Argon Bulb

HIMNL9 · Dec 30, 2011

^ LOL

On the serious side, i think you can use it for a "fast check", but not as reference for calibration, cause i highly doubt that these are single-line lamps ..... also, probably there's some other elements involved in the spectral emission, in the lamp (just wondering about nitrogen, and the elements composing the electrodes, Ni, Al, Ba, Sr ....)

Calibration lamps are very high-cost devices, both side-emitters and hollow-cathode frontal emitters ..... some companies make them, like Hamamatsu or Agilent or Lot Oriel, but expect to have to sell a lung and an eye, for buy some of their "not-exactly-cheap" products

rhd · Dec 30, 2011

ped said:
*Translated*

I havent a clue, get your hand in your pocket and find out

Translation?

Dr_Evil · Feb 15, 2012

did anybody purchase any of these?

ped · Feb 15, 2012

rhd said:
Translation?

Sorry only just seen your reply..
It means "buy one and find out "

Event_Horizon · Feb 15, 2012

rhd said:
It's not difficult to find spectral line graphics for Argon, but I haven't had any luck in googling for the actual numeric data (instead of pictorial representations shown on a simulated spectrum).

If you're still looking for hard numerical data, here you go dude:
NIST Handbook - Download
It's pretty much a list of all the spectral information you could possibly want for every element. Wavelengths are in Angstroms, which are 1/10th of a nm. It's what I've used to calibrate multiple spectrometers in the past.

As for using Argon to calibrate your spectrometer, it's quite possible, however as someone mentioned the nitrogen in the mix will certainly give you a hard time. It's best to use a pure gas. In my old lab we used mercury discharge lamps for calibration. For 10 bucks I'd probably give it a try with one of these Argon bulbs. Worse case scenario: it doesn't work and now you have a cool argon bulb. Also, just a word of advice: Don't calibrate a spectrometer with Neon. You'll regret that idea immediately as soon as you see how many lines there are.

Drew · Feb 15, 2012

The price got bumped up to $15.99 but the description still says $9.99. Snooze and lose I suppose

Cyparagon · Feb 15, 2012

I picked one up. Neat, but not very useful. I'll check for nitrogen later tonight.

Event_Horizon said:
Don't calibrate a spectrometer with Neon. You'll regret that idea immediately as soon as you see how many lines there are.

You don't need to use all of them, just some of the strong ones.

rhd · Feb 15, 2012

Cyparagon said:
You don't need to use all of them, just some of the strong ones.

I settled on calibrating with the mercury vapour G-line, and 473, 532, 589 DPSS.

I'd really like to find an easy source of something in the 600s though - and neon is about the only cheap/easy calibration source I've come across so far. Haven't tried it yet though.

I don't think I could trust readings in the 600s if my highest calibration wavelength was 589. I don't know how well the accuracy holds up when extrapolated out that far (ie, 50nm if I was testing a 640nm laser), but it just feels instinctively wrong.

Sigurthr · Feb 15, 2012

Why not try a cheap HeNe for 632.8nm?

rhd · Feb 15, 2012

Sigurthr said:
Why not try a cheap HeNe for 632.8nm?

If I had one, I'd use it.

The thing is, even a cheap HeNe is going to be like $50 I think. So at that stage, I just start thinking "alright, if I'm spending $50, why not just spend a bit more and get a true HG-AR calibration light?"

But, I do also WANT a HeNe, so if I could find the right one (I want it to have lots of beautiful exposed plasma, and preferably run off of 12V), I would grab it.

Sigurthr · Feb 15, 2012

Gah, now I really wish you still had that 594 for sale. If I'd have known you wanted a HeNe I certainly could have thrown a nice 12V PSU and exposed 7" <5mW 632.8nm Tube in along with cash for it.

rhd · Feb 15, 2012

Sigurthr said:
Gah, now I really wish you still had that 594 for sale. If I'd have known you wanted a HeNe I certainly could have thrown a nice 12V PSU and exposed 7" <5mW 632.8nm Tube in along with cash for it.

Oh, that would have been wonderful

Anything in particular you're looking for? At some point in the next few weeks I need to do a major cleanout of my stuff.

Would you be interested in just selling it ?

Sigurthr · Feb 15, 2012

Mostly I'm just looking for a 589 or 594 and a CO2 laser at this point. I'd really only sell it if it would help me in getting one of the aforementioned wavelengths since it is my only HeNe PSU. I do have three ~5mW tubes though and would not hesitate to let go of all but one. A 589/594/CO2 can really twist my arm.

The cash from selling it would be nice though since I'm not prepared to spend money until my tax return comes in (and then the floodgates are opened), but I'd not in such a need for money now as to be inclined to sell it just for cash. As I said, if it brings me closer to a yellow/CO2 that is an entirely different story.

rhd · Feb 15, 2012

Hmmm, so are the tubes (the ones that you'd be willing to straight sell) similar?
(ie, 7" and lots of exposed plasma)

Sigurthr · Feb 15, 2012

Sure are. =)

I've got to head to town but will be back in a few hours - go ahead and PM if you're interested, I'm sure we can work something out easily (this is me realising we're still in the argon bulb thread d'oh!).

daguin · Feb 16, 2012

Dr_Evil said:
Thanks. I'm already missing the beautiful color of my ArIon. I fired it up for about an hour a couple days before leaving. Hopefully that will hold it over for the few months I'll be gone.

I grabbed a few of them when you asked

Pop me a PM when you're ready

Peace,
dave

Argon Bulb

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