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Radiometric Characterization of Seasonal Affective Disorder Therapy Lamps
Bright light therapy promises big benefits for people living with seasonal affective disorder, but how do you know if your lamp is really delivering the right light? In this Spectra of the Month, we use our AvaSpec-VRS2048CL “Varius” spectrometer and AvaLight-Hal-Cal-Mini calibration source to perform a full radiometric characterization of a consumer-grade SAD therapy lamp. By comparing simple Scope-Minus-Dark measurements to absolute irradiance data, we show how proper irradiance calibration reveals true spectral power distribution, LED peak behavior, and the quality of the “full-spectrum white” light these lamps are designed to produce—providing a clear, data-driven view of whether an affordable device can stand up to clinical expectations.