Visible spectrum

The spectrum of light or color spectrum is

• The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum which can be detected without technical assistance on the human eye. Other names for the light spectrum in this sense are the visible spectrum, the visual range (short- VIS or VIS range called ).
• (if based on an object ) for this characteristic composition of the emitted or reflected spectral colors ( for example, " light spectrum of a star "). In contrast, the general light - phrase is slang for the visible portion of the radiation from a light source ( cf., eg, Daylight, Tungsten, Sunlight, Moonlight ), and only with regard to its context-dependent relevant features ( such as color, brightness), and thus is not a synonym for light spectrum.

The wavelength range of the light spectrum ranges corresponding to about 380 to 780 nm, a frequency range of about 3.8 · 1014 to 7.9 · 1014 Hz. Adjacent to the visible to the human light spectrum in the electromagnetic spectrum of the UV range at shorter and the IR region at longer wavelengths, which can be partially perceived by other organisms (see also spectral ).

The visible light spectrum is the set of all of the human eye perceiving and distinguishable, pure ( monochromatic ) spectral colors. These color components of a spectrum of related, for example, in a rainbow or in the reflection of a suitable white light on a CD surface, are without optical aids ( such as a prism) of people observed.

Give objects their light spectrum as a combination of many different levels of individual colors from that in the eye of the beholder to a total color impression of reduced color purity ( mixed color) are consolidated.

The eye consolidated light spectra not mathematically linearly mixed color - perceptions (eg by a weighted averaging of all involved spectral colors and their strengths ), but preferably some light spectrum ranges at its weighting. In addition, the sensitivity of the eye to distinguish closely spaced spectral colors in the middle of the light spectrum ( greens ) is more pronounced than at the edge ( red and blue tones). These non -linearities in the human spectrum of light perception have been scientifically measured and expressed in the CIE standard colorimetric system for the average person.