Spectral-luminosity functions, scalar linearity, and chromatic adaptation

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Abstract
We report data for three experiments that assess the effect on the luminosity function of chromatic adaptation arising from the measurement stimuli. First, we report spectral-sensitivity functions (wavelength range, 510–640 nm) measured by heterochromatic flicker photometry for a luminance range of 25–5000 Td. The data were fitted to a linear combination of cone fundamentals. The data narrowed and the fits deteriorated with an increase in luminance level, which indicates that at high luminances chromatic adaptation that is dependent on the spectral composition of the standard and test lights is a factor in spectral-luminosity determination. Second, we report heterochromatic modulation photometry as measured with two spectral lights at constant time-averaged chromaticity and luminance for luminances from 1.6 to 1300 Td. For a time-averaged chromaticity of 570 nm, the red-green ratio of the photometric match was invariant with luminance. For a time-averaged chromaticity of 605 nm, the red–green ratio increased by almost 0.3 log unit for a 2-log-unit increase in luminance, which is indicative of chromatic adaptation to the 605-nm chromaticity. Third, we measured flicker increment detection (wavelength range, 510–640 nm) on 570- and 605-nm backgrounds of 25–5000 Td. The data were fitted to a linear combination of cone fundamentals and showed good fits at all luminances. Fits to the 570-nm-background data set showed little variation in the proportions of the cone fundamentals with luminance. Fits to the 605-nm-background data set required an increased weighting of the middle-wavelength-sensitive cone with luminance. These three experiments indicate that luminance-dependent variation in the spectral-luminosity function as assessed by flicker techniques is caused primarily by chromatic adaptation to the measurement stimuli.

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