Basics of Photometry and Radiometry
What is
Light ?
he optical portion of the electromagnetic spectru
The study of light has 3 sub-fields.
Physical optics: study of the wave nature of light.
Geometric optics: study of the particle nature of light.
Quantum optics: study of the dual wave-particle nature
of light
Each photon carries an energy that is described by
Planck’s equation: Q = hc /
where Q is the photon energy (joules), h is Planck’s
constant (6.623 x 10-34 J s), c is the speed of light
(2.998 x 108 m s-1), and is the wavelength of
radiation (meters).
Types of Reflection
• Specular (a.k.a. mirror or regular) reflection causes light to
propagate without scattering.
• Diffuse reflection sends light in all directions with equal energy.
• Mixed reflection is a weighted
combination of specular and diffuse.
• Most surfaces exhibit complex reflectances
– Vary with incident and reflected directions
– Model with combination:
+ + =
specular + glossy + diffuse = reflectance
Diffraction
Diffraction is another wave phenomenon that is dependent on wavelength.
Light wave bend as they passby the edge of a narrow aperture or slit.
Where is the diffraction angle
is the wavelength of radiant energy
D is the aperture diameter.
This effect is exploited in monochromators
Interference
Light waves also display constructive and destructive
interference like sound waves.
Waves that are in phase add to give a larger amplitude
(Constructive
Waves that are interference)
half a wavelength out of phase
interfere destructively
Diffusion
It is often necessary to diffuse light, either through transmission
or reflection.
Lux meter Luminance measurements
Total Flux
Light emitted in ALL directions
“Flux”
Angular Intensity
Light emitted in SPECIFIED directions and angles
“intensity”
Technique Technique
• Radiometry • Photometry and
Energy Measurement colorimetry
How How
much does it
energy is look to
produce humans
d?start with “radiometric” or “radiant”Quantities
Quantities ? start with “photopic” or “luminous
Techniques
• Spectroradiometry
How is the
energy
distributed
?
Quantities start with “spectral” or “spectroradiometric
Before 1940: With visual comparison
Modern photometry: With photometers
The relative spectral responsibility of human eye need to
be defined
In radiometry, the detector has a flat spectral response.
In photometry, on the other hand, the spectral response
useful to the visual system is considered.
To accomplish that, the detector should be closely matched
to the spectral response curve of the eye.
pectral Response
man eye is more sensitive to some wavelengths than to others.
man eye contains two types of photoreceptors – cones and rods.
nes are responsible for light-adapted vision, they respond to color.
hen the eye is adapted for bright light, called PHOTOPIC vision, the cones
minate , luminance level grater than 3 cd/m2
low luminance level below .001 cd/m2, the rods dominate – SCOTOPIC v
between, both rods and cones contribute in varying amounts, and in this rang
e vision is called MESOPIC vision
Gaussion function for photopic vision
2
V() = 1.019 e -285.4( - 0.559)
Gaussion function for scotopic vision
-321.9( - 0.503)2
V() = 0.992 e
According to the CIE convention, a generalized radiometric quantity, Qe is related to, its analogous
physical photometric quantity, Qv by an equation of the form
Q V K m Q e , V d
where Km is a constant known as maximum luminous efficacy function and fixing its value defines
physical photometry in terms of radiometric units. The fundamental unit of light is the lumen, the unit
of luminous flux. It is the photometric analogue of the watt, the unit of radiant flux or power.
Solid
angle
A solid angle is the three-dimensional equivalent to a two-
dimensional angle
A solid angle is measured in steradians, the three dimensional
equivalent of radians
E lux
d dA
I cd
r
Light source Photometer
Head
Luminous flux measurement
with Goniophotometer
d
6
A L S P
L = Light source
S = Screen
P = Photometer
A = Auxiliary lamp
Luminous flux measurement
using Integrating Sphere
Baffles
Black Light Source
V Corrected silicon
Background Intensity Standard
photodetector
Experimental setup for Illuminance measurement
for example, the illuminance decreases from 1 lm/ft2 at a
distance of 1 foot to 0.0929 lm/ft2 ( 1 lux ) at a distance of
d
6
L B
2r
L = Light source, S = Screen
B = Uniform bright surface used
as luminance standards
F
L ,
2 21
4 r
L Lu min ance,
F Lu min ous flux of the lamp
Re flec tan ce of sphere pa int
Luminance Standard using
Integrating sphere
Luminous Efficacy and Efficiency
Luminous Efficacy (K): The ability of the radiated energy to produce a
visual sensation, which is measured in lumens per watt of emitted light
(Characterizes the radiation spectra rather than the source).
K = luminous flux (Φv) / Radiant Flux (Φe)
Radiant Efficiency (ηe): Dimensionless designates the ability of the
light source to convert the consumed power into radiant flux Φe (Can go
from zero to unity).
ηe = Φe / Power (P)
Luminous Efficiency: Measured in lumens per watt, it is the ability of
the light source to convert consumed electrical power into visible
luminous flux Φv (Characterizes the source)
ηv = Φv / Power (P)
Isotropic Point Source
Irradiates equally in all directions
Even distribution of power over sphere
d
I
d 4
Ev is illuminance, Iv is the intensity and d is the distance from the
light source
6
Lambert’s Cosine Law
The irradiance or illuminance falling on any surface varies as the cosine
0f the incident angle.
Lambertian Emission and Reflection
lambertian surface reflects or emits equal (isotropic) flux in every direction
or example : an evenly illuminated diffuse flat surface
piece of paper is approximately lambertian,
Color Temperature
An object to any temperature above 650-800K will produce a
spectrum emission with its color related to temperature.
The color progresses from a very deep red, through orange,
yellow, white, and finally bluish white. This path is often plotted on
the chromatic diagram, and is known in the literature as the
Plankian locus. Most natural light sources, such as the sun, stars
and fire fall close to this locus of points.
Light Source Color Temperature (K)
Daylight, fluorescent lamp 6500
CRT Computer Displays ~6500
Correlated Color Temperature (CCT)
Cooler light
CCT is defined as the absolute temperature
(expressed in degrees Kelvin) of a theoretical black
body whose chromaticity most nearly resembles
that of its light source.
CCT rating is an indication of how "warm" or "cool"
the light source is.
Ambient color and CCT of light have a psychological
effect over the users.
Red and Red hues of CCT, creates a sensation of
heat. Tend to increase body tension, and stimulates
the autonomic nervous system.
Warmer light Blue and blue hues of CCT, creates a sensation of
cool, Release tension and have lesser physiological
effects
Color Rendering Index (CRI)
CRI is defined as the capacity of artificial light sources to render the
colors of the illuminated objects as compared to daylight at the
same color temperature.
Daylight, by definition to has a color rendering index of 100.
The higher the color rendering index from a lamp the better it is.
CRI ≥ 90 Excellent
CRI ≥ 85 Very Good
60 ≥ CRI ≥ 80 Some Color Distortion
CRI ≤ 60 Serious Color Distortion
Poor rendering indexes put strain on the eyes because of having to
correct the color of objects.
Progression of Lighting
