Recent Research on Pulsed Light Sources

The determination of the dynamic characteristics of arc discharges lasting for less than two microseconds, and recent developments in the application of hydrogen thyratrons to stroboscopic light sources are reported. It is pointed out that electrical circuit conditions prevalent in single flash or low repetition rate gaseous discharge lamp systems are considerably different from those existing in high repetition rate, multiple-flash circuits. Improvements in multiple-flash systems are described and their synchronization with high-speed cameras which use internal optical shutters is explained. Certain electrical features of a recent high-speed motion picture system utilizing synchronized flashlighting are reviewed. The need of further research and development on gaseous flashlamps is indicated.