Spectral Energy Calibration of a Light Flash Source Used in Physiological Experiments*

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Abstract
The Sylvania glow modulator tube has been used as a flash light source in physiological and psychological experiments. A setup is described for the study of color vision. Flash duration, intensity, and color were independently variable. The relative spectral concentration of irradiance was determined under different working conditions for three types of Sylvania glow modulator tubes, R1: IB 59/R 1130 B (new type), R2: IB 59/R 1130 B (old type), and R3: R 1131. The variation in relative spectral distribution was no more than 2–3% when a tube was tested regularly both over short and long time intervals. The relative spectral concentration of irradiance varied uniformly as a function of peak current. It did not depend on mean current, i.e., the frequency and duration of the flashes could be varied without influence on the relative spectral concentration of irradiance as long as the peak current was kept constant. A method is described for the calibration of the total energy of the different colored light flashes from the glow modulator tube.