radiant energy (original) (raw)

Author: the photonics expert (RP)

Definition: energy of some electromagnetic radiation which is emitted, transmitted or absorbed during some interval of time

Alternative term: optical energy

Categories: article belongs to category general optics general optics, article belongs to category light detection and characterization light detection and characterization, article belongs to category optical metrology optical metrology

Related: pulse energyradiometry

Units: J

Formula symbol: ($Q_\textrm{e}$)

Page views in 12 months: 205

DOI: 10.61835/w3r Cite the article: BibTex BibLaTex plain textHTML Link to this page! LinkedIn

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What is a Radiant Energy?

In radiometry, a radiant energy is the energy of some electromagnetic radiation which is emitted, transmitted or absorbed during some interval of time. The corresponding photometric quantity is the luminous energy ($Q_\textrm{v}$). A final value of the radiant energy is obtained for light pulses, or for a considered limited time interval for continuous radiation.

The term radiant energy is common in fields like illumination and radiative heating (with infrared radiation), but less so in laser technology, where it is more common to use the term pulse energy for the energy in an optical pulse.

Many radiometric quantities are derived from the radiant energy. For example, the radiant flux is the radiant energy per unit time, which in optics corresponds to the optical power. A radiant exposure is the received radiant energy per unit area.

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