Bekijk deze pagina in het Nederlands

electromagnetic spectrum

wavelength- and frequency bands

wavelengths from infrared to ultraviolet

extralight/sunshine/ electromagnetic spectrum

wavelength- and frequency bands
Electromagnetism is a common denomination for a group of related forms of energy that share the characteristic that no medium is required for their propagation. All manifestations of electromagnetism therefore exist in space in smaller of larger quantities. The physical characteristics of the different types of electromagnetic radiation

Type

Wavelength

Frequency

electric waves

30 Hz - 30 KHz

radio waves

10 km - 10 cm

30 KHz - 3 GHz

micro waves

10 cm - 100 µm

3 GHz - 3 THz

infrared radiation

100 µm - 700 nm

light

700 - 380 nm

ultraviolet radiation

380 - 10 nm

X-rays or Röntgen radiation

10 nm - 100 pm

Y-rays or gamma radiation

100 - 0,1 pm

cosmic radiation

< 0,1 pm

from infrared to ultraviolet
In and around the visible part of the spectrum the classification is arbitrary as well. Notice that in the infrared- and ultraviolet areas different simultaneously used subdivisions exist.

Type

Wavelength

far infrared (IR-C)

100 - 15 µm

middle infrared (IR-B)

15 - 1,4 µm

near infrared (IR-A)

1,4 µm - 700 nm

solids infrared

35 - 15 µm

thermal infrared

30 - 3 µm

red light

700 - 640 nm

orange light

640 - 600 nm

yellow light

600 - 555 nm

green light

555 - 485 nm

blue light

485 - 430 nm

violet light

430 - 380 nm

near ultraviolet

380 - 200 nm

vacuum ultraviolet

200 - 10 nm

UV-A or chemical radiation

400 - 315 nm

UV-B or Dorna radiation

315 - 280 nm

UV-C

280 - 100 nm

primarily depend on their frequency or wavelength. The exact classification of the different wavelength- and frequency bands, as well as the upper and lower limits of the electromagnetic spectrum itself, is rather arbitrary. In many tables for instance, electric waves and cosmic radiation are not mentioned as part of the electromagnetic spectrum. All bands show some overlap and there is no widely accepted standardisation. The subjoined table is therefore only an indication. Notice the fact that radiation with a wavelength longer than about ten meters is mostly characterised by its frequency while radiation with a frequency above ten GigaHertz is more often characterised by its wavelength.

healing radiation
The overview of acknowledged- or supposed healing radiation as listed below is indicative and incomplete. Consult your physician or at least read the instruction manual of your light source, your heat-lamp or your sun-lamp carefully before deciding to apply it for any therapeutic purpose.