How does invisible light convert to visible light in a fluorescent light?

In fluorescent lighting, invisible light is converted to visible light through a process involving phosphor materials within the tube. When the fluorescent lamp is energized, an electric current passes through the gas inside the tube, generating invisible ultraviolet (UV) light. This UV light then interacts with the phosphor coating on the inside of the bulb.

The invisible UV photons bombard the phosphor atoms, which have the unique property of absorbing this UV energy. In response to this energy absorption, the phosphors become excited and subsequently emit visible light photons. This phenomenon is a direct result of the interaction between the invisible light and the phosphor, making it possible for us to see the light emitted from the bulb.

This conversion process is efficient and effective in transforming energy from one form to another, playing a vital role in how fluorescent lights function to illuminate spaces.