Xenon gas is most widely and most famously used in light-emitting devices called Xenon lights, which are used in photographic flashes, stroboscopic lamps, to excite the active medium in lasers which then generate coherent light, in bactericidal lamps (rarely), and in certain dermatological uses. Continuous, short-arc, high pressure Xenon arc lamps have a color temperature closely approximating noon sunlight and are used in solar simulators, some projection systems, and other specialized uses. They are an excellent source of short wavelength ultraviolet light and they have intense emissions in the near infrared, which are used in some night vision systems.



Other uses of Xenon:

General anaesthetic, though the cost is prohibitive.

In nuclear energy applications it is used in bubble chambers, probes, and in other areas where a high molecular weight and inert nature is a desirable quality.

Perxenates are used as oxidizing agents in analytical chemistry.

The isotope Xe-133 is useful as a radioisotope.

Hyperpolarized MRI of the lungs and other tissues using 129Xe.

Preferred fuel for Ion propulsion because of high molecular weight, ease of ionization, store as a liquid at near room temperature (but at high pressure) yet easily converts back into a gas to fuel the engine, inert nature makes it environmentally friendly and less corrosive to ion engine then other fuels such a mercury or cesium.

Is commonly used in protein crystallography. Applied at high pressure (~600 psi) to a protein crystal, xenon atoms bind in predominantly hydrophobic cavities, often creating a high quality, isomorphous, heavy-atom derivative.

Xenon is now also being more commonly used in car headlights to provide better lumination.