SUPPORTIVE GRAPHS

Artificial light from fluorescent and many other devices is the result of the additive color process.  The example below shows how color results from the combination of three primary colors--red, blue and green.  This photograph was made by placing primary color gels in front of three projector light sources and aiming them at a wall:

 Natural sunlight is the result of the surface temperature of the sun, and a combination of the spectral color lines that are given off when individual elements are superheated.  As an example, below are the spectral emission lines for hydrogen and helium, which make up a little over 98% of the surface composition of the sun.  At the left of each picture is the electrical plasma tube that is filled with the gas, and to the right the resulting spectra as shown through a diffraction grating spectrometer:

  Once the light of the sun reaches earth, it is filtered by the atmosphere.  Most of the ultraviolet light and a substantial portion of the blue spectrum is filtered out by the ozone and oxygen present, respectively.  Shown below is a graph that has been created to the international standards (CIE) for sunlight at this color temperature.  It is equivalent to mid-day at any point on the equator.  To the far left, the tiny section marked D-UV is the frequency of light that is responsible for Vitamin D synthesis:

 The range of bird vision differs from that of human sight.  Not only is it much more acute and able to discern fine details at considerable distance, its range goes into the low ultraviolet spectrum--UVA.  This adds a whole new dimension to sight--not only in extending capabilities, but also how it makes certain normal things--including markings on other birds wings--appear visible to them:

Fluorescent light from any source does not work the way sunlight does.  By combining different phosphors together in the tube, sharp spikes of colors are emitted and mix together.  Human vision and the brain conspire together to adjust these spikes to make the resulting light appear a better balance of "white".  The following graph shows the typical power spikes of a fluorescent lamp, and how that unbalanced light actually appears before the human eye and brain make corrections:

 This next image shows clearly the power distribution spikes that are present in even the highest quality full spectrum lamp--the Philips TL950.  Overall output at lower effective power is fairly evenly distributed--although seriously lacking in the red areas.  The true output of this lamp is about 100 times less than the equivalent sunlight falling to the ground outside:

Shown below is a comparison of the light output of the sun, a fluorescent "full spectrum" lamp, and an incandescent bulb.  Note that neither of these devices come anywhere close to approximating the output of the sun:

SELECTED MONOGRAPHS

Benoit, J., The role of the eye and the hypothalamus in the photostimulation of gonads in the duck.  Ann. New York Acad. Sci. 117.(1964),204-216.

Brondon, P., et al.  Melanin density affects photobiomodulation outcomes in cell culture.  Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. June 1, 2007, 25(3).

Darre, M.J. 1979. The influence of red light vs white light rearing of broiler chicks on agonistic behavior, feed efficiency and oxygen consumption. Poultry Sci. 58:1048

Eells, J.T., et al.  Mitochondrial signal transduction in accelerated wound and retinal healing by near-infrared light therapy.  Mitochondrial Medicine.  Volume 4, Issues 5-6, September 2004, Pages 559-567

Felts, J.V., et al., Influence of light sources on the growth and reproduction of large white turkeys.  Poultry Science. 69(4), (1990),576-583.

 Gill, D.J., et al., Effects of light environment and population density on growth performance of male turkeys.  Poultry Science. 63(7), (1984),1314-1321.

Harrison, P.C., et al.  Influence of decreased length of different spectral photoperiods on testis development of domestic fowl.  J. Reprod. Fertil., 22, (1970),269?275.

Hawkins, D., et al.  Influence of Broad-Spectrum and Infrared Light in Combination with Laser Irradiation on the Proliferation of Wounded Skin Fibroblasts.  Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. June 1, 2007, 25(3): 159-169.

Hulet, R.M., et al.  The effect of light source and intensity on turkey egg production. Poultry Science. 71(8)., (1992),1277-1282.

Jones, J.E., et al.  The effects of red and white light during the pre breeder and breeder periods on egg production and feed consumption in large-white turkeys.   Poultry Science. 61(9), (1982),1930-1932.

Karu, T.I., et al.  Elementary Processes in Cells after Light Absorption Do Not Depend on the Degree of Polarization: Implications for the Mechanisms of Laser Phototherapy.  2008. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. ahead of print. doi:10.1089/pho.2007.2134.

Karu, T.I., et al.  Exact Action Spectra for Cellular Responses Relevant to Phototherapy.  Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. August 1, 2005, 23(4).

Levenick, C.K., et al.  Effects of photoperiod and filtered light on growth reproduction and mating behavior of turkeys 1. Growth performance of two lines of males and females.   Poultry Science. 67(11), (1988),1505-1513.

Lewis, P.D., et al.  Poultry and colored light.  World's Poultry Science Journal (2000), 56:189-207.   Cambridge University Press, London.

Lubart, R., et al.  Reactive oxygen species and photobiostimulation.  Proc. SPIE Vol. 3198, p. 12-18, Effects of Low-Power Light on Biological Systems III, Giovanni F. Bottiroli; Tina I. Karu; Rachel Lubart; Eds.  1997.

North, M.O., et al.  Lighting management.  Chicken Production Manual.  Chapman and Hall, N.Y,(1990),407-431.

Phogat, S.B., et al.  Effect of red and green lights on growth of quail.  Indian J. Poult. Sci., 20, (1985),126?128.

Proudfoot, F.G., et al.  Response of turkey broilers to different stocking densities lighting treatments toe clipping and intermingling the sexes.  Poultry Science, 58(1), (1987),28-36.

Pryzak, R., et al.  Effect of light quality on egg production of caged turkey hens.  Poultry Science. 65(1), (1986),199-200.

Pryzak, R., et al.  Effect of light quality on erratic egg laying of caged turkey hens.  Poultry Science. 65(4), (1986),795-800.

Pryzak, R., et al.,  The effect of light color on egg quality of turkey hens in cages.  Poultry Science. 65(7), (1986),1262-1267.

Pryzak, R., et al.  The effect of light wavelength on the production and quality of eggs of the domestic hen.  Theriogenology, 28, (1987),947-960.

Ringoen, A.R.  Effect of continuous green and red light illumination on gonadal response in English sparrow (Passar domesticus Linnaeus).   Am. J. Anat. 71, (1942),99?112.

Rozenboim, I., et al.  New Monochromatic Light Source for Laying Hens.  Poultry Science, 77, (1998),1695-1698.

Scott, H.M., et al.  Light in relation to the experimental modification of the breeding season of turkeys.  Poultry Science, 16, (1937),90-96.

Sheiko, E., et al.  Effect of monochromatic light of low intensity on L929 skin fibroblast culture.  Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Volume 141, Number 6, June 2006 , pp. 738-740(3).

 Siopes, T.D.  Effect of high and low intensity cool white fluorescent lighting on the reproductive performance of turkey breeder hens.  Poultry Science, 63(5), (1984),920-926.

Siopes, T.D.  Light intensity effects on reproductive performance of turkey breeder hens.  Poultry Science, 70(10), (1991),2049-2054.

 Siopes, T.D.  The effect of full spectrum fluorescent lighting on reproductive traits of caged turkey hens.  Poultry Science, 63(6), (1984),1122-1128.

Yaeger, R.L., et al.  Effects of 670-nm phototherapy on development.  Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. June 1, 2005, 23(3).