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From: mcdonald@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Infrared light source
Message-ID: <44300005@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu>
Date: 5 Feb 88 20:29:00 GMT
References: <319@ajpo.sei.cmu.edu>
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Nf-ID: #R:ajpo.sei.cmu.edu:319:uxe.cso.uiuc.edu:44300005:000:944
Nf-From: uxe.cso.uiuc.edu!mcdonald    Feb  5 14:29:00 1988



>Does anyone know what combination of gases would provide a good
>infrared light source in the range of 700 - 1100 nanometers?  The
>intend
>ed use of the gas would be in a neon-type tube to provide a
>continuous, diffused light source.

Krypton, at moderate to high pressures.

>Alternatively, does anyone know of any continuous infrared light
>source that provides:  diffused light, can be in a bendable, yet rigid
>form up to 5 feet long, does not get hot (~ 5 watts would be nice), no
>power cycling, and has a good long life span (like a few years).

An ordinary fluorescent light with a special near IR phosphor would
do fine. I have no idea whether such phosphors are commercially available.
Alternatively, a 2500 Angstrom UV(blacklight) tube could be used to
illuminate the appropriate phosphor externally.

You could also use a huge array of standard near ir LED's. This is
probably the easiest for 5 watts power input (not output).