![]() ![]() ![]() A fluorescent black light, which appears similar to any ordinary white fluorescent lamp, emits a relatively large amount of white light mixed with ultraviolet light. While both a fluorescent black light and a black light blue use UV light and phosphor coatings to create luminescence, the difference between them is how much invisible ultraviolet light they emit in relation to visible white light. However, because fluorescent technology produces much more of the UV spectrum, fluorescent black lights are more effective than incandescent black lights. In both BL and BLB technologies, this ultraviolet light causes external phosphors in its surroundings to glow, just like an incandescent black light does. Fluorescent black lights use special phosphor coatings on the inside of the bulb to filter out visible light and enhance the emission of ultraviolet light. Fluorescent black lights fall into two different categories, black light (BL) and black light blue (BLB). BLBįluorescent light sources naturally emit much more of the ultraviolet light spectrum, making the technology ideal for use in black lights. However, the relatively small amount of UV light incandescent bulbs produce makes incandescent black lights the least impressive of black lights. For example, the simplest form of black light, an incandescent black light, produces very little ultraviolet light but uses a special filtering glass called Wood's Glass to block most visible light produced by the bulb filament, thus enhancing the effect of the UV spectrum. All light sources produce UV in varying quantities. You may remember from our previous article on yellow bug lights that the short-wavelength spectrum of light beyond visible light is ultraviolet light. When ultraviolet light hits a phosphor, the phosphor glows in a phenomenon called luminescence. You can find phosphors-a loose grouping referring to special compounds and minerals-in and on all kinds of things: Highlighters, soap, rocks, glow-in-the-dark toys, and even your teeth. The source of the light is a bulb, whether incandescent, fluorescent, CFL, or LED. But how do black lights work? (Hint: It's not magic.) The signature glow produced by black lights requires two separate things: A source of ultraviolet light and a surface coated with UV-reactive phosphors. There's something fun and mysterious about revealing secrets and hidden messages with that strange purple light. Whether you're shooting at friends in a laser tag arena, venturing through the narrow passageways of a haunted house, or simply watching your favorite episode of CSI, black lights never cease to amaze. ![]()
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