LOW PRESSURE MERCURY-VAPOR DISCHARGE LAMP AND LIGHTING APPARATUS USING IT

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low pressure mercury-vapor discharge lamp and lighting apparatus equipped with it, having a favorable electron radiation characteristic not requiring heat decomposition treatment for electrode activation and free from various problems caused by the residual CO2. SOLUTION: At least one of a pair of the electrodes 3, 3 included at both sides of the translmissive discharge vessel 1 is an electrode 3 comprising the electron radiating material 3b supported on the conductive base material 3a of which the main material is a complex acid nitride of an alkaline-earth element and transition metal element, preferably a BaTaO2N semiconductor ceramics and of which the primary particles has an average size of 10μm or less. Mercury and ionized media containing rare gas are confined in the translmissive discharge vessel 1. The conductive base material can be composed of a coil filament or cylindrical part of tungsten.