which illumination is best

[Dr_Doggy]

i have looked at leds which are measured by lum/w
lasers which are measured in watts
and flashes which measure in watts,joules and WS (whatever that is)


but which of theses is most efficent, ie output photons per energy unit??

 

[crutschow]

Generally fluorescents were the most efficient for white light, but I think some of the new high efficiency LEDs are approaching or even exceeding them. I just bought some 11W LED recessed ceiling lights that put out more light than the 15W compact fluorescents that were originally there.

 

[Dr_Doggy]

I am curious to do 2 things, first is for an array for an propeller screen, like the clocks, but i fear not choosing a led bright enough. how do i choose!!

also i wonder about things like pumping dyes, could a focused led array drive better than a laser diode? or flash lamp?

i may have asked this before, but can a led survive high power pulsing if it is fast enough?

 

[crutschow]

Your questions are really too general for a specif answer. You need to narrow down your requirements.

I don't know what "pumping dyes" are.

An Led may survive high power pulsing but the light output is not linear with current so you don't gain much by doing that.

 

[Dr_Doggy]

pumping dyes like using a xeon lamp with a yag rod, it was just a thought,
but i wonder how many leds it would it take to produce the light of a camera flash, and if it could compare in efficency after matching the spectrum of course