Luminescence

Luminescence is a spontaneous emission of radiation from an electronically or vibrationally excited species not in thermal equilibrium with its environment.

[2] Generally, the emission of light is due to the movement of electrons between different energy levels within an atom after excitation by external factors.

However, the exact mechanism of light emission in vibrationally excited species is unknown.

The dials, hands, scales, and signs of aviation and navigational instruments and markings are often coated with luminescent materials in a process known as luminising.

[3] Luminescence occurs in some minerals when they are exposed to low-powered sources of ultraviolet or infrared electromagnetic radiation (for example, portable UV lamps) at atmospheric pressure and atmospheric temperatures.