AN IODINE STANDARD LAMP

We report results of an investigation of a lamp for spectral calibrati on that is based upon molecular fluorescence. An argon ion laser is us ed to excite the B state of molecular iodine and the resulting fluores cence provides a series of lines that cover the wavelength range 515 n m to 1 340 nm. The intensities of the lines are fixed with respect to one another and are appropriate for determining the relative spectral responsivity of an optical instrument. We discuss a specific example t hat demonstrates the salient features of this lamp.