Xenon arc

Description

A light source consisting of two electrodes enclosed in a quartz bulb filled with xenon gas. Xenon arc lamps were invented in the 1940's in Germany but not sold commercially until 1951 by Osram. Uniquely, the xenon arc lamp provides a constant light that is unaffected by voltage changes. Their spectral output is described as simulating sunlight combined with north sky light. Xenon lamps are used as high-intensity light sources in motion picture projectors, as studio spotlights, photographic flash lamps, and as light sources in accelerated aging chambers.

Synonyms and Related Terms

lampada allo xeno (It.)

Authority

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 652

• ASTM, Standard Terminology Relating to Natural and Artificial Weathering Tests of Nonmetallic Materials, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Section 14, General Methods and Instrumentation, ASTM, G113, 1371-1373, Sep-94

• Hoechst Celanese Corporation, Dictionary of Fiber & Textile Technology (older version called Man-made Fiber and Textile Dictionary, 1965), Hoechst Celanese Corporation, Charlotte NC, 1990

• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenon_arc_lamp (accessed Mar. 10, 2006)