Double Helix Tungsten Filaments

Tungsten filaments have long been used in light bulbs since the early 1900s, as applying an electrical voltage across the filament causes the instantaneous emission of a powerful white light. Their intricate shape may seem unnecessary for such a basic application as generating light; however, one can increase the surface area of tungsten in a light bulb by including a number of coils into the filament, thus resulting in a brighter light source which is still able to fit in the limited space. By implementing this double helix configuration, however, it’s possible to squeeze 60cm of tungsten wire into just a 1cm long coil. This aids in creating the high intensity bright light that we all know and rely on so heavily. Tungsten filament bulbs are currently being phased out due to concerns over their energy efficiency.