphorescent.

(physics) The emission of light (or other electromagnetic radiation) by a material when stimulated by the absorption of radiation or of a subatomic particle.

The quality or state of being phosphorescent; or the act of phosphorescing.

The light so emitted.

A phosphoric light.

A luminescence emitted by certain substances due to the absorption of radiation at one wavelength, and the almost instantaneous re-emission of radiation at another, usually longer wavelength. The re-radiation stops almost as soon as the incident radiation is halted, thus distinguishing this phenomenon from phosphorescence, in which re-radiation of light may continue for some time after the incident radiation is halted.

A fluorescence that persists after the bombarding radiation has ceased

Light emitted during absorption of radiation of some other (invisible) wavelength