Some High Intensity Flash Light Sources of the Luminescent Tube Type

Abstract

The design and performance of vacuum flash tubes of the cathode ray tube type are described in which short-duration impulses of a high-energy electron beam are used to excite a phosphor screen and thus to produce luminescent radiation pulses of high intensity. Triode type tubes are shown which may be operated with 2kW pulses, and a diode type tube is described where the screen may be energized with I MW pulses. Either single-pulse radiation or trains of pulses with short pulse intervals can be produced, the duration of an individual radiation pulse ranging from about 0.1 microsec to the order of 100 microsec according to the rated value of the respective flash tube. The spectrum of the radiation is continuous with a form of the spectral curve depending on the type of phosphor used for the screen.