*Radioluminescence, a result of bombardment by ionizing radiation
*Electroluminescence, a result of an electric current passed through a substance
**Cathodoluminescence, a result of a luminescent material being struck by electrons
*Chemiluminescence, the emission of light as a result of a chemical reaction
**Bioluminescence, a result of biochemical reactions in a living organism
**Electrochemiluminescence, a result of an electrochemical reaction
**Lyoluminescence, a result of dissolving a solid (usually heavily irradiated) in a liquid solvent
**Candoluminescence, is light emitted by certain materials at elevated temperatures, which differs from the blackbody emission expected at the temperature in question.
*Mechanoluminescence, a result of a mechanical action on a solid
**Triboluminescence, generated when bonds in a material are broken when that material is scratched, crushed, or rubbed
**Fractoluminescence, generated when bonds in certain crystals are broken by fractures
**Piezoluminescence, produced by the action of pressure on certain solids
**Sonoluminescence, a result of imploding bubbles in a liquid when excited by sound
*Crystalloluminescence, produced during crystallization
*Thermoluminescence, the re-emission of absorbed energy when a substance is heated
**Cryoluminescence, the emission of light when an object is cooled (an example of this is wulfenite)
*Photoluminescence, a result of the absorption of photons
**Fluorescence, traditionally defined as the emission of light that ends immediately after the source of excitation is removed. As the definition does not fully describe the phenomenon, quantum mechanics is employed where it is defined as there is no change in spin multiplicity from the state of excitation to emission of light.
**Phosphorescence, traditionally defined as persistent emission of light after the end of excitation. As the definition does not fully describe the phenomenon, quantum mechanics is employed where it is defined as there is a change in spin multiplicity from the state of excitation to the emission of light.