Light Source Continuous Spectrum

What are full spectrum light sources.

Light source continuous spectrum.

Similar phenomena occur in high pressure arc lamps in which broadening of spectral lines occurs owing to high collision rates. Broadband light sources then overlap and form a continuous i e nondiscrete spectrum. The sun s light is also believed to produce continuous spectrum since we can see the rainbow. A good example of a almost exclusively single wavelength source of non incandescent visible light is the sodium vapor lamps commonly employed in street lighting.

In order to fully understand continuous spectrum chemistry it is important to discern electromagnetic spectrum white light is a continuous spectrum but this is only part of a larger electromagnetic spectrum that contains radio waves infrared rays microwaves ultraviolet gamma rays and x rays. As a consequence these sources do not produce the continuous spectrum of illumination that is characteristic of incandescent sources. The smaller peaks and valleys may be due to measurement errors rather than discrete spectral lines. The term full spectrum is not a technical term but rather a marketing term implying a smooth and continuous spectral power distribution spd without the spikes and troughs in radiant energy common with most discharge light sources e g fluorescent and metal halide.

When an absorption spectrum and emission spectrum are combined you get a continuous spectrum with all the wavelengths. Truly white light like that emitted by some stars and moons is a perfect example of continuous spectrum.