Last modified on 9th August 2000.
Encyclopædia Galactica
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Spectrum
The result of dispersing a beam of electromagnetic radiation so that
components with different wavelengths
are separated in space, in order of increasing or decreasing wavelength.
The most familiar example of spectrum is the natrual rainbow, which occurs
when sunlight is dispersed into its component colours by the combined
prism-like action of raindrops. The full spectrum of electromagnetic
radiation encompasses, in order of decreasing wavelength, radio waves,
microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation,
X-radiation, and gamma-radiation.
(Mitton, 1993, Dictionary of Astronomy, London: Penguin Books)
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Created by
Rami T. F. Rekola