Electroluminescence (EL) is an optical and electrical phenomenon, in which a material emits light in response to the passage of an electric current or to a strong electric field. This is distinct from black body light emission resulting from heat (incandescence), chemical reactions (chemiluminescence), reactions in a liquid (electrochemiluminescence), sound (sonoluminescence), or other mechanical action (mechanoluminescence), or
organic electroluminescence.
Views of a liquid crystal display, both with electroluminescent backlight switched on (top) and switched off (bottom)
1966 Dodge Charger instrument panel with "Panelescent Lighting". Chrysler first introduced cars with EL panel lighting in its 1960 model year.
A Casio digital LCD watch with an electroluminescent backlight
Optical phenomena are any observable events that result from the interaction of light and matter.
A 22° halo around the Moon in Atherton, California
A solar halo as seen from 41° south latitude
A circumzenithal arc over Grand Forks, North Dakota
The Belt of Venus over Paranal Observatory atop Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile