What are the differences between fluorescence and luminescence?

Question

Accepted Answer

Basis of differentiation

Fluorescence

Luminescence

Definition

Fluorescence is the absorption of energy by atoms or molecules followed by the emission of light or electromagnetic radiation

Is a spontaneous emission of light by a substance not resulting from heat

Types

TIRF, wide-field epifluorescence microscopy, and confocal microscopy

Photoluminesce, chemiluminescence, crystalloluminescence

Lifetime

The lifetime of the excited state is very short, and photons are emitted from the atoms immediately after incident photons are absorbed

A photon may be illuminated at any given time, and its lifetime may very from process to process

Applications

Mineralogy, fluorescent labeling, use in dyes

Emissive displays, fluorescence lamps, LEDs

Basis of differentiation	Fluorescence	Luminescence
Definition	Fluorescence is the absorption of energy by atoms or molecules followed by the emission of light or electromagnetic radiation	Is a spontaneous emission of light by a substance not resulting from heat
Types	TIRF, wide-field epifluorescence microscopy, and confocal microscopy	Photoluminesce, chemiluminescence, crystalloluminescence
Lifetime	The lifetime of the excited state is very short, and photons are emitted from the atoms immediately after incident photons are absorbed	A photon may be illuminated at any given time, and its lifetime may very from process to process
Applications	Mineralogy, fluorescent labeling, use in dyes	Emissive displays, fluorescence lamps, LEDs