I was wondering if any one out there could tell me a efficient way to produce photons. I want to produce lithium from beryllium [photon+Be=Li+H]. I know you can produce neutrons with aluminium or beryllium and a alpha emitter but I can not find a way to excite atoms to produce photons. I know if you run a electric arc across mecury vapor which discharge ultraviolet photons I'm wondering if these will do the same thing as normal photons if not what will.