APPLICATIONS OF RADIANT ENERGY 16-9

light emission may cease immediately upon cessation of the exposure, or it

may continue for an indefinite period. The property of continuing to emit
light after the energizing source has been removed is known as phosphores-
cence. Certain of the alkaline earth sulphides exhibit this property for a
significant period of time after the activating exposure ceases and for this
reason are classed as phosphorescent materials.
Phosphorescent materials are activated not only by ultraviolet energy
but also by light. (Most fluorescent materials respond also to light wave-
lengths, but because of the masking effect of the reflected light the relatively
small fluorescent brightness component is not noticed.) Many alkaline
earth sulphides not only emit light when exposed to ultraviolet or light
energy, but also exhibit this property under bombardment by alpha rays
from radium. Thus, by compounding a mixture of such a radioluminescent
material and a small amount of radium compound, a self-luminous mixture
can be produced. Such a radium-luminous compound will continue to
emit light without the help of external activation of any type for periods as
long as six months to a year in practical applications.
Fluorescent materials. Most fluorescent materials now available com-
mercially depend upon organic dyes as the source of their fluorescence.
Used in night clubs, theaters, ice shows, and other places of entertainment,
these materials form spectacular displays when excited by ultraviolet
energy in a darkened area. Practically all of the fluorescent materials
used commercially today are activated by ultraviolet energy of the 0.3650-
micron wavelength. This wavelength is emitted by mercury-vapor lamps
filtered with a type of glass that absorbs the greater part of visible light but
permits the relatively invisible ultraviolet radiation to pass through.
The 360 BL fluorescent lamp has a high percentage of its output in the
0.3650-micron region and can be used in combination with the proper filter
for exciting fluorescent materials. However, this source is not as con-
centrated as the mercury-vapor-discharge lamp, and where more precise
control of the radiation is necessary, the mercury lamp is preferred. Argon-
glow lamps furnish ultraviolet energy of the proper wavelength for exciting-
fluorescence, but in small quantities. Incandescent-filament lamps,
though they emit a small amount of near-visible ultraviolet, are quite
inefficient sources. In order to transmit a useful amount of ultraviolet,
any filter used with filament lamps must pass a large amount of light also.
This masks the fluorescent effect.
Fluorescent paint, ink, and dyed fabrics are available in many colors,
including red, orange, green, blue, yellow, and a white that appears blue
under ultraviolet. Because these materials transform ultraviolet energy
into light, as well as reflect incident light, their brightness under daylight is
striking. This is true because of the ultraviolet energy in daylight, which,
after striking the material, returns to the eye as light in addition to the
daylight reflected by the material and gives some fluorescent materials an
apparent reflectance (under daylight) as great as 110 per cent, that is, the}'
send back more visible light than strikes them. This quality is especially
useful in signal flags and signal panels that can be seen at greater distances