A radiation source for testing optical solar radiation effects.
This paper discusses the recent engineering developments incorporated in a new mercury injection lamp. The injection of mercury through one of the electrodes into the arc permits constructing a cooling system for electrodes and bulb. This results in a higher powered mercury lamp than previously known. The realized highest electrical input of 7.5 kw was given by our power supply; it is not the limitation of the lamp. To simulate solar radiation, it is necessary to have a lamp with a high radiance. The second interesting point is the variability of the spectral energy distribution. To improve the spectrum, perhaps to simulate solar spectral match, many elements can be added to the mercury. Most of the metals build fluid amalgams with mercury.