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Measuring Light Intensity on Small Surfaces

Lumen per square centimeter (lm/cm²) is a unit of illuminance, indicating the amount of luminous flux (light) incident on a surface area of one square centimeter. This measurement is particularly useful when dealing with very small or precise areas, such as in microscopy, small-scale lighting applications, or scientific experiments where accurate light measurement on tiny surfaces is critical.

Since one square centimeter is much smaller than one square meter, lm/cm² is a much finer scale than the more commonly used lux (lumens per square meter). To convert, 1 lm/cm² equals 10,000 lux, meaning it measures illuminance at a much higher resolution.

In practice, this unit helps scientists and engineers evaluate how much light is delivered to microscopic samples, the surface of tiny sensors, or small electronic components. It ensures that light-sensitive processes receive the correct intensity for optimal performance.

Understanding lumen per square centimeter is essential in fields requiring precise light control and measurement, allowing better design and assessment of optical systems and lighting solutions at a microscopic scale.

A Unit of Illuminance in Historical Use

Nox is an older, less commonly used unit of illuminance that measures the intensity of light falling on a surface. It is defined as one millilumen per square meter (1 mLm/m²) or equivalently, 0.001 lux. This means 1 nox is equal to one-thousandth of a lux.

The term “nox” comes from the Latin word for “night,” reflecting its use in describing very low levels of light, such as nighttime or dim environments. Although it is rarely used in modern lighting science, the nox still appears in some older literature and niche applications where extremely low light levels are important.

Understanding nox helps provide context for measuring and comparing very faint light intensities. For example, the illumination from a full moon on a clear night is roughly around 0.1 lux, or 100 nox.

While modern standards primarily use lux as the universal unit of illuminance, knowing about nox can be helpful when reading historical documents or dealing with precise measurements in low-light scenarios.