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.

From Science Magazine

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

From BBC