Methods and systems for providing emission of incoherent radiation and uses therefor

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing emission of incoherent radiation and uses therefor are disclosed. A system for providing emission of high peak power (in watts) incoherent radiation, comprises an electrically impeded discharge lamp linked to an electrical energy supply. The lamp comprises a discharge chamber which is at least partially transparent to the incoherent radiation, a discharge gas in the chamber, two electrodes disposed with respect to the chamber for discharging electrical energy therebetween, at least one dielectric barrier disposed between the two electrodes to electrically impede electrical energy passing between the two electrodes, an electrical energy supply capable of providing fast risetime, high peak power unipolar linking the electrodes with the supply, the energy supply being capable of providing a sequence of high peak power unipolar voltage pulses from the energy supply to the electrodes and means to control (i interpulse period, and (ii) pulse risetime, whereby, in use, a substantially homogeneous discharge occurs between the two electrodes which causes emission of incoherent radiation pulses of high peak power from the lamp