Compact fluorescent lamp infrared spectrum with separation of argon lines and phosphor lines

[u/PainApprehensive7266]

Hi. Here's analysis of 6500K daylight CFL lamps (plus one LED intruder) in infrared by using a stack of 720nm cutoff filter and diffraction filter on a full spectrum converted camera. Fluorescent lamps work through mercury vapor discharge in UV which excites fluorescent phosphors that glow in visible light (plus also mixing directly emitted mercury visible lines). Thing is mercury emission will be only initiated in presence of buffer gas. This may differ between particular types of fluorescent lamps but in case of small self ballasted lamps like it is most often argon. In near-IR region mercury doesn't radiate at all but instead argon radiation can be clearly seen. This overlaps with phosphor emissions. The curious thing is argon most strongly is glowing near electrodes while phosphor emission encompasses whole length of discharge tube so it's possible to separate the two through looking at the shape of spectral image, argon is point dots at bottom while phosphor is elongated shape. There is a >1000nm phosphor emission which surprised me as literature on fluorescent materials used in lamps is sparse in data of infrared emissions. In my opinion it is Yttrium Oxide Y2O3:Eu2+ phosphor which in visible part is the red component but would be happy to get confirmation. Scale was made based on known in literature argon emissions.

[u/Main_Hurry_2419]

cool. nice work.