absorption band

American  

noun

Physics.

1. a dark band in the absorption spectrum of a substance, corresponding to a range of wavelengths for which the substance absorbs more strongly than at adjacent wavelengths.

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Etymology

Origin of absorption band

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

For many applications, a narrow absorption band may be desirable.

From Nature • Dec. 11, 2012

His first step was to look for this absorption band in infra-red light reflected from dry leaves, lichens and mosses, which are made almost entirely of carbon-hydrogen compounds.

From Time Magazine Archive

Then Dr. Sinton hitched a supersensitive infra-red detector to Harvard's 61-in. telescope and looked for the same absorption band in sunlight reflected from Mars.

From Time Magazine Archive

Only very thin layers are sufficiently transparent to show the dispersion near or within an absorption band, and a large refracting angle is not required, the dispersion usually being very considerable.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5 "Dinard" to "Dodsworth" by Various

Sellmeier’s theory did not take account of absorption, and cannot be applied to calculate the dispersion within a broad absorption band.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5 "Dinard" to "Dodsworth" by Various