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Article

The electric lamp: 100 years of applied physics

OCT 01, 1979
Since Edison’s success, progress in physics and in materials science has produced much more efficient and powerful incandescent sources as well as lamps based on gas discharges and luminescence.
John M. Anderson
John S. Saby

Night‐time in 1879, but a scant 100 years ago, was considerably darker than the nocturnal world of today. Artificial illumination was limited to kerosene lamps, illuminating gas, the just‐emerging arc lamp for street lighting and a few lingering candles.

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References

  1. 1. T. W. Chalmers, Historic Researches: Chapters in the History of Physical and Chemical Discovery, Scribners, New York (1952).

  2. 2. F. A. Lewis et al., The Incandescent Lamp, Shorewood, New York (1959).

  3. 3. W. Howell and S. Schroeder, History of the Incandescent Lamp, Maqua, Schenectady, (1927).

  4. 4. A. Bright, Jr., The Electric Lamp Industry, Macmillan, New York (1949).

  5. 5. Lectures on Illuminating Engineering, (2 vols.), delivered October 1910,
    The Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore (1911).

  6. 6. H. E. Ives, Trans. Ill. Engr. Soc. 5, 113, (1910).https://doi.org/TIESAZ

  7. 7. J. L. Weininger and P. D. Zemany, Chem. Phys. 22, 1469, (1954).https://doi.org/CMPHC2

  8. 8. E. G. Fridrich and E. H. Wiley, U.S. Pat No. 2 883 571.

  9. 9. F. Waymouth, Electric Discharge Lamps, MIT Press (1971).

  10. 10. C. Kenty, Appl. Phys. 21, 1309, (1950).

  11. 11. J. F. Waymouth and F. Bitter, Appl. Phys. 27, 122, (1956).

  12. 12. P. C. Drop and J. Polman, J. Phys. D 5, 562, (1972).https://doi.org/JPAPBE

  13. 13. W. Elenbaas, The High Pressure Mercury Vapor Discharge, North Holland, Amsterdam (1951).

  14. 14. R. H. Springer and B. T. Barnes, Appl. Phys. 39, 3100 (1968).

  15. 15. J. M. Anderson, US Patents No. 3 521 120 and 4 017 764.

More about the authors

John M. Anderson, General Electric Research and Development Center, Schenectady, New York.

John S. Saby, Lighting Research and Technical Services Operation of General Electric, Nela Park, Cleveland, Ohio.

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This Content Appeared In
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Volume 32, Number 10

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