Photolyse is a term used in chemistry for the process of breaking down a chemical compound or molecule using light energy. There are several synonyms for photolyse that are commonly used, including photodecomposition, photochemical decomposition, and photodissociation. These terms all refer to the same general process of using light energy to break down a chemical compound into its constituent parts. Other related terms include photolysis, photoreaction, and phototransformation. Regardless of the specific term used, the process of photolyse is a fundamental concept in many fields of science, from chemistry and physics to biology and environmental science.