A high brightness laser-sustained broadband light source includes a gas containment structure and a pump laser configured to generate a pump beam including illumination of a wavelength at least proximate to a weak absorption line of a neutral gas contained in the gas containment structure. The broadband light source includes one or more anamorphic illumination optics configured to focus the pump beam into an approximately elliptical beam waist positioned in or proximate to the center of the gas containment structure. The broadband light source includes one or more first collection optics configured to collect broadband radiation emitted by the plasma in a direction substantially aligned with a longer axis of the elliptical beam waist.

A high brightness laser-sustained broadband light source includes a gas containment structure and a pump laser configured to generate a pump beam including illumination of a wavelength at least proximate to a weak absorption line of a neutral gas contained in the gas containment structure. The broadband light source includes one or more anamorphic illumination optics configured to focus the pump beam into an approximately elliptical beam waist positioned in or proximate to the center of the gas containment structure. The broadband light source includes one or more first collection optics configured to collect broadband radiation emitted by the plasma in a direction substantially aligned with a longer axis of the elliptical beam waist.

An apparatus for artificial weathering or lightfastness testing of samples or for simulating solar radiation, the apparatus comprises a weathering chamber, an electrodeless lamp provided in the weathering chamber and comprising a bulb filled with a composition that emits light when in a plasma state, and a radio frequency source being arranged so that it radiate a radio frequency field into the bulb to generate a luminous plasma for emitting a radiation comprising spectral emission characteristics similar to natural solar radiation.

An apparatus for artificial weathering or lightfastness testing of samples or for simulating solar radiation, the apparatus comprises a weathering chamber, an electrodeless lamp provided in the weathering chamber and comprising a bulb filled with a composition that emits light when in a plasma state, and a radio frequency source being arranged so that it radiate a radio frequency field into the bulb to generate a luminous plasma for emitting a radiation comprising spectral emission characteristics similar to natural solar radiation.

An ultraviolet lamp includes a lamp tube and an electrode. A discharge cavity is formed in the lamp tube. A thermistor is disposed on an end socket at a first end of the lamp tube. A receiving groove communicated with the discharge cavity is formed in the end socket and contains amalgam. The thermistor heats the amalgam in the receiving groove in the end socket. The Curie temperature of the thermistor ranges from [T1+(T2−T1)/5] to [T1+4*(T2−T1)/5], wherein T1 and T2 are respectively a minimum operating temperature and a maximum operating temperature of the amalgam in a continuous region where the ultraviolet radiation power is from 90% to 100% when the input power of the ultraviolet lamp is 100%.

A method for exposing a photopolymerization layer comprising photopolymers includes: providing a printed circuit board, with a photopolymerization layer disposed on the top side of the printed circuit board; performing first-instance exposure on the photopolymerization layer, using a UV source and a digital micro-lens device, wherein the UV source is of a power less than 0.2 kW; stopping the first-instance exposure; covering the photopolymerization layer with a mask, with the mask having a bottom side in contact with the photopolymerization layer; and performing second-instance exposure on the photopolymerization layer, using a mercury lamp and the mask, wherein the mercury lamp is of a power greater than 5 kW.

A method for exposing a photopolymerization layer comprising photopolymers includes: providing a printed circuit board, with a photopolymerization layer disposed on the top side of the printed circuit board; performing first-instance exposure on the photopolymerization layer, using a UV source and a digital micro-lens device, wherein the UV source is of a power less than 0.2 kW; stopping the first-instance exposure; covering the photopolymerization layer with a mask, with the mask having a bottom side in contact with the photopolymerization layer; and performing second-instance exposure on the photopolymerization layer, using a mercury lamp and the mask, wherein the mercury lamp is of a power greater than 5 kW.

An apparatus for artificial weathering or lightfastness testing of samples or for simulating solar radiation, the apparatus comprises a weathering chamber, an electrodeless lamp provided in the weathering chamber and comprising a bulb filled with a composition that emits light when in a plasma state, and a radio frequency source being arranged so that it radiate a radio frequency field into the bulb to generate a luminous plasma for emitting a radiation comprising spectral emission characteristics similar to natural solar radiation.

An apparatus for artificial weathering or lightfastness testing of samples or for simulating solar radiation, the apparatus comprises a weathering chamber, an electrodeless lamp provided in the weathering chamber and comprising a bulb filled with a composition that emits light when in a plasma state, and a radio frequency source being arranged so that it radiate a radio frequency field into the bulb to generate a luminous plasma for emitting a radiation comprising spectral emission characteristics similar to natural solar radiation.

An ultraviolet lamp includes a lamp tube and an electrode. A discharge cavity is formed in the lamp tube. A thermistor is disposed on an end socket at a first end of the lamp tube. A receiving groove communicated with the discharge cavity is formed in the end socket and contains amalgam. The thermistor heats the amalgam in the receiving groove in the end socket. The Curie temperature of the thermistor ranges from [T1+(T2−T1)/5] to [T1+4*(T2−T1)/5], wherein T1 and T2 are respectively a minimum operating temperature and a maximum operating temperature of the amalgam in a continuous region where the ultraviolet radiation power is from 90% to 100% when the input power of the ultraviolet lamp is 100%.