Frequently asked questions

SSLS is a specialty consultancy in the science and application of light, with deep expertise in LED and solid-state lighting technology. We help manufacturers, growers, researchers, environmentalists, legal teams, and buyers understand, develop, and apply lighting — from the underlying device physics to real-world performance.

It is a field assessment of outdoor lighting and light pollution — including absolute measurements of sky glow and spectral radiance — used to protect naturally dark night skies while keeping lighting safe, effective, and responsible. SSLS has performed these audits across national parks, seashores, and urban environments.

LEDs generate white light by pairing a blue LED with a phosphor coating that converts some of that blue into longer wavelengths which mix to create white light. A large batch of LEDs exhibited unusual premature failure as a result of manufacturing issues. With these LEDs the phosphor layer came off the white LED, resulting in a strong blue color shift. SSLS characterizes and documents these failures and others and supports warranty evaluation. Learn more about our lighting reliability & forensics work.

We know much more now about how light affects health and wellbeing. And with LEDs, more can be done to improve health with lighting. This includes, supporting brighter days and darker nights, to support robust circadian rhythms; minimizing flicker from lighting; developing specialized light treatments for specific conditions, like migraines; providing germicidal UV where it can make a difference, and even developing specialized light spectra so surgeons and healthcare providers can readily see what they need to see. Red, far-red, and near IR light treatments, known as photobiomodulation (PBM) can also be developed to support health and wellbeing. However, with many existing therapy lighting products the light levels and stimulus levels are over-stated or misrepresented.

Photobiomodulation is the therapeutic use of specific red and near-infrared wavelengths of light. SSLS engineers and evaluates specialty PBM light sources for research and product development, and to verify product performance claims.

Yes. SSLS provides expert consultation and testimony on lighting and related technologies, including evaluation of product performance and claims, intellectual property, and light pollution.

SSLS can tear down, reverse-engineer, measure, and characterize both lighting products and the lighting conditions of indoor and outdoor settings — including intensity, spectral power distribution, illuminance, irradiance, spectral reflectance, color filters, luminescent materials and films, electrical inputs, circuit configuration, and optical distribution. Measurements can be made in-situ or in the lab.

We think LEDs as photocatalysts for large-scale chemical production is interesting, since LEDs and photons are now very low cost and provide new levels of control for chemical processing. LEDs are also enabling for large-scale algae production, which can provide a variety of value including secondary metabolite production, mineral accumulation, and biomass production. Of course, LED lighting technology can still improve the functionality of every existing lighting application as well. So there's still a lot of opportunity across all lighting applications.

SSLS works for government agencies, small businesses, large businesses, legal firms, horticultural growers, and individuals. We work with product developers and manufacturers in the U.S., Asia, and Europe, and we have clients across the U.S., in Canada, and Europe. So we can work anywhere and with anyone — lighting is a global topic, with partners and resources around the world.