Abstract
IN a paper read to the Illuminating Engineering Society on January 14, Mr. F. E. Lamplough pointed out some useful applications of fluorescence. The work is carried out both by visual and photographic methods, and as the fluorescence colours as a rule bear little relation to the natural colours of substances, it often happens that colourless materials and those of identical natural colours can readily be distinguished by their fluorescence. This method is used by detectives, experts and collectors. It has been used for deciphering ancient manuscripts from which the writing had been erased, for detecting alterations in pictures, for distinguishing between old and new marble, cut ivory or bone. Repairs to pottery, glass and woodwork are at once evident. It is of equal value in the examination of foodstuffs, textiles and paper. It has been used to yield pictures of fossils otherwise almost invisible. Some use of it has been made in display and advertising as well as in stage and film work. Extensive use was made of fluorescence in the film production of H. G. Wells's “Invisible Man”. If the skin of the actor is made non-fluorescent and his suit strongly fluorescent, then in ultra-violet light the suit appears to walk about in the most amazing manner without visible means of support. The use of fluorescence to vary the colour of a source of light was demonstrated by means of a series of discharge tubes, in which the light given by the discharge was changed by coating the interior of the tube with different fluorescent powders.
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The Applications of Fluorescence. Nature 137, 489 (1936). https://doi.org/10.1038/137489d0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/137489d0