The light source contains a gas-filled chamber with a plasma sustained by a focused beam of a continuous wave laser. The means for plasma ignition is a solid-state laser system which generates two pulsed laser beams: in a free running mode and in a Q-switched mode. The solid-state laser system contains single active element and its optical cavity is equipped with a Q-switch overlapping only part of a cross section of the intracavity laser beam. One pulsed laser beam provides an optical breakdown after which another pulsed laser beam ignites the plasma, the volume and density of which are sufficient for stationary sustanance of the plasma by the focused beam of the continuous wave laser. EFFECT: simplification of the design of the light source, increase of its reliability and ease of use, creating on this basis of powerful electrode-free high-brightness broadband light sources with high spatial and energy stability.

The light source contains a gas-filled chamber with a plasma sustained by a focused beam of a continuous wave laser. The means for plasma ignition is a solid-state laser system which generates two pulsed laser beams: in a free running mode and in a Q-switched mode. The solid-state laser system contains single active element and its optical cavity is equipped with a Q-switch overlapping only part of a cross section of the intracavity laser beam. One pulsed laser beam provides an optical breakdown after which another pulsed laser beam ignites the plasma, the volume and density of which are sufficient for stationary sustanance of the plasma by the focused beam of the continuous wave laser. EFFECT: simplification of the design of the light source, increase of its reliability and ease of use, creating on this basis of powerful electrode-free high-brightness broadband light sources with high spatial and energy stability.

An ultraviolet irradiation device includes: a lamp house having at least one surface formed with a light extraction surface; an excimer lamp that is accommodated in the lamp house at a position apart from the light extraction surface in a first direction, the excimer lamp emitting ultraviolet light having a main emission wavelength belonging to a first wavelength band of 190 nm or more and 225 nm or less; a pair of electrodes that applies a voltage to a light-emitting tube of the excimer lamp; an optical filter that is disposed on the light extraction surface, and that substantially transmits the ultraviolet light having the first wavelength band and substantially fails to transmit ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 240 nm or more and 300 nm or less; and a light diffuser that is disposed between the excimer lamp and the optical filter in the lamp house in the first direction, for diffusing and reflecting light incident on the light diffuser.

An ultraviolet irradiation device includes: a lamp house having at least one surface formed with a light extraction surface; an excimer lamp that is accommodated in the lamp house at a position apart from the light extraction surface in a first direction, the excimer lamp emitting ultraviolet light having a main emission wavelength belonging to a first wavelength band of 190 nm or more and 225 nm or less; a pair of electrodes that applies a voltage to a light-emitting tube of the excimer lamp; an optical filter that is disposed on the light extraction surface, and that substantially transmits the ultraviolet light having the first wavelength band and substantially fails to transmit ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 240 nm or more and 300 nm or less; and a light diffuser that is disposed between the excimer lamp and the optical filter in the lamp house in the first direction, for diffusing and reflecting light incident on the light diffuser.

Provided is a compact ultraviolet irradiation device in which a degree of an adverse effect on the human body is suppressed. The ultraviolet irradiation device includes: a lamp house on the surface of which a light extraction surface is formed; an excimer lamp accommodated in the lamp house, a main emission wavelength of which belongs to a first wavelength band of 190-225 nm; an optical filter that is arranged on the light extraction surface and substantially transmits the ultraviolet light in the first wavelength band and substantially reflect the ultraviolet light of a wavelength of 240-300 nm; and a reflecting surface that is a surface located outside the luminous tube of the excimer lamp and inclined with respect to the light extraction surface, the reflecting surface exhibiting reflectivity with respect to the ultraviolet light in the first wavelength band.

A method of forming a high-pressure plasma lamp includes providing a lamp bulb. The lamp bulb includes a top channel and a bottom channel. The method includes inserting a top electrode element into the top channel of the lamp bulb. The method includes providing a glass tubular structure attached to a bottom electrode element. The method includes filling the lamp bulb with a liquified gas through the bottom channel of the lamp bulb. The method includes inserting the bottom electrode element and the glass tubular structure into the bottom channel.

An illumination source includes a laser driver unit configured to emit a plasma sustaining beam. An ingress collimator receives the plasma sustaining beam and produces a collimated ingress beam. A focusing optic receives the collimated ingress beam and produce a focused sustaining beam. A sealed lamp chamber contains an ionizable media that, once ignited, forms a high intensity light emitting plasma having a waist size smaller than 150 microns. The sealed lamp chamber further includes an ingress window configured to receive the focused sustaining beam and an egress window configured to emit the high intensity light. An ignition source is configured to ignite the ionizable media, and an exit fiber is configured to receive and convey the high intensity light. The high intensity light is white light with a black body spectrum, and the exit fiber has a diameter in the range of 200-500 micrometers.

An illumination source includes a laser driver unit configured to emit a plasma sustaining beam. An ingress collimator receives the plasma sustaining beam and produces a collimated ingress beam. A focusing optic receives the collimated ingress beam and produce a focused sustaining beam. A sealed lamp chamber contains an ionizable media that, once ignited, forms a high intensity light emitting plasma having a waist size smaller than 150 microns. The sealed lamp chamber further includes an ingress window configured to receive the focused sustaining beam and an egress window configured to emit the high intensity light. An ignition source is configured to ignite the ionizable media, and an exit fiber is configured to receive and convey the high intensity light. The high intensity light is white light with a black body spectrum, and the exit fiber has a diameter in the range of 200-500 micrometers.

An electrodeless laser-driven light source includes a laser that generates a CW sustaining light. A pump laser generates pump light. A Q-switched laser crystal receives the pump light generated by the pump laser and generates pulsed laser light at an output in response to the generated pump light. A first optical element projects the pulsed laser light along a first axis to a breakdown region in a gas-filled bulb comprising an ionizing gas. A second optical element projects the CW sustaining light along a second axis to a CW plasma region in the gas-filled bulb comprising the ionizing gas. A detector detects plasma light generated by a CW plasma and generates a detection signal at an output. A controller generates control signals that control the pump light to the Q-switched laser crystal so as to extinguish the pulsed laser light within a time delay after the detection signal exceeds a threshold level.

An electrodeless laser-driven light source includes a laser that generates a CW sustaining light. A pump laser generates pump light. A Q-switched laser crystal receives the pump light generated by the pump laser and generates pulsed laser light at an output in response to the generated pump light. A first optical element projects the pulsed laser light along a first axis to a breakdown region in a gas-filled bulb comprising an ionizing gas. A second optical element projects the CW sustaining light along a second axis to a CW plasma region in the gas-filled bulb comprising the ionizing gas. A detector detects plasma light generated by a CW plasma and generates a detection signal at an output. A controller generates control signals that control the pump light to the Q-switched laser crystal so as to extinguish the pulsed laser light within a time delay after the detection signal exceeds a threshold level.