photophysics

Photophysics is the study of how light interacts with materials at the atomic and molecular levels. When light hits a substance, it can excite electrons, causing them to jump to higher energy states. As electrons return to lower energy levels, they often release energy as light or heat. This process explains phenomena like fluorescence, phosphorescence, and how materials change colors. Photophysics helps us understand and develop technologies like solar cells, lasers, and fluorescent dyes, by revealing the fundamental mechanisms behind light-matter interactions and energy transfer in various systems.