Radiation Type |
Radiation Source |
Frequency Range (Hz) |
Wavelength Range |
Type of Transitions |
gamma rays |
|
1020 - 1024 |
<10-12 m |
nuclear |
X-rays |
|
1017 - 1020 |
0.01nm - 10nm (1 pico meter) |
inner electron |
ultraviolet |
deuterium lamp |
1015 - 1017 |
400 nm - 1 nm |
outer electron. Electronic transitions, vibrational fine
structure |
visible |
Tungsten lamp |
4 - 7.5 x 1014 |
750 nm - 400 nm |
near-infrared |
Tungsten, dye laser |
1 x 1014 - 4 x 1014 |
2500 nm - 750 nm (2.5 um - 750 nm) |
outer electron molecular vibrations. Vibrational transitions,
rotational fine structure |
infrared |
nerst glower, globar, Xe,Ar, discharge lamp |
1013 - 1014 |
250,000 - 2,500 nm (25um - 2.5 um) |
outer electron, molecular vibrations. Vibrational transitions,
rotational fine structure |
microwaves |
|
3 x 1011 - 1013 |
250,000 - 1,000,000,000 nm (1 mm - 25 um) |
molecular rotations,electron spin flips*, Rotational transitions |
radio waves |
|
<3 x 1011 |
>1 mm |
nuclear spin flips* |
* energy levels split by a magnetic
field. |