Gas discharge lamp using inert gas - is fed with short pulses of voltage exceeding gas ionisation voltage levels

摘要

The gas discharge lamp (1) electrodes (2, 3) are fed with voltage in excess of ionisation voltage levels. The pulsed feed voltage has a pulse width shorter than the gas ion transit time between the electrodes, but greater than the electron transit time. The gas ions between the electrodes are removed, for example by a maintained direct bias voltage. The pulse frequency may be between 60 and 20,000 Hz, the ionisation voltage 50 to 100,000 V, and the pulse width between 0. 1% and 10% of the pulse recurrence rate. The gas used may be neon, argon, krypton, xenon, mercury or sodium.