Lattice Tungsten Filament Potential Studied

PALO ALTO, Calif., August 25 -- A recent discovery that heated lattice tungsten filaments can emit more energy than solid tungsten filaments may lead to the "next generation of lighting," says a market research firm.

Lattice tungsten filaments will likely meet the increasing power requirements of high-tech electrical systems, such as those used for hybrid electric cars, sophisticated boats, engines and industrial waste heat-driven electrical generators, according to Technical Insights (TI), a business unit of Frost & Sullivan.

Tungsten lattice emissions transfer more energy than solid tungsten filaments into certain bands of near-infrared wavelengths. The energy is used by photovoltaic cells to convert light into electricity. (See Photonics.com's coverage of the discovery)

"The next generation of lighting may arrive if the results that are now possible at 1.5 microns can be extended to the entire visible spectrum," says Aninditta Savitry, a TI analyst.

TI has published a "High-Tech Materials Alert" on the discovery of tungsten photonic crystals and their ability to provide more power than competing materials.

For more information, visit: www.Technical-Insights.frost.com