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An Improved-Efficiency Compact Lamp for the Thermal Infrared
Wayne L O'Brien1, Nicholas D Boltin, Stephanie A DeJong
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208 USA.
Applied Spectroscopy
|November 12, 2015
Summary
Researchers developed a novel infrared lamp using heated alumina for thermal imaging. This broadband source offers higher electrical efficiency and lower out-of-band emissions compared to existing commercial options.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Infrared cameras operating in the 8-14 μm band are crucial for thermal imaging.
- These cameras can also perform broadband infrared reflectance imaging with appropriate illumination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and characterize a novel infrared lamp utilizing a heated alumina emitter.
- To evaluate its suitability for active thermal infrared imaging.
- To compare its performance against existing commercial light sources.
Main Methods:
- Design and construction of an infrared lamp with a heated alumina emitter.
- Characterization of the lamp's spectral properties and emission intensity.
- Comparative analysis of the alumina lamp's performance against commercial infrared light sources for thermal imaging applications.
Main Results:
- The developed alumina lamp functions as a broadband, non-blackbody source.
- It exhibits significantly lower out-of-band emission intensity compared to commercial alternatives.
- The alumina lamp demonstrates higher electrical efficiency for active thermal infrared imaging.
Conclusions:
- The heated alumina emitter provides an efficient and effective light source for active thermal infrared imaging.
- This novel lamp design offers advantages over current commercial options in terms of spectral purity and energy efficiency.
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