List of light sources

This article lists sources of light, the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. It focuses on primary light sources (which emit light) rather than secondary light sources (which reflect or transmit light). ^[1] Primary light sources produce photons from another energy source, such as heat, chemical reactions, or conversion of mass or a different frequency of electromagnetic radiation, and include light bulbs and stars like the Sun. Secondary light sources (e.g., the Moon, cat's eyes) do not actually produce the light that comes from them.

A common and fundamental means of classifying primary light sources is on the basis of the mechanism(s) of light emission. ^[2] Light is generated when an electric charge undergoes acceleration, typically through incandescence or luminescence. ^[3]

• Incandescence is the emission of visible radiation (light) due to the thermal excitation of atoms or molecules. ^[4] It is thermal radiation, which emerges from the conversion of kinetic energy associated with heat, resulting in continuous spectra, which extend into the visible region when temperatures are sufficiently high.
• Luminescence is any emission of light not ascribable directly to incandescence. ^[4] One mechanism is atomic electron transition, which generally results in discrete spectra from tightly-bound core electrons. The similar mechanism of recombination involves loosely-bound or free electrons in the valence or conduction bands, and can result in continuous spectra from plasmas and optoelectronic semiconductor devices.

Light from real light sources (e.g., stars, phosphor-based white LEDs) is often from a combination of mechanisms. Real light sources can in turn be categorised as anthropic ("artificial") or naturally occurring.

Incandescence

Lava from volcanic eruption

Main article: Incandescence

• Incandescent light bulb  – Electric light bulb with a resistively heated wire filament
• Lava  – Molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption
• Nernst lamp  – Early form of lamp using an incandescent ceramic rod

Luminescence

Main article: Luminescence

Cathodoluminescence

Main articles: Cathodoluminescence and Electron-stimulated luminescence

Cathodoluminescence is luminescence produced by the bombardment of a metal or a phosphor by electrons.

• Cathode-ray tube  – Vacuum tube often used to display imagesPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets

Chemiluminescence

Main article: Chemiluminescence

Chemiluminescence is luminescence resulting from a chemical reaction.

Bioluminescence

Main articles: Bioluminescence and Biophoton

Bioluminescence is light emitted by living organisms due to chemiluminescence.

• Aequorea victoria  – Species of hydrozoan
• Anglerfish  – Bony fish with a natural lure
• Antarctic krill  – Species of krill
• Firefly  – Family of beetles
• Foxfire  – Fungal bioluminescence
• Glowworm  – Bioluminescent insect larva
• Panellus stipticus  – Species of fungus
• Parchment worm  – Genus of annelid worms
• Piddock  – Family of bivalves

Electroluminescence

Main article: Electroluminescence

Electroluminescence is luminescence caused by the action of an electric field in a gas or in a solid material. ^[1]

Light-emitting diodes

• Light-emitting diode  – Semiconductor and solid-state light source
  • Organic light-emitting diode  – Diode that emits light from an organic compound
  • Polymer light-emitting diode  – Diode that emits light from an organic compoundPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
  • AMOLED , Active matrix OLED - typical OLED addressing scheme for color OLED displays. (Display content) Has to be periodically refreshed to maintain picture, as opposed to for example Electronic paper  – Display technology for use in mobile devices and televisions
• Light-emitting electrochemical cell
• Electroluminescent wire  – Capacitive light source in the form of a wire
• Field-induced polymer electroluminescent  – Electroluminescent light sourcePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Laser  – Device which emits light via optical amplification

  

  Lasers

  • Chemical laser  – Laser that obtains energy from chemical reactions
  • Dye laser  – Equipment using an organic dye to emit coherent light
  • Free-electron laser  – Laser using electron beam in vacuum as gain medium
  • Gas dynamic laser  – Laser based on differences in relaxation velocities of molecular vibrational states
  • Gas laser  – Laser in which electricity is discharged through gas
  • Ion laser  – Type of gas laser
  • Laser diode  – Semiconductor laser
    • Laser excited phosphor  – Devices and processes that produce lightPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Long distance beam light
  • Metal-vapor laser
  • Nonlinear optics  – Branch of physics
  • Quantum well laser  – Laser diode in which the active region is so narrow that quantum confinement occurs
  • Quantum dot laser  – Semiconductor laser that uses quantum dots as the active laser medium
  • Ruby laser  – Solid-state laser
  • Solid-state laser  – Laser which uses a solid gain medium

