Absorptance

Absorptance of the surface of a material is its effectiveness in absorbing radiant energy. It is the ratio of the absorbed to the incident radiant power.^[1] This should not be confused with absorbance and absorption coefficient.

Mathematical definitions[]

Hemispherical absorptance[]

Hemispherical absorptance of a surface, denoted A, is defined as^[2]

A={\frac {\Phi _{\mathrm {e} }^{\mathrm {a} }}{\Phi _{\mathrm {e} }^{\mathrm {i} }}},

where

Φ_e^a is the radiant flux absorbed by that surface;
Φ_eⁱ is the radiant flux received by that surface.

Spectral hemispherical absorptance[]

Spectral hemispherical absorptance in frequency and spectral hemispherical absorptance in wavelength of a surface, denoted A_ν and A_λ respectively, are defined as^[2]

A_{\nu }={\frac {\Phi _{\mathrm {e} ,\nu }^{\mathrm {a} }}{\Phi _{\mathrm {e} ,\nu }^{\mathrm {i} }}},

A_{\lambda }={\frac {\Phi _{\mathrm {e} ,\lambda }^{\mathrm {a} }}{\Phi _{\mathrm {e} ,\lambda }^{\mathrm {i} }}},

where

Φ_e,ν^a is the spectral radiant flux in frequency absorbed by that surface;
Φ_e,νⁱ is the spectral radiant flux in frequency received by that surface;
Φ_e,λ^a is the spectral radiant flux in wavelength absorbed by that surface;
Φ_e,λⁱ is the spectral radiant flux in wavelength received by that surface.

Directional absorptance[]

Directional absorptance of a surface, denoted A_Ω, is defined as^[2]

A_{\Omega }={\frac {L_{\mathrm {e} ,\Omega }^{\mathrm {a} }}{L_{\mathrm {e} ,\Omega }^{\mathrm {i} }}},

where

L_e,Ω^a is the radiance absorbed by that surface;
L_e,Ωⁱ is the radiance received by that surface.

Spectral directional absorptance[]

Spectral directional absorptance in frequency and spectral directional absorptance in wavelength of a surface, denoted A_ν,Ω and A_λ,Ω respectively, are defined as^[2]

A_{\nu ,\Omega }={\frac {L_{\mathrm {e} ,\Omega ,\nu }^{\mathrm {a} }}{L_{\mathrm {e} ,\Omega ,\nu }^{\mathrm {i} }}},

A_{\lambda ,\Omega }={\frac {L_{\mathrm {e} ,\Omega ,\lambda }^{\mathrm {a} }}{L_{\mathrm {e} ,\Omega ,\lambda }^{\mathrm {i} }}},

where

L_e,Ω,ν^a is the spectral radiance in frequency absorbed by that surface;
L_e,Ω,νⁱ is the spectral radiance received by that surface;
L_e,Ω,λ^a is the spectral radiance in wavelength absorbed by that surface;
L_e,Ω,λⁱ is the spectral radiance in wavelength received by that surface.

SI radiometry units[]

