Good to know – Some facts about arc and halogen lamps
Arc lamps
Features
- High radiance in the ultraviolet and visible; mercury lamps have spectral lines of very high irradiance in the ultraviolet
- High ultraviolet output
- Small concentrated arc
- Xe lamps have spectral distribution resembling the sun
Benefits
- Produce highest irradiance on small targets
- Intense collimated beams due to small, high radiance source
- Excellent sources for UV photochemistry
- Can simulate daylight
Halogen lamps
Features
- High total visible output
- Excellent stability
- Excellent photometric or radiometric sources (250 - 2500 nm)
- Slow variation of output with wavelength
Benefits
- Easy-to-use
- Simplify detection in spectral scanning
- Less expensive than arc lamps
Arc lamp
Halogen lamp
