1-18 I E S LIGHTING HANDBOOK

Complete energy diagrams permit speculation as to the relative desir-

ability, from the standpoint of luminous efficiency, of using different mate-
rials in vapor lamps. However, in such a speculation the energy con-
centrated in each wavelength is equal in importance to the wavelengths
themselves, and is proportional to the number of transitions occurring per
second between the voltage difference related to each wavelength. It is a
function of the number of conduction electrons and valence electrons
available in the normal state and is difficult to compute.
Fluorescence and Phosphorescence
The fluorescent lamp is a relatively simple modification of the ordinary
mercury lamp. By varying the coating on the inside of the tube a wider
variety of colors may be obtained conveniently than by merely adjusting
voltage, pressure, or the gas mixture.
Upon release from the excited mercury atom (Fig. 1-11), the ultraviolet
quantum (X
=
0.2537 micron) may strike one of the phosphor crystals on
the surface of the tube. The phosphor will transmit this energy unaffected
until the quantum reaches an "active center," where it starts a process
similar to that by which the mercury atom was excited (by the impact of
the electron) and releases a photon of visible radiation. (See Fig. 1-13.)
Phosphors that may be excited to
release visible radiation are coated
on the inside of the fluorescent lamp
in the form of a microcrystalline
powder of exceptionally high chemi-
cal purity.
Less than 0.01 per cent of certain
impurities in a phosphor may re-
1 micron = 10.000 angstroms =
1/10,000
dllCe the lumen
P
er Watt ratin
S
f
centimeters
the lamp in which it is used by 20
FIG. 1-13 Fluorescence curve of zinc-
t y u percentages
beryllium-silicate phosphor showing in-
F J
. \ ,
itial excitation by ultraviolet rays and
of other "mtentional impurities
subsequent release of visible radiation,
called activators are usually required
for efficiency.
Figure 1-14, a simplified energy diagram for zinc sulphide, provides an
explanation. To release radiation from a crystal of pure zinc sulphide,
an electron resting at energy level A must be knocked up to excitation
level D. Since it requires a great deal of energy to effect such a large
transition, the process is inefficient at best and may never occur.
Addition of a very small quantity of an activator (copper) results in the
presence of electrons of the copper atoms at intermediate energy levels B
and C. By comparison with those at level A
,
the activator electrons are
relatively free to move about and since they are initially at a higher level,
less energy is required to knock them up to level D.
a
z
EXCITATION FLJUORESCENCE
uj
(ABSORPTION) (RESPONSE)
Z<0 r\ /""N.
s l\
/ \
fO
\
/
\
a.f>
1 \ /
\
M
/

\ <
/ , ,\ , i , >
i i i i i^ i
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
WAVELENGTH IN MICRONS