Electric discharge

Main article: Electric arc

Electric discharge is the passage of an electric current through gases and vapours by the production and movements of charge carriers under the influence of an electric field. ^[1] Such light sources exhibit electroluminescence; some may additionally exhibit photoluminescence (e.g., fluorescent lamps) and/or incandescence (e.g., flashtubes). ^[2]

The following electric discharge sources exhibit electrostatic discharge:

• Flashtube  – Incoherent light source
• Lightning  – Weather phenomenon involving electrostatic discharge
• Electric spark  – Abrupt electrical discharge through an ionised channel

The following electric discharge sources are examples of gas-discharge lamps:

• Electrodeless lamp  – Gas-discharge lamp using induction to excite the gas insidePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Excimer lamp  – Ultraviolet source based on spontaneous emission of excimer molecules
• Fluorescent lamp  – Lamp using fluorescence to produce light
• Compact fluorescent lamp  – Fluorescent lamps with folded tubes, often with built-in ballast
• Tanning lamp  – Device which produces ultraviolet light used for indoor tanning
• Blacklight  – Light fixture that emits long-wave ultraviolet light and very little visible light
• Geissler tube  – Early gas-discharge lamp
• Moore tube  – American electrical engineer and inventor (Obsolete)
• Ruhmkorff lamp  – Artificial light sources powered by ionized gas electric dischargePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets (Obsolete)
• High-intensity discharge lamp  – Type of electric lamp/bulb

  

  High-intensity discharge lamp

• Carbon arc lamp  – Lamp that produces light by an electric arcPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Ceramic metal-halide lamp
• Hydrargyrum medium-arc iodide lamp  – Stage lighting lamp
• Mercury-vapor lamp  – Light source using an electric arc through mercury vapor
• Metal-halide lamp  – Type of lamp
• Sodium-vapor lamp  – Type of electric gas-discharge lamp
• Sulfur lamp  – Lighting system
• Xenon arc lamp  – Gas discharge lamp that produces intense white light
• Hollow-cathode lamp  – Type of cold cathode lamp
• Induction lighting  – Gas-discharge lamp using induction to excite the gas insidePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Sulfur lamp  – Lighting system

  

  Sulfur lamps

• Neon and argon lamps  – Light source based on gas discharge
• Dekatron  – Obsolete electronic device for counting in decimal

  

  Dekatron

• Nixie tube  – Electronic numeric display device
• Plasma lamp  – Type of electrodeless gas-discharge lamp
• Xenon flash lamp  – Incoherent light sourcePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets

Mechanoluminescence

Main article: Mechanoluminescence

Mechanoluminescence is light resulting from mechanical stress, usually defined as being applied to a solid.

• Fractoluminescence  – Mechanical generation of lightPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Piezoluminescence  – Emission of light created by pressure
• Triboluminescence  – Mechanical generation of light

Photoluminescence

Main article: Photoluminescence

Photoluminescence is light resulting from absorption of photons.

• Fluorescence  – Emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light (electromagnetic radiation)
• Phosphorescence  – Process where light energy is absorbed by a phosphorescent substance and released as light (following a delay)

Pyroluminescence

Pyroluminescence (flame luminescence) is light emitted by a gas or vapor excited by high temperature, as in a flame. ^[5] A flame provides visible evidence of combustion, and can additionally exhibit incandescence. ^[6]

Combustion-based lamps

• Argand lamp  – Oil lamp with a gravity feed
• Carbide lamp  – Acetylene-burning lamps
• Coleman lantern  – Series of pressure lamps
• Betty lamp  – Oil or grease burning lamp originating from Europe
• Butter lamp  – Lamps traditionally burning clarified yak butter
• Flash-lamp  – Electrically ignited photographic light source
• Gas lighting  – Types of lighting device which burn gas fuel
• Gas mantle  – Device for generating bright light when heated by a flame
• Kerosene lamp  – Type of lighting device that uses kerosene as a fuel
• Lantern  – Portable lighting devices
• Limelight  – Type of stage lighting once used in theatres and music halls
• Oil lamp  – Lamp used for lighting by burning oil
• Tilley lamp  – Pressurized kerosene lamps made by the Tilley company in the UK

