Powerful ultraviolet light sources

More and more industrial applications are being found for the recently developed high-pressure tubular mercury-vapor lamps which are now available in lengths over five feet and with wattages greater than 4,000; some of these are described by the author, who discusses the advantages of these lamps over previously known sources of ultraviolet radiation. THE ADVENT of the high-pressure vapor lamp with self-lighting activated electrodes^1,2 has made possible the development of new types of ultraviolet generators of high power and large size, which have become a very important tool for a number of industrial applications. First introduced in ultraviolet lamps for therapeutic and prophylactic use, the high-pressure quartz mercury-vapor lamp has been developed considerably further in size and power in recent years and is finding new and interesting uses in commercial irradiation processes. This development was facilitated by several important advantages which the self-lighting, high-pressure lamp offered over the previously known types of ultraviolet light sources; namely, mercury-vapor lamps of the pool type and carbon-arc lamps.