Control of the Output from a High-Intensity Xenon Arc Lamp 1

Abstract

The emission spectrum of a xenon high-pressure arc lamp provides a reasonable approximation to the ultraviolet-visible region of terrestrial sunlight. This lamp has therefore been employed in a variety of laboratory testing equipment designed to predict the useful outdoor lifetime of plastics, textiles, dyes, asphalt, etc. Several methods of operation (ASTM and Atlas) of an Atlas 6000W xenon arc Weather-Ometer have been examined, and the necessity of monitoring intensities at both ultraviolet (at 340 nm) and visible (at 420 nm) wavelengths is illustrated. Lamp aging has been found to be the main factor in decreasing lamp intensity. Xenon lamp control at intensities similar to noon summer sunlight at 340 nm gives short lamp lifetimes of approximately 400 h. Operation of the arc at lower wattages (3500–5000W) has been found to provide a stable lamp intensity for much longer periods—approximately 2000 h.

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