High-intensity nanosecond white-light source using a commercially available Xe arc lamp

We have developed an intense, white emission spectrum, nanosecond pulsed light source using a commercially available Xe short-arc lamp. This light source is simple in construction, physically compact and easy to operate. In the previous study, we have applied 35 - 75 W type lamp as the light source. In the present study we applied two 150 W type Xe-arc lamps. Because the electrode gap of the 150 W lamp is wider than that of 35 - 75 W type, applied voltage higher than 16 kV is required for the pulsed operation of the 150 W lamp. Intense light pulses as large as 140 W (peak power) of 15.2 ns duration (FWHM) were obtained repetitively from the Xe lamps. This lamp produced broadband emission spectrum (250 - 650 nm) according to discharge of Xe gas. Present lamp operation is free-running type, but it is possible to control the discharge timing using a thyratron. The intense emission characteristic can be utilized not only as the excitation light source in time-resolved fluorometry but also as the stroboscopic illumination source in high-speed photograph.