SI radiometry units
v
t
Quantity		Unit		Dimension	Notes
Name	Symbol^{[nb 1]}	Name	Symbol	Symbol	Notes
Radiant energy	Q_e^{[nb 2]}	joule	J	M⋅L²⋅T⁻²	Energy of electromagnetic radiation.
Radiant energy density	w_e	joule per cubic metre	J/m³	M⋅L⁻¹⋅T⁻²	Radiant energy per unit volume.
Radiant flux	Φ_e^{[nb 2]}	watt	W = J/s	M⋅L²⋅T⁻³	Radiant energy emitted, reflected, transmitted or received, per unit time. This is sometimes also called "radiant power", and called luminosity in Astronomy.
Spectral flux	Φ_e,ν^{[nb 3]}	watt per hertz	W/Hz	M⋅L²⋅T⁻²	Radiant flux per unit frequency or wavelength. The latter is commonly measured in W⋅nm⁻¹.
Spectral flux	Φ_e,λ^{[nb 4]}	watt per metre	W/m	M⋅L⋅T⁻³
Radiant intensity	I_e,Ω^{[nb 5]}	watt per steradian	W/sr	M⋅L²⋅T⁻³	Radiant flux emitted, reflected, transmitted or received, per unit solid angle. This is a directional quantity.
Spectral intensity	I_e,Ω,ν^{[nb 3]}	watt per steradian per hertz	W⋅sr⁻¹⋅Hz⁻¹	M⋅L²⋅T⁻²	Radiant intensity per unit frequency or wavelength. The latter is commonly measured in W⋅sr⁻¹⋅nm⁻¹. This is a directional quantity.
Spectral intensity	I_e,Ω,λ^{[nb 4]}	watt per steradian per metre	W⋅sr⁻¹⋅m⁻¹	M⋅L⋅T⁻³
Radiance	L_e,Ω^{[nb 5]}	watt per steradian per square metre	W⋅sr⁻¹⋅m⁻²	M⋅T⁻³	Radiant flux emitted, reflected, transmitted or received by a surface, per unit solid angle per unit projected area. This is a directional quantity. This is sometimes also confusingly called "intensity".
Spectral radiance	L_e,Ω,ν^{[nb 3]}	watt per steradian per square metre per hertz	W⋅sr⁻¹⋅m⁻²⋅Hz⁻¹	M⋅T⁻²	Radiance of a surface per unit frequency or wavelength. The latter is commonly measured in W⋅sr⁻¹⋅m⁻²⋅nm⁻¹. This is a directional quantity. This is sometimes also confusingly called "spectral intensity".
Spectral radiance	L_e,Ω,λ^{[nb 4]}	watt per steradian per square metre, per metre	W⋅sr⁻¹⋅m⁻³	M⋅L⁻¹⋅T⁻³
Irradiance Flux density	E_e^{[nb 2]}	watt per square metre	W/m²	M⋅T⁻³	Radiant flux received by a surface per unit area. This is sometimes also confusingly called "intensity".
Spectral irradiance Spectral flux density	E_e,ν^{[nb 3]}	watt per square metre per hertz	W⋅m⁻²⋅Hz⁻¹	M⋅T⁻²	Irradiance of a surface per unit frequency or wavelength. This is sometimes also confusingly called "spectral intensity". Non-SI units of spectral flux density include jansky (1 Jy = 10⁻²⁶ W⋅m⁻²⋅Hz⁻¹) and solar flux unit (1 sfu = 10⁻²² W⋅m⁻²⋅Hz⁻¹ = 10⁴ Jy).
Spectral irradiance Spectral flux density	E_e,λ^{[nb 4]}	watt per square metre, per metre	W/m³	M⋅L⁻¹⋅T⁻³
Radiosity	J_e^{[nb 2]}	watt per square metre	W/m²	M⋅T⁻³	Radiant flux leaving (emitted, reflected and transmitted by) a surface per unit area. This is sometimes also confusingly called "intensity".
Spectral radiosity	J_e,ν^{[nb 3]}	watt per square metre per hertz	W⋅m⁻²⋅Hz⁻¹	M⋅T⁻²	Radiosity of a surface per unit frequency or wavelength. The latter is commonly measured in W⋅m⁻²⋅nm⁻¹. This is sometimes also confusingly called "spectral intensity".
Spectral radiosity	J_e,λ^{[nb 4]}	watt per square metre, per metre	W/m³	M⋅L⁻¹⋅T⁻³
Radiant exitance	M_e^{[nb 2]}	watt per square metre	W/m²	M⋅T⁻³	Radiant flux emitted by a surface per unit area. This is the emitted component of radiosity. "Radiant emittance" is an old term for this quantity. This is sometimes also confusingly called "intensity".
Spectral exitance	M_e,ν^{[nb 3]}	watt per square metre per hertz	W⋅m⁻²⋅Hz⁻¹	M⋅T⁻²	Radiant exitance of a surface per unit frequency or wavelength. The latter is commonly measured in W⋅m⁻²⋅nm⁻¹. "Spectral emittance" is an old term for this quantity. This is sometimes also confusingly called "spectral intensity".
Spectral exitance	M_e,λ^{[nb 4]}	watt per square metre, per metre	W/m³	M⋅L⁻¹⋅T⁻³
Radiant exposure	H_e	joule per square metre	J/m²	M⋅T⁻²	Radiant energy received by a surface per unit area, or equivalently irradiance of a surface integrated over time of irradiation. This is sometimes also called "radiant fluence".
Spectral exposure	H_e,ν^{[nb 3]}	joule per square metre per hertz	J⋅m⁻²⋅Hz⁻¹	M⋅T⁻¹	Radiant exposure of a surface per unit frequency or wavelength. The latter is commonly measured in J⋅m⁻²⋅nm⁻¹. This is sometimes also called "spectral fluence".
Spectral exposure	H_e,λ^{[nb 4]}	joule per square metre, per metre	J/m³	M⋅L⁻¹⋅T⁻²
Hemispherical emissivity	ε	N/A		1	Radiant exitance of a surface, divided by that of a black body at the same temperature as that surface.
Spectral hemispherical emissivity	ε_ν or ε_λ	N/A		1	Spectral exitance of a surface, divided by that of a black body at the same temperature as that surface.
Directional emissivity	ε_Ω	N/A		1	Radiance emitted by a surface, divided by that emitted by a black body at the same temperature as that surface.
Spectral directional emissivity	ε_Ω,ν or ε_Ω,λ	N/A		1	Spectral radiance emitted by a surface, divided by that of a black body at the same temperature as that surface.
Hemispherical absorptance	A	N/A		1	Radiant flux absorbed by a surface, divided by that received by that surface. This should not be confused with "absorbance".
Spectral hemispherical absorptance	A_ν or A_λ	N/A		1	Spectral flux absorbed by a surface, divided by that received by that surface. This should not be confused with "spectral absorbance".
Directional absorptance	A_Ω	N/A		1	Radiance absorbed by a surface, divided by the radiance incident onto that surface. This should not be confused with "absorbance".
Spectral directional absorptance	A_Ω,ν or A_Ω,λ	N/A		1	Spectral radiance absorbed by a surface, divided by the spectral radiance incident onto that surface. This should not be confused with "spectral absorbance".
Hemispherical reflectance	R	N/A		1	Radiant flux reflected by a surface, divided by that received by that surface.
Spectral hemispherical reflectance	R_ν or R_λ	N/A		1	Spectral flux reflected by a surface, divided by that received by that surface.
Directional reflectance	R_Ω	N/A		1	Radiance reflected by a surface, divided by that received by that surface.
Spectral directional reflectance	R_Ω,ν or R_Ω,λ	N/A		1	Spectral radiance reflected by a surface, divided by that received by that surface.
Hemispherical transmittance	T	N/A		1	Radiant flux transmitted by a surface, divided by that received by that surface.
Spectral hemispherical transmittance	T_ν or T_λ	N/A		1	Spectral flux transmitted by a surface, divided by that received by that surface.
Directional transmittance	T_Ω	N/A		1	Radiance transmitted by a surface, divided by that received by that surface.
Spectral directional transmittance	T_Ω,ν or T_Ω,λ	N/A		1	Spectral radiance transmitted by a surface, divided by that received by that surface.
Hemispherical attenuation coefficient	μ	reciprocal metre	m⁻¹	L⁻¹	Radiant flux absorbed and scattered by a volume per unit length, divided by that received by that volume.
Spectral hemispherical attenuation coefficient	μ_ν or μ_λ	reciprocal metre	m⁻¹	L⁻¹	Spectral radiant flux absorbed and scattered by a volume per unit length, divided by that received by that volume.
Directional attenuation coefficient	μ_Ω	reciprocal metre	m⁻¹	L⁻¹	Radiance absorbed and scattered by a volume per unit length, divided by that received by that volume.
Spectral directional attenuation coefficient	μ_Ω,ν or μ_Ω,λ	reciprocal metre	m⁻¹	L⁻¹	Spectral radiance absorbed and scattered by a volume per unit length, divided by that received by that volume.
See also: SI · Radiometry · Photometry

