Origin of color in diamonds
To understand the origin of color in diamonds, must consider that light is a form of energy. When the light energy is sufficient enough, some electrons in the diamond convey of a certain energy level to another, the result absorption.
With a pure perfect diamond no visible light is absorbed. Therefore, such a diamond is colorless. Such a stone is very rare. Most "colorless" diamonds, which we also see in jewelry are very lightly tinted, even if this is not visible to the untrained eye.
In order for a diamond receives color, must have an impurity or defect. This makes it possible to jump with the help of light electrons in an atom from one energy level to a higher energy level. As a result, depending on the molecule absorbs certain wavelengths and color develops when this jump takes place in the visible spectrum. Thus, light is the "engine" that helps the electrons to jump to a higher energy level.
As already mentioned, in a colorless, pure diamond no absorption, because the light is not sufficient energy has to transport electrons to a higher energy level. Contains a diamond, an isolated nitrogen atom at a wavelength of about 560 nm, the colors are absorbed green, blue and purple: The result is a yellow diamond. Does the diamond an isolated boron atom, are at about 500 nm, the colors green, yellow, orange and absorbs red. The result is a blue diamond.
As fine impurities may cause the effect of color, it is also possible defects in the structure of the diamond effect, eg Error in structure or missing atoms. These are known as so-called "color center" or simply the "Center". Many of these centers are a combination of structural defects and impurities. In practice there is often a combination of two odere several color centers, which occur simultaneously in a diamond.
The identification and explanation of the origins of color in diamonds remains very complex.
Light absorption is in fact the most common cause of color in diamonds, but not the only one. Another albeit rare possibility is that contributes to fluorescent colors. Fluorescence is the transition of excited electrons to a higher energy level to a niederigeres. "Green emitter" are an excellent example. These otherwise yellow diamonds give out such a strong green light that it dominates in rare cases over the color of the diamond. Rich in blue light the diamond appear greener than in blauarmem artificial light.
To understand the origin of color in diamonds, must consider that light is a form of energy. When the light energy is sufficient enough, some electrons in the diamond convey of a certain energy level to another, the result absorption.
With a pure perfect diamond no visible light is absorbed. Therefore, such a diamond is colorless. Such a stone is very rare. Most "colorless" diamonds, which we also see in jewelry are very lightly tinted, even if this is not visible to the untrained eye.
In order for a diamond receives color, must have an impurity or defect. This makes it possible to jump with the help of light electrons in an atom from one energy level to a higher energy level. As a result, depending on the molecule absorbs certain wavelengths and color develops when this jump takes place in the visible spectrum. Thus, light is the "engine" that helps the electrons to jump to a higher energy level.
As already mentioned, in a colorless, pure diamond no absorption, because the light is not sufficient energy has to transport electrons to a higher energy level. Contains a diamond, an isolated nitrogen atom at a wavelength of about 560 nm, the colors are absorbed green, blue and purple: The result is a yellow diamond. Does the diamond an isolated boron atom, are at about 500 nm, the colors green, yellow, orange and absorbs red. The result is a blue diamond.
As fine impurities may cause the effect of color, it is also possible defects in the structure of the diamond effect, eg Error in structure or missing atoms. These are known as so-called "color center" or simply the "Center". Many of these centers are a combination of structural defects and impurities. In practice there is often a combination of two odere several color centers, which occur simultaneously in a diamond.
The identification and explanation of the origins of color in diamonds remains very complex.
Light absorption is in fact the most common cause of color in diamonds, but not the only one. Another albeit rare possibility is that contributes to fluorescent colors. Fluorescence is the transition of excited electrons to a higher energy level to a niederigeres. "Green emitter" are an excellent example. These otherwise yellow diamonds give out such a strong green light that it dominates in rare cases over the color of the diamond. Rich in blue light the diamond appear greener than in blauarmem artificial light.
