Fluorescence Spectroscopy: A Powerful Technique for the Noninvasive Characterization of Artwork

摘要

After electronic excitation by ultraviolet or visible radiation,natoms and molecules can undergo thermal or radiative deac-ntivation processes before relaxing to the ground state. They can emitnphotons with longer wavelengths than the incoming exciting radi-nation, that is, they can fluoresce in the UV vis near-infrared (NIR)nrange. The study of fluorescence relaxation processes is one of thenexperimental bases on which modern theories of atomic and molec-nular structure are founded. Over the past few decades, technolog-nical improvements in both optics and electronics have greatlynexpanded fluorimetric applications, particularly in analytical fields,nbecause of the high sensitivity and specificity afforded by the meth-nods. Using fluorimetry in the study and conservation of cultural her-nitage is a recent innovation.