Advantages of using high-pressure, short arc xenon lamps for display systems

Xenon produces a brilliant white flash of light when it is excited electrically. The characteristics Xenon brings to short arc, high-pressure xenon lamps are substantial, particularly in display systems. The broadband and relatively flat profile of the xenon emission in the visible spectrum generates superior metameric matching to life-like colors, whereby the visible spectrums of other lamps generally contain spikes requiring additional adjustment. Xenon-powered lamps generate a native color point of 5900K to 6200K - very near the optimal D65 point - increasing efficiency and minimizing the need for filtering. Filtering often results in an undesirable loss of luminous efficacy. Instant turn-on/turn-off is possible since the xenon is in its gaseous state at the operating pressures of the lamp. This is an improvement over most ultra-high pressure mercury lamps requiring warm-up times. The DC drive of the lamp provides a compact arc near one of the electrodes that produces a very small volume of light that is ideal for coupling to elliptical reflectors. The light output can be dimmed by controlling the applied electrical power. Xenon-powered short arc, high-pressure lamps operate safely within the specified parameters, and incorporating a reflector within the lamp body provides alignment-free replacement. The xenon lamps also eliminate the use of mercury, an important benefit in today's environmentally-conscious industry.