Which of the following statements correctly describes the quantum process occurring within the atoms of this phosphor coating to contribute to the production of white light?
The phosphor atoms are ionized by the blue photons, emitting visible light when free electrons recombine directly into the ground state.
Electrons in the phosphor atoms absorb a blue photon, rising to a higher energy level, and then de-excite in a series of smaller energy transitions, emitting lower-energy photons of green, yellow, or red light.
The phosphor atoms absorb multiple infrared thermal photons and emit a single blue photon via a single-step de-excitation.
Electrons in the phosphor atoms are excited to a metastable state and then undergo stimulated emission, producing two identical blue photons in phase.
