Modulation of the Intensity of the Spectral Components of Polychromatic Light within Certain Regions in Space by Passive Methods by Strategically Using Material Optical Properties and Texture

Abstract

Recent research indicates that not only blue and green monochromatic light stimulates our circadian system, but polychromatic light as well. Recent work also suggests that the human circadian system also changes its spectral sensitivity with different light levels and spectrum. Usually, indoor architectural spaces are dynamic in light color and quantity, and to a certain extent, the architect is able to modulate these light characteristics to benefit not only of the visual system but the circadian system as well. The purpose of this work was to redirect the three main spectral components (RGB) of indirect light towards different directions and in different quantities as an approach to an understanding of how the spectral composition of an indoor light environment can be modulated by passive methods. In the present work, reflections of blue-enriched polychromatic light off different surface materials with different optical properties and textures were simulated. Spectral radiance values were measured at a specific point in space in order to evaluate how the three main spectral components of the reflected light changed in quantity.