OK, let me 1st give you some background information.
I need to generate 40,000 lux of light in an indoor environment (in a area of around 5 feet by 3 feet) and I need the ability to turn the light on/off in 1 minute intervals for around 10 hours straight (about 600 off/on events in the span of 10 hours).
So far I've come up with two options. I can buy several high-watt compact fluorescent lamp (bulbs) and use a timer than can turn it off/on in 1 minute increments. I already have a timer than can do this so I have no problem with this point. However, I would need around 30-50 105 watt bulbs to generate this kind of light. The benefit of using CFL is that it can be turned on/off in a relatively short time (many are instant on but even if not it won't take more than 20-30 seconds). However, I'd need a ton of such bulbs.
My other option is to use a METAL HALIDE BULB. 1 such bulb can easily generate 40,000 lumens using only 400 watt (compared to 1500+ watt for the CFL bulbs). However, the main issue with these are that it takes anywhere between 3-5 minutes (sometimes more) for the bulb to reach full luminosity - and I need it to reach full luminosity within a minute or less (instant is ideal).
Furthermore (as Wesley Lee pointed out) I would need to wait several minutes to turn it back on after turning it off (I accidentally omitted this from my OP).
One solution I thought of was keeping the bulb on indefinitely and placing it in a box. The box will then open and close in 1 minute increments. Thereby allowing the light to illuminate the area for 1 minute and then when the box is closed no light will be emitted.
My question is how to make an apparatus that opens and closes in 1 minute increments? Or is there another simpler solution to my problem?
The solution needs to be automated (not manual).
Thanks