Gas-Discharge Lamp
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A Gas-Discharge Lamp is an electric lamp that generates light by passing an electric discharge through an ionized gas, causing the gas to emit photons.
- Context:
- It can (typically) operate by applying a high voltage across the lamp, which ionizes the gas inside and creates a flow of electric current.
- It can (often) involve various types of gases, such as mercury vapor, neon, xenon, or sodium vapor, each producing different colors and intensities of light.
- It can (often) require an electrical ballast to regulate the current passing through the gas, ensuring stable operation and preventing damage to the lamp.
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- It can range from low-pressure systems, like fluorescent lamps, to high-pressure systems, such as high-pressure sodium lamps, affecting the brightness and color of the light emitted.
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- It can be used in a wide variety of applications, including street lighting, signage, photography, and industrial lighting, where efficiency and specific light characteristics are important.
- It can emit light in various parts of the spectrum, including visible, ultraviolet, and infrared, depending on the gas used and the design of the lamp.
- It can be sensitive to ambient temperature and pressure, which can influence the lamp's performance and the color of the emitted light.
- It can have a longer lifespan compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, but it may require special handling and disposal due to the presence of hazardous materials like mercury.
- It can be designed in various forms, including tubes, bulbs, and specialized shapes for specific applications like neon signs or high-intensity discharge lamps.
- It can (often) be used in environments where high-intensity light is needed, such as sports arenas, highways, and commercial settings.
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- Example(s):
- a Fluorescent Lamp (a low-pressure mercury-vapor gas-discharge lamp), commonly used in residential and commercial lighting for its energy efficiency and long life.
- a Neon Sign (a gas-discharge lamp using neon gas), known for producing bright, colorful light, often used in advertising and signage.
- a High-Pressure Sodium Lamp (a high-pressure gas-discharge lamp using sodium vapor), widely used in street lighting for its high efficiency and yellow-orange light.
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- Counter-Example(s):
- an Incandescent Light Bulb, which produces light by heating a filament until it glows, rather than using gas discharge.
- an LED Lamp, which uses light-emitting diodes to produce light and operates through a completely different mechanism than gas-discharge lamps.
- a Halogen Lamp, which is an enhanced version of the incandescent lamp, using a halogen gas to increase efficiency and lifespan.
- See: Fluorescent Lamp, Neon Sign, High-Pressure Sodium Lamp, Electrical Ballast, Ionization, Mercury Vapor Lamp, High-Intensity Discharge Lamp