Abstract

The mechanisms of excitation of the continuum and the AlO spectra in the aluminum-oxygen combustion reaction have been investigated. Aluminum oxide is found to be excited thermally. The color temperature and intensity of the continuum are limited to the boiling temperature of Al₂O₃. In aluminum-oxygen photoflash lamps, the principal light emission is blackbody radiation from AlO and Al₂O₃ at or below 3800°K. It is concluded that the possibility of substantial alteration of the color temperature or intensity of the radiation resulting from this reaction is remote.

© 1960 Optical Society of America

Emission Spectra Excited in Metal Powder–Oxygen Flames*

Rudolph Edse, K. Narahari Rao, W. A. Strauss, and M. E. Mickelson
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 53(4) 436-438 (1963)

The Nature of the Light Emitter in Photo-Flash Lamps

Frank G. Brockman
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 37(8) 652-659 (1947)

Ultraviolet Spectral Energy Distributions of Natural Sunlight and Accelerated Test Light Sources*

R. C. Hirt, R. G. Schmitt, N. D. Searle, and A. P. Sullivan
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 50(7) 706-713 (1960)

Free-Free Continuum of Oxygen*

R. G. Breene and Maria C. Nardone
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 50(11) 1111-1114 (1960)

Light Sources and Color Rendering

Dorothy Nickerson
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 50(1) 57-69 (1960)