GB1111632A - Device for producing high intensity electromagnetic radiation - Google Patents

Abstract

1,111,632. Discharge lamps. T.R.W. Inc. 26 April, 1965, No. 17551/65. Heading H1D. [Also in Division G2] A discharge lamp includes a pair of spaced electrodes 54, 58 and an insulator 48 defining a discharge passageway 50 which is connectible to an evacuating means and has a wall portion including a gas-evolving substance. Application of a high-voltage pulse between the electrodes produces a sliding spark which heats the wall to evolve gas and sustain an arc, the plasma of which emits radiation approximating to that of a black body and of a duration of the order of 0.1 Ásec. The lamp is shown connected to a flange portion 18 of the light tube of a spectrograph (see Division G2) containing a slit selecting structure 20. Stainless steel tubular electrode 54 is a press fit in a flange 30 which is screwed to a metal sleeve 46 forming a return conductor. Centre conductor 70 of a coaxial cable 36 carries a plug 62 which seats in a conductor 60 of electrode 58. Suitable materials for the insulator 48, which may be laminated, are " Plexiglass " (Registered Trade Mark), Nylon and " Teflon " (Registered Trade Mark). In an alternative embodiment, Fig. 7, for general use as a flashing light source, the discharge passageway 84 is annular and the outer insulator 88 may have a radial slot 114 to emit U.V. light. Exhaust tube 98 may be coupled to a vacuum chamber or, in use on a space vehicle, may open directly to the environment of the vehicle.