UV Equipment Terminology

UV Equipment Terminology

A guide for product comparisons!

This photo shows a scorpion fluoresce under longwave (365nm) UV light. The fluorescence is due to a substance in the cuticle of the scorpion.

Ultraviolet light (UV) is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum which is adjacent to and greater in energy than visible light. The ultraviolet spectrum extends from 180 to 400 nanometers (nm) and is divided into three categories: shortwave, medium-wave, and longwave.

• Shortwave UV light extends from 180 to 280 nm with a peak in energy at about 254 nm. Ultraviolet equipment that produces light in the shortwave region is ideal for mutation studies, toxicology, fluorochemistry, and germicidal applications.
• Mediumwave UV light extends from 280 to 320 nm with a peak in energy at about 312 nm. Mediumwave UV lamps are generally used in electrophoresis documentation procedures and to identify minerals by their fluorescent response.
• Longwave UV light, or black light, extends from 320 to 380 nm with a peak in energy at about 365 nm. Use longwave UV lamps as leak detectors in conjunction with fluorescent dyes. They are also useful for mineral studies.