Quenching (fluorescence)

Quenching is a process when something called a "quencher" is added to a material and it makes the material's ability to emit light (also called fluorescence) weaker or even to disappear. A quencher can be something like a chemical or a dye molecule. When the quencher and the material interact, energy is pulled away, which means that less light will be given off. Think of it like the quencher is like a giant vacuum that sucks away the energy the material was trying to give off.