logo
Products
Technologies
Applications
Services
Resources
Selection Guides
About
What is the difference between absorption and excitation spectra?
Posted April 24, 2020

Answer

While an excitation spectrum shows the wavelengths of light that a sample will absorb to be able to emit at a specified wavelength, an absorption spectrum shows all of the wavelengths at which light is absorbed by the sample. Generally, both the absorption and excitation spectra of a sample will peak at the same wavelength, although there are exceptions. In addition, absorption spectra is measured using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, while excitation spectra is measured using a fluorescence spectrophotometer.