Mercury-UV Spectral Line Source
Spectral lamps find a home in laboratory applications where they are commonly employed as stable, high quality sources of discrete spectral lines. Atomic spectra were originally produced either by creating an arc between electrodes fabricated of the metal to be studied, or by sprinkling a powdered salt into an ordinary gas flame. Both methods produce somewhat unstable results and require constant attention. In the 1940s a range of electric discharge lamps was developed to supersede these crude methods, and could guarantee superior results by virtue of the high purity of the metals contained within the discharge tube.

Lamps containing the transition metal elements feature a discharge tube fabricated of quartz. This is because these lamps must be operated at much higher temperatures on account of the relatively low vapour pressure of the metals they contain (with the exception of mercury). The spectral output of these lamps is also enhanced at high pressure, because the proportion of invisible ultraviolet radiation is decreased, this increasing the relative intensity of the visible lines and making a more useful lamp. This particular lamp has a modified outer jacket to allow study of the deep UV mercury spectrum. A hole has been blown in the side of the bulb to allow the escape of shortwave radiation which would ordinarily be absorbed by the glass.

Simple electrodes of thoriated tungsten wire are employed, with a triple carbonate style emitter impregnated within the coils. Electrical feedthroughs take the form of conventional molybdenum foil pinch-seals. An argon gasfilling is employed for easy ignition, and two auxiliary starting electrodes are provided, one at each end of the tube.
Manufacturer: Osram GmbH
Lamp Power: 50 Watts
Lamp Current: 1.1 Amps
Lamp Voltage: 50 Volts
Cap: P28s/28 nickel plated brass
Bulb Finish: Clear soda-lime (with hole transmitting to 220nm)
Bulb Type: T-31
Overall Length: 155 mm
Light Centre Length: 75 ± 3 mm
Electrodes: Secret sulphur-resistant alloy
Inner / Outer Atmosphere: Inner: Ar | HgS Outer: Vacuum
Luminous Int. / Brightness: 5.0 candela 12.0 stilb
Luminous Area: 20 x 2 mm
Colour Temperature & CRI:
Chromaticity Coordinates:
Burning Position: Vertical cap down
Rated Life: 100 hours
Warm Up / Re-strike Time: 10 minutes Instantaneous
Factory: Berlin, Germany
Date of Manufacture: January 1953 (mex)
 
 
References: 1) Osram Spectral Lamps technical data sheet, 1960