  This paper describes the development of a pulsed light source using the
discharge from an electrode in a medium of various noble gases. This source can
be used to aid in the characterization and testing of new vacuum-ultraviolet
(VUV) sensitive light detection devices. The source includes a novel spark
driver circuit, a spark chamber into which different noble gases can be
introduced, and an optical attenuation cell capable of being filled with
different gases to allow for the attenuation of the pulsed light down to single
photon levels. We describe the construction, calibration, and characterization
of this device deployed at a dedicated light detection test stand at Oak Ridge
National Laboratory.
