phosphorescence

Phosphorescence is a process where certain materials absorb light energy and then slowly release it as visible glow over time, even after the light source is removed. This happens because the material’s atoms temporarily trap the absorbed energy in excited states with longer lifetimes. When the atoms eventually release this energy as light, it causes a glowing effect that can last from seconds to hours. Examples include glow-in-the-dark items. Unlike fluorescence, which stops glowing almost immediately when the light source is gone, phosphorescence involves a delayed emission of light due to these energy traps within the material’s structure.