lumen-, lumin-, lum-

A reference to materials that allow X-rays to penetrate with a minimum of absorption: The representative areas of the roentgenolucent film appear to be dark on the radiograph.

The glowing or emission of light that shows up on a surface of tissue that has been exposed to X-rays: The roentgenoluminescence which was visible to Dr. Anderson was the result of the bones in Jeff's foot which were being exposed to radiation.

Pertaining to being slightly clear or transmitting brightness to a minimal degree: The semitranslucent window in the door to the front hall of the neighbor's house allowed for some luster in the dark hall space without having to turn on the electric lamps.

The fulgent power output of the sun or any other star: Tom and the other astronomers used highly technical telescopes to study the changes or variations of the solar luminosity during the phases of the calendar year.

In physics, a brilliance that is produced in certain materials by high-frequency sound waves or phonons: The physics students in Mr. Greg's class watched the creation of sonoluminescence in a test tube, watching the bubbles, created by sound waves, pop and emit bright flashes.

A reference to the emission of short bursts of lucency from imploding bubbles in a liquid when excited by sound: Various sonoluminescent sparkling lights may occur whenever sound waves of sufficient intensities create gaseous cavities within a liquid to quickly collapse.

The sonoluminescent bubbles in the thick liquid in the test tube appeared like bright and instant glowing brilliances that quickly disappeared.

A reference to, or a descriptive term for, the emission of small explosions of lights from imploding bubbles in a liquid when agitated by sound: The sonoluminescently bright sparkles were the results of small bubbles suddenly flying into pieces as they they came up through the thick liquid.

Pertaining to the existence of a narrow range of luminous intensities: Underwater microbes are more stenolumic than most fish and they quickly die when exposed to strong light.

Characteristic of having a speed slower than that of light: It was obvious that the thunderings in the storm had subluminal sounds that were traveling slower than the speeds of the bursts of lightenings because Sally and her friend saw the flashes long before they heard the rumblings!

1. In astronomy, an energetic knot of gas in a galactic jet (large-scale aggregates of stars, gas, and dust that constitute the universe) which has a high velocity and is going in a direction such that it gives the appearance of having faster-than-light movements.
2. Pertaining to speeds faster than that of shining machines: As a child, Priscilla was always puzzled that she could see jet planes in the sky long before she could hear the roaring sounds of their motors; later, she learned that the loud noises were not superluminal sounds because they were never able to be heard before they could be seen.

Glowing factors resulting from exposure to high temperatures: The stones from the cave produced a green thermoluminescence as a reaction to the heat that was applied to them.

Descriptive of the production of incandescence by a substance when its temperature is increased: Thermoluminescent reactions take place when certain substances have been exposed to the action of X-rays.

By measuring the amount of thermoluminescent gleaming that is given off, the duration of exposure to radiation can be determined; so, it has been used to determine the age of various minerals and archaeological artifacts.

In archaeology, a method of dating by measuring the rate of release of luminous energy from an object; often used to establish the date when a pottery artifact was last heated in antiquity: Dr. Spicer used the process of thermoluminescent dating to determine the approximate age of the ancient pottery shards, or pieces, which he brought back from his archeological diggings.

1. A method of measuring the ionizing emissions to which a person is exposed by means of a device that contains a radiant sensitive crystalline material: Thermoluminescent dosimetry stores the radiation's energy by changing the structure and then when the material is heated at some later time, it releases the energy as ultraviolet or visible light.

Because of her work in the X-ray department at the hospital, Ms. Smith frequently used the thermoluminescent dosimetry device to ensure that she remained uncontaminated by the radioactive emissions.

2. The determination of the amount of lucidity to which a material has been exposed: Usually thermoluminescent dosimetry is accomplished by heating the material in a specially designed instrument which relates the amount of luminescence coming from the material to the amount of exposure.

Ionizing radiation; such as, x rays, alpha rays, beta rays, and gamma rays, remains undetectable by the senses, and the damage it causes to the body is cumulative, depending on the total dosage of thermoluminescent dosimetry received.

Dr. Jonas used the thermoluminescent dosimetry concept to obtain an estimation of the amount of radioactive elements to which the X-ray staff might have received.

To shine a bright beam through a body organ or cavity to detect diseases or other abnormalities; when pus or a lesion is present, the transmission of lucidity is diminished or absent: The test is transilluminated primarily on newborns or infants with hydrocephalus, or males suspected of having a hydrocele (accumulation of serus fluid in a saclike cavity).

The examination may also be transilluminated on breast tissue to detect lesions and cysts.

In newborns, a bright halogen ray may be used to transilluminate the chest cavity if they are suspected of having a pneumothorax.

Transilluminating through the chest is only possible on small newborns.

Bodily areas filled with air or fluid, that is not normal to that location, have increased lucid transmission and so they should not be transilluminated.

In a darkened room, a newborn infant's head can be seen to shine brightly when transilluminated if there is excess fluid present; thus, suggesting hydrocephalus or an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain.

One of a range of new digital technologies that is helping to improve diagnostic techniques is the "Difoti" (digital imaging fiber optic transillumination). One application of the "Difoti" is when dentists position a wand or thin stick-like instrument above each tooth and as light passes through the enamel, any cavities or other irregularities show the patterns and the information is captured by the wand’s sensor and transmitted to a display.