A Suggested Clarification of Carbon Arc Terminology as Applied to the Motion Picture Industry

This paper presents definitions of the three general types of carbon arcs used in the motion picture industry, the distinction between them being based upon the origin and the character of the radiation in each case. In the low-intensity arc, the principal light-source is incandescent solid carbon at or near its sublimation temperature; in the flame arc, the entire arc stream, made luminescent by the addition of flame materials, is used as the light-source; while the high-intensity arc is one in which, in addition to the light from the incandescent carbon, there is a significant amount of light originating in the gaseous region immediately in front of the carbon. With these concepts as a basis, the theory of light generation in each case is presented with the object of further clarifying the distinction between the three types of carbon arcs.

Print ISSN

0097-5834

Published

1941-11

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J01246