Parameters of gas pressure, type of gas, tube voltage, and electrode gap are tested on the intensity and shape of a radiation pulse from a hydrogen-filled lamp

Benson, M. J.

Berlman, I. B.

Steingrager, O. J.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

September 1969	 Brief 69-10411 
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Hydrogen Flash Lamps Studied 
Many hydrogen-filled lamps were tested recently 	 the voltage across the thyratron, and the material of 
for determination of the effect of each of several	 the electrodes.	 More than 50 flash tubes were as-
parameters on the intensity and shape of the radiation	 sembled and tested. 
pulse (1). The parameters were gas pressure, type 	 The results show that deuterium-filled tubes, with 
of gas (hydrogen or deuterium), tube voltage, and 	 2-mm gaps, emit about 65 ± 10% more photons per 
electrode gap. A flash lamp was designed and built 	 discharge than do similarly operated hydrogen-filled 
that is simple, inexpensive, and easily disassembled. 	 tubes.	 The	 parameters	 favorable	 for high-intensity 
Hydrogen-filled lamps have many favorable charac- 	 discharge are wide gap with deuterium filling instead 
•	 teristics	 as	 sources of pulsed	 radiation;	 their light	 of hydrogen; for a rapid discharge, high pressure and 
flashes can be made extremely fast (to decay in less 	 voltage. 
than	 1	 nsec),	 and	 the spectral distribution 	 of the	 Reference: 
radiation from these flashes contains a continuum	 1. 1. B. Berlman, 0. J. Steingrager, and M. J. Benson, 
from about 4000 A to about 1600 A. Several earlier 	 "Hydrogen flash lamps" (Argonne National Lab-
investigations, of specific characteristics of hydrogen- 	 oratory, August 1967). 
filled lamps, were of limited scope.	 Notes: 
For many years a hydrogen-filled flash lamp was 	 I. This information may interest designers or manu- 
used	 by the authors,	 in	 a fluorescence decay-time	 facturers of electrooptical devices. 
apparatus,	 as a source of fast radiation pulses to 	 2. Inquiries concerning this innovation may be di-
excite	 scintillation	 solutions.	 Since	 their	 equip-	 rected to: 
merit was well suited for measuring the decay time	 Office of Industrial Cooperation 
of very fast pulses over a wide spectral range, the Argonne National Laboratory parameters that affect the speed and brightness of 	 9700 South Cass Avenue 
the	 flashes,	 and	 the	 interrelation	 of	 the	 charac- Argonne, Illinois 60439 
teristics	 of	 the	 radiation	 pulse,	 were studied.	 The	 Reference: B69-10411 purpose	 of these investigations was clearer under- Source: I. B. Berlman, 0. J. Steingrager, and 
standing of how the various parameters affect opera- M. J. Benson 
tion	 of these	 tubes,	 so that	 an efficient and inex- 
pensive flash tube could be designed. Moreover, a	 Radiological Physics Division Patent status:	 (ARG-l0419) troublesome feature of radiation pulses from flash 
tubes (the slow component) was studied and minim- 	 Inquiries concerning rights for commercial use of 
ized. this innovation may be made to: 
The characteristics were (I) the relative intensity	 Mr. George H. Lee, Chief 
of the flash as a function of wavelength, (2) the decay	 Chicago Patent Group 
time of the pulse as a function of the gas pressure and 	 U.S. Atomic Energy Commission 
type of gas, and (3) the relative intensity of the long	 .	 Chicago Operations Office 
component (the longtail). The variable parameters	 9800 South Cass Avenue
the	 Illinois 6049 were  type of gas, the gas pressure, gap spacing, 	 Category 02 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the Atomic	 liability resulting from the use of the information contained in this

Energy Commission and/or the National Aeronautics and Space document, or warrants that the use of any information, apparatus, 
Administration. Neither the United States Government nor any per-	 method, or process disclosed in this document may not infringe pri-

son acting on behalf of the United States Government assumes any vately owned rights. 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19690000404 2020-03-16T18:16:28+00:00Z


Hydrogen flash lamps studied

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