OSTAR LED in HiTec fluorescence lamps highlight the beauty of red sea corals
Reef forming corals are under natural and anthropogenic threats worldwide. Prof. Dr. Horst Grunz (University Duisburg Essen, Germany) developed a HiTec fluorescence lamp with strong intensity OSTAR SMT LEDs.
The beauty of living corals during night dives in the El Quadim – Bay, Egypt
Corals have a vital symbiontic algae (symbiodinium spp.) which is essential for the metabolism of the host coral polyp. When the coral loses this algae as a result of increased seawater temperature and other factors (pollution), the corals die - the so called coral bleeching. Vital corals show significant fluorescence, when illuminated with blue light of a controlled wavelength – an attribute that scientist use for distinguishing them from dead ones. Dead corals contain only the skeleton of calciumcarbonat and show therefore no fluorescence. For the detection of fluorescence a blocking filter on the diving mask and the camera is essential.
Prof. Dr. Horst Grunz (University Duisburg Essen, Germany) now developed a HiTec fluorescence lamp with strong intensity which is superior to commercially available lamps. It can distinguish between living and dead corals in large scale scanning. Even small regenerating coral polyps can be detected by this method in night dives. The corals contain species-specific pigments of the GFP (green fluorescent proteins)-family, which are responsible for their specific color.
The HiTec lamp is based on blue high power OSTAR SMT LEDs in multi-chip technology. For the operation of these LED-modules special boosters and cooling devices are necessary. The high intensity fluorescence lamp cannot only be used for scientific work (reef check etc.), but also during dives of interested professional divers and for fun dives of guests of diving centers. It was first tested in September 2009 with support of Johann Vifian, Director of the SUBEX Diving Centers (Hurghada, Egypt).
With 110 lm from an exceptional compact package (5.8 x 4.7 x 1.5 mm) and a luminance of 9 MegaCd/m², the OSTAR SMT is a small and powerful point light source. The four 1 mm² chips emit blue light with a cleary defined wavelength of 465 nm – without any need of additional filters. As a surface mounted device it combines easily with secondary optics.
The beauty of living corals during night dives in the El Quadim – Bay, Egypt
