A pulsed current source comprises a power source, a discharge capacitor, and an inductive element. The discharge capacitor is selectively coupled to either of the power source or the inductive element. When coupled to the power source, the discharge capacitor is charged. The inductive element can be connected to a load. The load can have a current-dependent impedance. When the discharge capacitor is coupled to the inductive element, the discharge capacitor discharges through the inductive element and the load. The discharge capacitor and the inductive element are configured so that the current through the load exhibits a substantially linear rise in a linear operational region. The inductive element is configured to saturate during discharge of the capacitor through the load, so that the saturation of the inductive element causes the current through the load to continue to rise in a substantially linear fashion.

A pulsed current source comprises a power source, a discharge capacitor, and an inductive element. The discharge capacitor is selectively coupled to either of the power source or the inductive element. When coupled to the power source, the discharge capacitor is charged. The inductive element can be connected to a load. The load can have a current-dependent impedance. When the discharge capacitor is coupled to the inductive element, the discharge capacitor discharges through the inductive element and the load. The discharge capacitor and the inductive element are configured so that the current through the load exhibits a substantially linear rise in a linear operational region. The inductive element is configured to saturate during discharge of the capacitor through the load, so that the saturation of the inductive element causes the current through the load to continue to rise in a substantially linear fashion.

An electrodeless laser-driven light source includes a laser source that generates a CW sustaining light and a pump laser that generates a pump. An optical beam combiner combines the CW sustaining light and the pump such that the CW sustaining light and the pump propagate co-linearly. A Q-switched laser crystal generates pulsed light in response to the pump. A gas-filled bulb is configured such that the pulsed light ignites a pulse plasma in a breakdown region of the gas bulb and the sustaining light sustains a CW plasma in a CW plasma region of the gas bulb, thereby emitting a high brightness light from the gas bulb, where the gas-filled bulb is positioned between the output of the pump laser and the pump input of the Q-switched laser crystal such that the CW plasma absorbs the pump light quenching the pulsed light generated by the Q-switched laser crystal.

An electrodeless laser-driven light source includes a laser source that generates a CW sustaining light and a pump laser that generates a pump. An optical beam combiner combines the CW sustaining light and the pump such that the CW sustaining light and the pump propagate co-linearly. A Q-switched laser crystal generates pulsed light in response to the pump. A gas-filled bulb is configured such that the pulsed light ignites a pulse plasma in a breakdown region of the gas bulb and the sustaining light sustains a CW plasma in a CW plasma region of the gas bulb, thereby emitting a high brightness light from the gas bulb, where the gas-filled bulb is positioned between the output of the pump laser and the pump input of the Q-switched laser crystal such that the CW plasma absorbs the pump light quenching the pulsed light generated by the Q-switched laser crystal.

A method for flashlamp control, in which a main pulse of the lamp current, producing a flash, is generated, and a pre-pulse of the lamp current is previously generated by application of a bias voltage includes a flashlamp with an ignition electrode, a bias voltage source, a main voltage source and a control system. The load of the flashlamp is minimized during the production of a main pulse by a pre-ignition. A pre-pulse is generated by applying a plasma voltage which is higher than the bias voltage, as an electrode voltage, and igniting a plasma in the flashlamp by means of an ignition electrode and maintaining same by means of the bias voltage during the pre-pulse.

A dielectric barrier VUV excimer lamp has an elongated dielectric tube for holding an excimer-forming gas, a first electrode disposed within the dielectric tube, and a second electrode arranged outside of the dielectric tube. The first electrode is a wire electrode disposed along a centre axis of the dielectric tube, axially symmetric with respect to the centre axis, and physically connected to each end of the dielectric tube. The dielectric barrier VUV excimer lamp is an AC dielectric barrier discharge VUV excimer lamp or the dielectric barrier VUV excimer lamp is a pulsed DC dielectric barrier discharge VUV excimer lamp. A photochemical system has the dielectric barrier VUV excimer lamp. An excimer lamp system has the dielectric barrier VUV excimer lamp, and also has a power supply to supply electric power to the first electrode and the second electrode.

A dielectric barrier VUV excimer lamp has an elongated dielectric tube for holding an excimer-forming gas, a first electrode disposed within the dielectric tube, and a second electrode arranged outside of the dielectric tube. The first electrode is a wire electrode disposed along a centre axis of the dielectric tube, axially symmetric with respect to the centre axis, and physically connected to each end of the dielectric tube. The dielectric barrier VUV excimer lamp is an AC dielectric barrier discharge VUV excimer lamp or the dielectric barrier VUV excimer lamp is a pulsed DC dielectric barrier discharge VUV excimer lamp. A photochemical system has the dielectric barrier VUV excimer lamp. An excimer lamp system has the dielectric barrier VUV excimer lamp, and also has a power supply to supply electric power to the first electrode and the second electrode.

The present disclosure relates to a flash generator for providing power supply to a flash tube so that the flash tube rapidly provides a light output adapted to FP-sync, Flat Peak. The flash generator comprises a capacitor bank, an output and a switch configured to switch a current flow from the capacitor bank via the output to provide a variable power via the output. The flash generator further comprises a controller for controlling the switch, whereby by controlling the on time of the switch, the generator is operative to provide, during a time period of 100 to 2000 μs during a peak time period within the time period, an average power at least 4 times higher than the average power provided during the other time period within the time period, whereby the flash tube during the peak time period becomes fully ignited.

The present disclosure relates to a flash generator for providing power supply to a flash tube so that the flash tube rapidly provides a light output adapted to FP-sync, Flat Peak. The flash generator comprises a capacitor bank, an output and a switch configured to switch a current flow from the capacitor bank via the output to provide a variable power via the output. The flash generator further comprises a controller for controlling the switch, whereby by controlling the on time of the switch, the generator is operative to provide, during a time period of 100 to 2000 μs during a peak time period within the time period, an average power at least 4 times higher than the average power provided during the other time period within the time period, whereby the flash tube during the peak time period becomes fully ignited.

The local light filling can be performed on a point in a photographed image. Alternatively, by adjusting an inner width of the flash chamber, the illumination field of view of the flash matches the focal length of the optical system to which the flash is applied, thereby implementing light concentration at a telephoto end and light scattering at a wide-angle end.