Even while as you've indicated in another post your luminance is averaged through that .1 mm source and the Maxabeam luminance is concentrated within a smaller region of its much larger .25 mm x .5 mm source, that large of an aperture in the Maxablaster with the HBO 103 bulb is overkill, in a decent way. Theoretically though, the smaller source of the HBO 103 would punch further (laser-like) using a smaller aperture provided a quality reflector that collimates the light as precisely as the larger aperture. As the light source reaches such sizes approaching the impossible finite point source, the point of diminishing returns that larger apertures provide in accommodating greater focal length and thus larger light sources is surpassed. In a perfect world where a zero point light source is perfectly parabolically reflected, decreasing the aperture increases the concentration of collimated light with further punching power. I use the phrase punching because it accurately describes what I'm referring to without getting into the discussion of how to define throw, I'd rather define sanity. In the real world it's necessary to work around aberration with focal lengths and likewise apertures, so with tiny powerful sources it's about finding the most optimized solution between the ability to collimate the light and a highly concentrated laser-like aperture.
The Maxablaster has sparked my interest in this again. I'm considering an Osram Xenon XBO 500W/H OFR in a portable light that appears like an ordinary large flashlight. Thunderpower Li-Pos would provide clean power for a compact efficient current limiting DC/DC converter and Xenon igniter. When completed, you'd have some practicality with instant on, no ozone, still usable on boat power and modified automobile cigarette lighter plugs. Bulbs for around $600 sound expensive but 2000 hour lives equates to about $0.30/hour is actually more cost effective and 1/6th of the bulb changes and re-alignment effort than HBO 103 bulbs for $130 with 300 hours equating to $0.43/hr. Without the brilliance of that tiny HBO 103 I don't think that even the high power of the XBO 500 could have the range of the Maxablaster. Even though the Sprectrolab SX-5 Starburst using the XBO 500 only has 20 million candlepower, I'm still attracted to the idea of the amount of light the XBO 500 puts out. Considering the Maxablaster has reached the limit of range in a low powered portable light as we know it, I like the idea of a light that really knocks the socks off people within a two mile range with what appears as a regular flashlight. Just like teens racing cars, everybody wanted a sleeper car. We need a sleeper light. I'm seriously considering it... or just buy a ridiculously insane laser and be done with it? Not sure if they are even legal for simple outside fun and you can't use them for many practical purposes. No, the Maxablaster is a reminder that I still like big lights. Thanks for sharing it with everybody!
:devil:
'again....