Other combustion-based light sources

• Argon flash  – Single-use source of very short and extremely bright flash of light - shock wave
• Brazier  – Container used to burn charcoal or other solid fuel
• Bunsen burner  – Laboratory device used to make fire from fuel and oxidizer gases
• Candle  – Wick embedded in solid flammable substance
• Ember  – Hot lump of slowly burning solid fuel
• Explosive  – Substance that can explode
• Fire  – Rapid and hot oxidation of a material
• Fire whirl  – Whirlwind induced by and often composed of fire
• Fireworks  – Low explosive pyrotechnic devices for entertainment
• Flamethrower  – Ranged incendiary device
• Muzzle flash  – Light created by gunfire
• Rubens tube  – Physics apparatus for demonstrating acoustic standing waves in a tube
• Torch  – Stick with a flaming end used as a source of light

  

  Candle

Radioluminescence

Radioluminescent

Main article: Radioluminescence

Radioluminescence is luminescence arising from excitation by high-energy particles or radiation. ^{[7] [8]}

• Aurora  – Atmospheric effect caused by the solar wind
• Radium dial  – Instrument dials painted with radium-based paint
• Tritium radioluminescence  – Use of gaseous tritium to create visible light

Sonoluminescence

Main article: Sonoluminescence

Sonoluminescence is luminescence induced by sound waves, such as light emission resulting from imploding bubbles in a liquid.

• Mantis shrimp  – Order of crustaceans
• Pistol shrimp  – Family of crustacean possessing asymmetrical snapping clawsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets

Other kinds of luminescence

• Crystalloluminescence  – Luminescence produced from crystallization
• Electrochemiluminescence  – Emission of light from electrochemical reactions
• Thermoluminescence  – Light from the re-emission of absorbed energy when a substance is heated

See also

• Annihilation  – Collision of a particle and its antiparticle
• Bremsstrahlung  – Electromagnetic radiation due to deceleration of charged particles
• Cherenkov radiation  – Electromagnetic radiation from a charged particle in a medium
• Electric light  – Device for producing light from electricity
• Light fixture  – Electrical device with an electric lamp
• List of reflected light sources
• Luminous efficacy  – How efficiently a source produces visible light
• Nuclear reaction  – Transformation of a nuclide to another
• Photometry (optics)  – Measurement of visible light
• Synchrotron radiation  – Electromagnetic radiation

References

1. e-ILV, online version of CIE S 017:2020, International Lighting Vocabulary (2 ed.). Vienna: International Commission on Illumination. 2020. Retrieved 11 Jan 2026.
2. DiLaura, David L.; Houser, Kevin W.; Mistrick, Richard G.; Steffy, Gary R. (2011). "Production of Optical Radiation". The Lighting Handbook: Reference and Application (10 ed.). New York: Illuminating Engineering Society. pp. 1.6 –1.17. ISBN   978-087995-241-9. OCLC   739932332.
3. "Basics of Light: Where Does Light Come From?". umass.edu. Physics 132: What is an Electron? What is Light?. University of Massachusetts Amherst . Retrieved 11 Jan 2026.
4. ANSI/IES LS-1-22, Lighting Science: Nomenclature And Definitions For Illuminating Engineering. New York: Illuminating Engineering Society. 2022. Retrieved 11 Jan 2026.
5. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster . Retrieved 12 Jan 2026.
6. Rea, Mark S. (2000). IESNA Lighting Handbook: Reference & Application (9 ed.). New York: Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA). p. 1-9 (note: hyphenated page numbering by chapter). ISBN   0-87995-150-8. OCLC   43593816.
7. IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology (Gold Book). Research Triangle Park, NC: International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. 2019. doi:10.1351/goldbook . Retrieved 13 Jan 2026.
8. "Luminescence excitation: Radioluminescence". Britannica.com . Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved 13 Jan 2026.

Further reading

Encyclopedia Britannica. Britannica.com. lighting. Retrieved 12 Jan 2026.