Pulsed xenon lamp source, advantages

In terms of sensor development several of these sources have distinct advantages, notably LEDs, pulsed xenon lamps and lasers. LEDs have the advantage that they are inexpensive and simple, although not very intense. However, they may find application in the development of simple purpose-built equipment. Pulsed xenon sources when coupled to a gated detector are particularly useful because a probe based on this type of system may be used in an open beaker without interference from ambient light. Laser sources have the advantages of high power and excellent collimation. The laser sources... 

The light source can be a xenon lamp associated with a monochromator. The optical configuration should be carefully optimized because the electro-optic modulator (usually a Pockel s cell) must work with a parallel light beam. The advantages are the low cost of the system and the wide availability of excitation wavelengths. In terms of light intensity and modulation, it is preferable to use a cw laser, which costs less than mode-locked pulsed lasers. 

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