Infrared continuum radiation from high and ultra-high pressure mercury lamps

Abstract

Infrared (IR) continuum radiation from the arc of high and ultra-high pressure (UHP) mercury lamps was measured and modelled. Three major contributions to the IR continuum are electron–atom bremsstrahlung, which is dominant, electron–ion bremsstrahlung and electron–ion recombination radiation. The line width of the resonance broadened Hg 71S0 to 61P1 transition at 1014 nm was used to determine the arc core Hg density, and the radiance of this line was used to determine the arc temperature as a function of radius. The temperature map for the UHP lamp was checked using the Bartels method on the 546 nm line of Hg. Model results based on recently published electron–atom bremsstrahlung coefficients were found to be in good agreement with measurements across the near IR.