Editing Solarization (physics)

{{other uses|Solarisation (disambiguation)}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2023}}

'''Solarization''' refers to a [[phenomenon]] in [[physics]] where a material undergoes a temporary change in [[color]] after being subjected to high-energy [[electromagnetic radiation]], such as [[ultraviolet]] light or [[X-ray]]s. Clear [[glass]] and many [[plastic]]s will turn amber, green or other colors when subjected to X-radiation, and glass may turn blue after long-term [[Sun|solar]] exposure in the [[desert]]. It is believed that solarization is caused by the formation of [[crystallographic defect|internal defects]], called [[F-center|color centers]], which selectively absorb portions of the visible [[light spectrum]]. In glass, color center absorption can often be reversed by heating the glass to high temperatures (a process called thermal bleaching) to restore the glass to its initial transparent state. Solarization may also permanently degrade a material's physical or mechanical properties, and is one of the mechanisms involved in the breakdown of [[plastics]] within the environment.

== Examples ==
In the field of clinical imaging, with sufficient [[Exposure value|exposure]], solarization of certain screen-film systems can occur which obscures details within the [[X-ray]] image and degrades the [[Accuracy and precision|accuracy]] of the [[diagnosis]]. Even though degradation can occur this was found to be a rare [[phenomenon]].<ref>Goodsitt, M.M., Hepburn, T.W., Cascade, P.N. and Chan, H.P., 1994. [https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/10.1148/radiology.193.3.7972839#d6393675e1history Solarization in clinical imaging]. Radiology, 193(3), pp.871-874.</ref>

== See also ==
{{wiktionary|solarization}}
*[[Photodegradation]]
*[[Solarized architectural glass]]

== References==
<references />

[[Category:Atomic, molecular, and optical physics]]
[[Category:Chromism]]


{{spectroscopy-stub}}
{{Atomic-physics-stub}}