An Improved-Efficiency Compact Lamp for the Thermal Infrared. Issue 12 (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: O'Brien, Wayne L.; Boltin, Nicholas D.; DeJong, Stephanie A.; Lu, Zhenyu; Cassidy, Brianna M.; Hoy, Scott J.; Morgan, Stephen L.; Myrick, Michael L.
• Is Part Of: Applied spectroscopy. Volume 69:Issue 12(2015)
• Page Start: 1511
• Page End: 1513
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Light Sources -- Infrared -- Imaging -- Thermography; Spectrum analysis -- Periodicals; 543.505
• DOI: 10.1366/14-07690
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-7028

Abstract

A major type of infrared camera is sensitive to wavelengths in the 8–14 μm band and is mainly used for thermal imaging. Such cameras can also be used for general broadband infrared reflectance imaging when provided with a suitable light source. We report the design and properties of an infrared lamp using a heated alumina emitter suitable for active thermal infrared imaging, as well as comparisons to existing commercial light sources for this purpose. We find that the alumina lamp is a broadband non-blackbody source with a lower out-of-band emission intensity and therefore higher electrical efficiency for this application than existing commercial sources.