Abstract: A high pressure sodium lamp having a fill within an elongated arc tube comprising an inert starting gas, mercury and sodium wherein said mercury and sodium being are in an amount less than two milligrams per cubic centimeter of said volume of the interior of the arc tube wherein the weight ratio of sodium to mercury is less than 1 to 20 whereby the lamp is saturated with sodium and unsaturated with mercury at said predetermined nominal output voltage and does not extinguish at an input voltage exceeding about 90 percent of said rated voltage.

Abstract: A gas-discharge switch with a cold-cathode low-pressure gas discharge between the cathode and the anode has a discharge gap in a central discharge region of a discharge chamber. The maximum inside height of the discharge chamber determines the length of the discharge gap. In the discharge region, the inner surface of the discharge chamber is closed. Outside of the discharge region, the cathode is provided with at least one opening. This results in a gas-discharge switch with a short delay, low jitter and little voltage dependence with constant pressure.

Abstract: A high power pseudospark switch (40) utilizes a coaxial cylindrical electrode geometry to provide a large number of pseudospark discharge channels (60) in a compact space. The coaxial cylindrical electrode geometry includes a hollow cylindrical anode (52) inside of a larger hollow cylindrical cathode (54). A plurality of radially aligned holes (57, 59) are equally spaced around the perimeter of both the hollow anode and cathode, thereby forming an annular pseudospark discharge (PSD) channel about the coaxial center axis. A plurality of such PSD channels (56, 58) are then stacked along the length of the coaxial cylindrical electrode geometry. A single trigger pulser (48) aligned with the center axis of the cylindrical electrodes provides a way for simultaneously triggering a discharge in each PSD channel.

Abstract: A phosphor layer is coated on an inner wall of a tubular glass bulb. A predetermined amount of a rare gas containing xenon gas as a main component thereof is sealed and enclosed in the tubular glass bulb. A pair of belt-shaped electrodes are formed on an outer wall of the enclosed glass bulb throughout substantially the entire length of the glass bulb.

Abstract: A protection arrangement for a high voltage tube includes a low inductance disk resistor connected in series with the anode of the tube. When an electrical discharge occurs within the tube, the increased anode current flows through the resistor which absorbs much of the potentially harmful energy surge. The resistor is a disk resistor comprising two counter-wound planar spirals of resistance wire electrically connected in parallel and counter-wound with respect to one another. Connection arrangements are provided to both electrically and mechanically connect the resistor to the high voltage tube.

Abstract: A discharge tube arrangement comprises a launcher and a discharge tube positioned in part within the launcher. When the launcher is energized with radio frequency (r.f.) power, surface waves are excited in the discharge tube which contains a fill. An electrically conductive structure extends along the discharge tube and is connected to an earth when in use. The structure is separated from the discharge tube by a radial distance such that, in use, the discharge tube produces an increase in total light output over the total light output of a discharge tube not having this structure. The structure comprises an insufficient quantity of material to obscure this increase in total light output.

Abstract: A negative glow discharge lamp device has a discharge container enclosing at least a rare gas, a hot cathode disposed in the discharge container and coated with a thermion radiation matter, and an anode located in a negative glow domain formed between the anode and the hot cathode in the discharge container, a power conversion circuit for driving the lamp device includes a rectifier directly connected at its d.c. output terminals to the hot cathode and the anode respectively for supplying d.c. electric power to the discharge container, and a capacitor ballast connected between a power supply terminal of an a.c. power source and an a.c. input terminal of the rectifier for controlling discharge current in the discharge container.

Abstract: A vacuum switch apparatus has an electrically insulating vacuum enclosure which is evacuated to a vacuum degree of 2.times.10.sup.-2 Torr or less. One set of anode and cathode electrodes is arranged in the vacuum enclosure, having capacity which permits the flow of a discharge current of at least 1 KA therebetween and being operable to switch the discharge current at least 10.sup.6 shots. A high voltage power supply applies a high voltage of at least 20 KV across the anode and cathode electrodes. An electron beam irradiation unit irradiates an electron beam on the anode electrode through the cathode electrode. A control electrode is arranged between the beam irradiation unit and the cathode electrode, for controlling passage and interception of the electron beam. A control voltage power supply applies a control voltage to the control electrode.

