Comment on ‘‘Ultraviolet light amplification by cool green phosphorous chemiluminescence flame’’

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Abstract
Van Zee and Khan have reported a measurement of broadband amplification in the 200–400 nm region of the spectrum upon passage of light through a series of small phosphorous-air flames. This paper shows that the rate of chemical reaction in the reported flame system is several orders of magnitude too small to support even the spontaneous loss rate that would be associated with the claimed amplification, and that focusing phenomena rather than stimulated emission provide a more quantitatively acceptable explanation of the data.