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Electromagnetic Spectrum

Introduction

For convenience in talking about electromagnetic radiation, we classify photons of different energies into different spectral regions. The photons in all of these regions have the same electromagnetic nature, but because of their very different energies they interact with matter very differently. For example, the human eye can only detect radiation that is in the visible region of the spectrum (hence the name). These photons are both transmitted by the lens of the human eye and absorbed by the photoreceptors in the retina. There is no fundamental difference in the nature of electromagnetic radiation of 350 nm versus 400 nm, other than our eyes can sense the 400-nm photons directly. A 350-nm photon is in the ultraviolet portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Some of the boundaries between spectral regions are not well-defined as between ultraviolet and visible radiation.

Visible Spectrum

The visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum consists of photons with wavelengths from approximately 400 to 700 nm. The short wavelength cutoff is due to absorption by the lens of the eye and the long wavelength cutoff is due to the decrease in sensitivity of the photoreceptors in the retina for longer wavelengths. Light at wavelengths longer than 700 nm can be seen if the light source is intense.