Light beam

A beam of light is a narrow beam of light that travels through space. It can be considered the fundamental unit of light, consisting of photons - particles that carry light energy.

All light rays together create a light beam geproduceerd wordt door een reflector zoals een lamp. Het zicht dat een lamp oplevert is de lichtstraling van de lamp. Om het te duiden zijn verschillende termen beschikbaar. Denk hierbij bijvoorbeeld aan helder. Dit geeft aan dat het licht dat een lamp uitstraalt helder wit van kleur is. Een lichtstraal is een lijn, getrokken in de richting waarin de lichter energie stroomt. Als lichtstralen evenwijdig aan de hoofdas op een lens vallen, dan kruisen ze elkaar in een punt dat men het brandpunt noemt.

What does a light beam consist of?

Lichtstralen bestaan uit fotonen die zich in een golfachtige beweging voortbewegen. De golflengte en frequentie van deze fotonen bepalen de kleur en energie van het licht.

Which light rays are there?

There are basically 3 types of light rays

• Parallel light beam
• Diverging light ray
• Converging light ray

The parallel light beam (parallel light ray)

This refers to light rays whose individual photons move parallel to each other. This means they travel in the same direction without diverging or converging. Parallel light can occur in various contexts, including direct light rays, but it is not limited to just one direction.

Example of a parallel light beam:
The LED spotlight typically has a parallel light beam. Here, light rays usually converge to illuminate a specific area.

Converging light ray:

A converging light ray means that the light rays bend or come together. This can occur when light passes through a converging lens, such as a positive lens or a convex lens.

In the converging light beam, all light rays converge towards each other. They intersect at a single point. After coming together, they will then diverge again.

Examples of a converging light ray:

A LED bar on a 4x4 vehicle can be designed with lenses that converge and focus the light rays onto specific terrain sections during off-road driving in the dark.

For LED work lights on vehicles, construction sites, or other work applications, it is often essential to use focused beams of light. This maximizes the light intensity exactly where it is needed, improving visibility and increasing work efficiency.

Diverging light beam

In the diverging light beam, all light rays spread apart. A good example of this is the LED floodlight used in the agricultural sector.

Example of a diverging light beam: Work lights on a vehicle with a diffuse pattern will evenly spread the light over a large work area. Useful for roadside repairs, for example.

Choosing the right light beam

The choice of a light beam depends on the type of light. Our lighting experts can provide additional advice if desired.