[ { "type_id": "blb-tube", "name": "BLB Fluorescent Tube (Blacklight Blue)", "technology": "Low-pressure mercury discharge with Wood's glass envelope", "envelope_glass": "Wood's glass (deep blue-purple glass doped with nickel oxide, absorbing wavelengths > 400 nm)", "phosphor": "Europium-doped strontium fluoroborate (SrB4O7:Eu2+) or lead-activated barium silicate (BaSi2O5:Pb2+)", "peak_wavelength_nm": 368, "spectral_range_nm": "340 - 400 nm (FWHM ~20 nm)", "uv_radiant_efficiency": "12% - 18% electrical-to-UV conversion", "visible_bleed_ratio": "Extremely low (< 1%)", "lifespan_hours": 5000, "operating_temp_c": "40 - 50°C", "pros": "Broad diffuse coverage, zero hotspotting, authentic 365-368nm emission, high fluorescence contrast", "cons": "Fragile glass tube, contains trace mercury, requires magnetic/electronic ballast, warmup time (30-60s), bulky form factor", "common_uses": "Banknote verification boxes, forensic examination rooms, insect research, nightclub ambient fixtures" }, { "type_id": "bl-tube", "name": "BL Fluorescent Tube (Actinic Blacklight Clear)", "technology": "Low-pressure mercury discharge with clear soda-lime glass", "envelope_glass": "Clear transparent glass envelope (no Wood's filter)", "phosphor": "Lead-activated barium disilicate emitting peak at 350 nm or 368 nm", "peak_wavelength_nm": 368, "spectral_range_nm": "315 - 400 nm plus visible mercury lines (404.7 nm, 435.8 nm, 546.1 nm)", "uv_radiant_efficiency": "18% - 24% electrical-to-UV conversion", "visible_bleed_ratio": "High (emits bright white-blue visible illumination)", "lifespan_hours": 8000, "operating_temp_c": "40 - 50°C", "pros": "High UV photon flux, excellent insect attraction, inexpensive", "cons": "Emits substantial visible light; completely unsuitable for dark-room fluorescence detection due to visible washout", "common_uses": "Electronic fly killers (bug zappers), photopolymer printing plate exposure, diazo copying machines, nail salons" }, { "type_id": "led-365", "name": "365nm InGaN UV-A LED (Filtered with ZWB2)", "technology": "Solid-state Indium Gallium Nitride (InGaN) semiconductor diode", "envelope_glass": "Optical black glass filter lens (ZWB2 / UG1 bandpass filter)", "phosphor": "None (direct bandgap semiconductor emission)", "peak_wavelength_nm": 365, "spectral_range_nm": "360 - 370 nm (FWHM 10-15 nm)", "uv_radiant_efficiency": "25% - 38% electrical-to-radiant flux", "visible_bleed_ratio": "Near zero (< 0.2% with ZWB2 filter)", "lifespan_hours": 25000, "operating_temp_c": "50 - 85°C (requires thermal aluminum heatsink)", "pros": "Instantaneous full power, zero mercury, battery-portable, narrow spectral output, peerless fluorescence contrast", "cons": "Requires specialized optical filter to suppress 400nm visible tail, higher purchase cost, heat dissipation critical for LED longevity", "common_uses": "Professional forensic investigation, field mineral hunting, NDT crack detection, pet urine discovery, HVAC dye tracing" }, { "type_id": "led-395", "name": "395nm InGaN UV-A LED (Commercial Unfiltered)", "technology": "Solid-state Indium Gallium Nitride semiconductor diode", "envelope_glass": "Clear silicone / epoxy resin domed lens", "phosphor": "None (direct semiconductor bandgap emission)", "peak_wavelength_nm": 395, "spectral_range_nm": "390 - 405 nm (FWHM ~15 nm)", "uv_radiant_efficiency": "35% - 50% electrical-to-radiant flux", "visible_bleed_ratio": "Heavy (20% - 30% intense visible purple glare)", "lifespan_hours": 30000, "operating_temp_c": "40 - 65°C", "pros": "Extremely inexpensive, highly durable, abundant photon output, long battery life, excites high-efficiency fluorophores intensely", "cons": "Severe visible purple glare overwhelms faint fluorescence, masks yellow pet urine and organic stains on pale fabrics", "common_uses": "Scorpion spotting in deserts, blacklight parties, glow-in-the-dark golf, uranium glass detection, curing UV craft resin" }, { "type_id": "mercury-woods", "name": "High-Pressure Mercury Arc Wood's Lamp", "technology": "High-pressure mercury vapor discharge inside quartz burner with separate nickel-oxide Wood's filter", "envelope_glass": "External polished Wood's filter glass window (3mm thickness)", "phosphor": "None (operates on high-pressure mercury emission lines: 365.0, 365.4, 366.3 nm)", "peak_wavelength_nm": 365.4, "spectral_range_nm": "Sharp mercury triplet emission at 365 nm", "uv_radiant_efficiency": "8% - 14%", "visible_bleed_ratio": "Extremely low (< 0.1%)", "lifespan_hours": 2000, "operating_temp_c": "150 - 250°C (extreme heat)", "pros": "Intense focused beam, gold-standard spectral fidelity recognized in clinical medical literature", "cons": "Long warm-up and restrike time (5-10 min), generates extreme heat, high power consumption, fragile filter glass", "common_uses": "Hospital dermatology departments (Wood's light clinic), vintage scientific fluorometers, vintage forensic ALS systems" }, { "type_id": "incandescent-purple", "name": "Incandescent 'Black Light' Bulb", "technology": "Tungsten filament heated to ~2500K inside cobalt-nickel purple tinted envelope", "envelope_glass": "Dark purple painted or doped soda-lime glass", "phosphor": "None", "peak_wavelength_nm": 400, "spectral_range_nm": "Broad blackbody spectrum peaking in infrared (95%+ IR, 4% visible, < 0.1% UV-A)", "uv_radiant_efficiency": "< 0.05% (virtually zero UV output)", "visible_bleed_ratio": "Moderate dim purple glow", "lifespan_hours": 1000, "operating_temp_c": "180 - 220°C (fire risk)", "pros": "Cheap novelty purchase ($2-$4 at grocery stores)", "cons": "Totally useless for fluorescence inspection; emits almost no UV radiation, massive fire hazard, wastes 99.9% energy as heat", "common_uses": "Novelty Halloween mood lighting only (should never be used for inspection, hygiene, or science)" } ]