光致发光（Photoluminescence，简称PL）是冷发光的一种，指物质吸收光子（或电磁波）后重新辐射出光子（或电磁波）的过程。从量子力学理论上，这一过程可以描述为物质吸收光子跃迁到较高能级的激发态后返回低能态，同时放出光子的过程。光致发光可按延迟时间分为荧光（Fluorescence）和磷光（Phosphorescence）。

光致发光是一种探测材料电子结构的方法，它与材料无接触且不损坏材料。光直接照射到材料上，被材料吸收并将多余能量传递给材料，这个过程叫做光激发。这些多余的能量可以通过发光的形式消耗掉。由于光激发而发光的过程叫做光致发光。光致发光的光谱结构和光强是测量许多重要材料的直接手段。

Photoluminescence (abbreviated as PL) is light emission from any form of matter after the absorption of photons (electromagnetic radiation). It is one of many forms of luminescence (light emission) and is initiated by photoexcitation (excitation by photons), hence the prefix photo-. Following excitation various relaxation processes typically occur in which other photons are re-radiated. Time periods between absorption and emission may vary: ranging from short femtosecond-regime for emission involving free-carrier plasma in inorganic semiconductors up to milliseconds for phosphorescent processes in molecular systems; and under special circumstances delay of emission may even span to minutes or hours.