photoexcitation

noun

pho·​to·​ex·​ci·​ta·​tion ˌfō-tō-ˌek-ˌsī-ˈtā-shən 

-ˌek-sə-

: the process of exciting the atoms or molecules of a substance by the absorption of radiant energy

photoexcited

ˌfō-tō-ik-ˈsī-təd 

-ek-

adjective

Examples of photoexcitation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Molecules have energy levels, just like electrons in atoms, and in order to effect the change in the retinal via photoexcitation, a photon has to have enough energy to cause a transition between the isomers. —Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 25 May 2012

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above