0913.1124 Optoelectronics

Incandescent Lamps

An incandescent light bulb, incandescent lamp or incandescent light globe is an electric light with a wire filament heated to your high temperature by electric current passing through it, which usually heats the filament to a white-hot condition so that it emits visible light. The filament is protected from oxidation which has a clear glass or quartz bulb that is filled with inert gas or maybe a vacuum. In a halogen lamp, filament evaporation is slowed by a chemical procedure which can extend the lifetime of the bulb significantly. The light source we are accustomed to today is the incandescent bulb developed by Thomas Edison in the late 19th century. As technology has improved, both tungsten and quartz halogen bulbs have been developed which can achieve significantly higher efficacies. These newer sources make use of specialised techniques to reduce the price of the lightbulb.

Neon Lamps

Neon lights, or neon tubes, are luminous tubes that contain a noble gas or a combination of noble gases such as argon, neon or xenon. They are mainly used for decorative purposes and signage, where they are referred to as neon signs. The basic principle behind the operation of a neon tube is quite simple. When electrical current flows through a sealed tube containing an inert gas, the gas is ionized and produces ultraviolet light that is then absorbed by a fluorescent layer of material which lines the inside of the tube. This causes the material to emit visible light without the help of a filament. The color of the light emitted will depend on which gas is used and what fluorescent material is used on the inside of the tube.

Application Field and Working Principle

As lighting sources, incandescent lamps and neon lamps can both be used in many fields. For example, incandescent lamps are widely used in offices, factories, homes, and other places, and they provide a direct light that is easy to see. Neon lights, on the other hand, are mainly used for decorative purposes, such as shop signs and on the fronts of buildings. They are also used in the theatre and in specialised lighting applications.

The working principle behind both incandescent lamps and neon lamps is not complicated. Incandescent lamps work by passing an electric current through a thin filament. The filament heats up, causing it to emit visible light. Neon lamps work by passing an electric current through an inert gas, which causes the gas to become ionised and emit ultraviolet light. This ultraviolet light is then absorbed by a fluorescent material, which causes it to emit visible light.