What Element Is Used in Strobe Lamps?

Strobe lamps produce intense, regular flashes of light and are used in numerous industrial and scientific applications, from night clubs to scuba signaling devices. Strobe lamps contain a lighting element referred to as a flashtube.

  1. Flashtube

    • A flashtube, or flashlamp, refers to a lamp that uses an electric glow discharge. Electric glow discharge, or plasma, forms via the passage of voltage through gas at a low pressure. Flashtubes produce intense white light for short durations.

    Components

    • Strobe lamp flashtubes contain similar components as a sealed gas tube, which holds a noble gas, typically in the form of xenon. The tube also contains electrodes designed to transmit electrical current to the gas. The lamp houses a capacitor, which enables the current to be sent quickly to the gas. A capacitor refers to an electric component used to block DC current or direct current that moves in one direction and enable the passage of alternating current, which can switch direction.

    Process

    • The flashtube element operates by connecting the electrodes to the capacitor. Noble gases are resistant to electric energy, preventing the strobe lamp from conducting electricity until the gas ionizes. When the gas ionizes, a spark generates via the electrodes, which enables the capacitor to transmit current. The current heats the gas to plasma, generating intense light bursts.