Luminous Flux (Φv) is energy per unit time (dQ/dt) that is radiated from a source over visible wavelengths. More specifically, it is energy radiated over wavelengths sensitive to the human eye, from about 330 nm to 780 nm. Thus, luminous flux is a weighted average of the Radiant Flux in the visible spectrum. It is a weighted average because the human eye does not respond equally to all visible wavelengths.

In photometry, luminous flux or luminous power is the measure of the perceived power of light. It differs from radiant flux, the measure of the total power of light emitted, in that luminous flux is adjusted to reflect the varying sensitivity of the human eye to different wavelengths of light.

The SI unit of luminous flux is the lumen (lm). One lumen is defined as the luminous flux of light produced by a light source that emits one candela of luminous intensity over a solid angle of one steradian. In other systems of units, luminous flux may have units of power.

SI photometry units

Quantity

Symbol

SI unit

Abbr.

Notes

Luminous energy

Qv

lumen second

lm·s

units are sometimes called talbots

Luminous flux

F

lumen (= cd·sr)

lm

also called luminous power

Luminous intensity

Iv

candela (= lm/sr)

cd

an SI base unit

Luminance

Lv

candela per square metre

cd/m2

units are sometimes called “nits”

Illuminance

Ev

lux (= lm/m2)

lx

Used for light incident on a surface

Luminous emittance

Mv

lux (= lm/m2)

lx

Used for light emitted from a surface

Luminous efficacy

lumen per watt

lm/W

ratio of luminous flux to radiant flux

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