xenon arc

noun

1. an electric arc between two metal electrodes enclosed in a quartz bulb and contained in a xenon atmosphere, used mainly as a high-intensity light source in motion-picture projectors and studio spotlights.

Word History and Origins

Origin of xenon arc¹

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Xenon arc lamps bombard materials with photons, collapsing years of light exposure into hours.

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Christian Lünig photographed some of the 149 xenon arc lamps that form the Synlight experiment, in Jülich, Germany.

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