^ Standards organizations recommend that radiometric quantities should be denoted with suffix "e" (for "energetic") to avoid confusion with photometric or photon quantities.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Alternative symbols sometimes seen: W or E for radiant energy, P or F for radiant flux, I for irradiance, W for radiant exitance.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Spectral quantities given per unit frequency are denoted with suffix "ν" (Greek)—not to be confused with suffix "v" (for "visual") indicating a photometric quantity.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Spectral quantities given per unit wavelength are denoted with suffix "λ" (Greek).
^ ^a ^b Directional quantities are denoted with suffix "Ω" (Greek).

References[]

^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "Absorptance". doi:10.1351/goldbook.A00035
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Thermal insulation — Heat transfer by radiation — Physical quantities and definitions". ISO 9288:1989. ISO catalogue. 1989. Retrieved 2015-03-15.

[note-suffix-e-3] Standards organizations recommend that radiometric quantities should be denoted with suffix "e" (for "energetic") to avoid confusion with photometric or photon quantities.

[note-alternative-symbol-radiometric-4] Alternative symbols sometimes seen: W or E for radiant energy, P or F for radiant flux, I for irradiance, W for radiant exitance.

[note-suffix-nu-5] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Spectral quantities given per unit frequency are denoted with suffix "ν" (Greek)—not to be confused with suffix "v" (for "visual") indicating a photometric quantity.

[note-suffix-lambda-6] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Spectral quantities given per unit wavelength are denoted with suffix "λ" (Greek).

[note-suffix-omega-7] Directional quantities are denoted with suffix "Ω" (Greek).

[GoldBook-1] IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "Absorptance". doi:10.1351/goldbook.A00035

[ISO_9288-1989-2] "Thermal insulation — Heat transfer by radiation — Physical quantities and definitions". ISO 9288:1989. ISO catalogue. 1989. Retrieved 2015-03-15.

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