Photoflash Capacitor

Photoflash capacitor

A photoflash capacitor is a capacitor used in flash cameras, professional flashes, and solid-state laser power supplies. Their typical purpose is to power a high voltage flash tube, which then illuminates a photographic target or optically pumps a laser rod. As flash tubes require very high current to operate, photoflash capacitors are designed to safely supply high discharge current pulses without excessive internal heating. Compared with electrolytic capacitors usually used for power supply filtering at power frequency, a photoflash capacitor is designed to have lower series inductance, similar or higher capacitance value, (often) a higher rated voltage, and a low series resistance, Above about the photoflash capacitor information content.