Low pressure mercury vapour filled discharge lamp

摘要

In a fluorescent lamp with amalgam (1), the amalgam (1) is contained in a container (2) having at least one opening (3) through which mercury atoms can move to a discharge space (6a) of the lamp from the amalgam (1) while the lamp is being lighted. When the lamp is switched off, the opening (3) of the container (2) restricts the return of the mercury atoms from the discharge space (6a) to the amalgam (1). The amalgam (1) solidifies faster than all the mercury atoms return to the amalgam (1), so that a lot of mercury atoms remain in the discharge space (6a). When the lamp is re-lighted, an initial mercury vapour pressure can be maintained. Thus, the lamp illuminates at a predetermined intensity of the luminance from the begining of the re-lighting. <IMAGE>