Eksimerlamppu

Eksimerlamppu is a type of gas-discharge lamp that produces ultraviolet (UV) light. The name "eksimer" is derived from "excited dimer," referring to the short-lived, excited molecular states formed within the lamp. These dimers are typically composed of a noble gas atom (like argon, krypton, or xenon) and a halogen atom (like fluorine or chlorine).

When an electrical discharge passes through a mixture of these gases at low pressure, the noble gas atoms become excited. These excited atoms then react with the halogen molecules to form excited dimers. As these excited dimers quickly return to their ground state, they emit photons, predominantly in the UV spectrum. The specific wavelength of the UV light emitted depends on the noble gas and halogen used, with common emissions including 172 nm (Ar2), 222 nm (KrCl), 308 nm (XeCl), and 351 nm (XeF).

Eksimerlamppuja are known for their high intensity UV output and specific wavelengths. Unlike some other UV sources, they can produce relatively narrow bandwidth UV light. This characteristic makes them useful in various scientific and industrial applications. They are employed in photolithography for semiconductor manufacturing, in surface treatment processes to modify material properties, for sterilization and disinfection due to their germicidal UV output, and in scientific research for spectroscopy and photochemistry. The efficiency and tunability of their UV output are key advantages in these fields.