Illumination sources and subjects having distinctly matched and mismatched narrow spectral bands

摘要

A light source is configured to emit a narrow peak at a discrete spectral band, especially at a primary color wavelength. The light source can have a plurality of narrow peaks to simulate the effect of a broadband light source. A subject is provided with a pigment, such as certain rare earth lanthanides, with a strong absorption peak at a corresponding narrow spectral band. The pigment has a nominal color when illuminated by a true broadband light (e.g., sunlight) that does not have a narrow peak at the discrete spectral band, and has a different color when illuminated by the light source that has a narrow peak. This color shift can be used for security authentication, information and decorative applications.

主权项

1. An object that is marked with a pigment, the object comprising:
a pigment having a distinctively stronger absorption peak at a predetermined wavelength compared to other wavelengths, wherein the pigment has a first visible color when illuminated by a first light source having an illumination spectrum characterized by a distinctively stronger narrow band emission peak at the predetermined wavelength compared to other wavelengths, the emission peak having a full-width at half maximum of 10 to 30 nm, and the pigment has a second visible color that is different from the first visible color when illuminated by a second light source that is different from the first light source and does not have a distinctively stronger emission peak at the predetermined wavelength, wherein the absorption peak of the pigment corresponds to a red, green, or blue wavelength.