Abstract: The invention provides a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp device which is long in life and high in brightness and efficiency. The lamp device comprises a rare gas discharge fluorescent lamp including a bulb having rare gas such as xenon, argon or krypton gas enclosed therein, a fluorescent layer formed on an inner face of the bulb, a reflecting film formed on an inner face of the fluorescent layer, and a pair of electrodes located at the opposite ends of the bulb. The lamp device further comprises a power source for applying a voltage across the electrodes, and pulse voltage forming means connected between the electrodes and the power source for forming a dc pulse voltage from a voltage supplied from the power source. The dc pulse voltage thus formed is applied across the electrodes to cause the lamp to be lit.

Abstract: To shorten the time between firing of a high-pressure discharge lamp and stantial light output therefrom, the discharge lamp includes a fill of xenon, at a cold fill pressure of at least 3 bar, in addition to mercury and a metal halide; the discharge vessel (2) is, at least in part, coated or doped so that invisible radiation is reflected into the lamp, or absorbed, while visible radiation is being transmitted by the discharge vessel. The shafts of the electrodes are thin, of only about 0.3 mm diameter, and the electrodes facing each other are part-spherical or rounded. The lamp is operated in combination with a lamp power supply (S) which has the characteristics of being capable of supplying between 5 to 10 times normal operating current of the lamp under starting conditions.

Abstract: A spark gap switch system is disclosed which is capable of operating at a high pulse rate comprising an insulated switch housing having a purging gas entrance port and a gas exit port, a pair of spaced apart electrodes each having one end thereof within the housing and defining a spark gap therebetween, an easily condensable and preferably low molecular weight insulating gas flowing through the switch housing from the housing, a heat exchanger/condenser for condensing the insulating gas after it exits from the housing, a pump for recirculating the condensed insulating gas as a liquid back to the housing, and a heater exchanger/evaporator to vaporize at least a portion of the condensed insulating gas back into a vapor prior to flowing the insulating gas back into the housing.

Abstract: A spark channel purge system for high pulse repetition frequency spark gap switches. A purge fluid having a liquid state and a gaseous state is caused to flow through a spark gap channel, at least a portion of the purge fluid passing through the spark channel being in the gaseous state. The purge fluid is supplied in its liquid state by a purge fluid source. In some embodiments, the purge fluid source is a recirculating flow loop which includes a heat exchanger, while in another embodiment, the purge fluid source is a low-pressure liquid storage vessel. The heat exchanger transfers waste heat from the spark gap switch via the purge fluid flowing from the spark channel into the purge fluid supplied by the purge fluid source. This causes at least a portion of the liquid purge fluid to change to the gaseous state. In some embodiments, the spark channel purge system is suitable for a closed loop system, while other embodiments are suitable for an open loop system.

Abstract: An electrodeless lamp system and method for providing light output having a controlled spectral distribution. A lamp having a fill which is not fully vaporized at the lamp operating temperature and which emits in a characteristic region of the spectrum is used. A function generator generates a function signal, and the magnitude of the lamp output in the characteristic region or the ratio of such magnitude and a magnitude in a different characteristic region is compared with the function signal. The difference signal is used to control the amount of cooling gas which is incident on the lamp bulb to control the spectral distribution of the radiation which is emitted by the lamp.

Abstract: A spark gap switch apparatus is disclosed which is capable of operating at a high pulse rate which comprises an insulated housing; a pair of spaced apart electrodes each having one end thereof within a first bore formed in the housing and defining a spark gap therebetween; a pressure wave reflector in the first bore in the housing and spaced from the spark gap and capable of admitting purge flow; and a second enlarged bore contiguous with the first bore and spaced from the opposite side of the spark gap; whereby pressure waves generated during discharge of a spark across the spark gap will reflect off the wave reflector and back from the enlarged bore to the spark gap to clear from the spark gap hot gases residues generated during the discharge and simultaneously restore the gas density and pressure in the spark gap to its initial value.

Abstract: A high-pressure sodium vapor lamp with elevated color temperature, high light yield and improved color rendering properties for general illumination purposes uses sodium or sodium amalgam with mole fractions x.sub.Na >0.9 as the arc media. The lamp power supply supplies pulses with a duty cycle .GAMMA.of 0.01>.GAMMA.>0.1 with alternating polarity, or with mole fractions x.sub.Na >0.95 even at uniform polarity, respectively.

Abstract: A gas containing envelope in the form of a double walled cylinder is closed at one end and open at its other end, with the double walls of the cylinder defining an enclosed gas discharge area. The double walls of the cylinder are made of a transparent dielectric material such as glass. The gas discharge area formed between the double walls is filled with an ionizable gas, and an electrode is disposed adjacent to or within the gas discharge area between the cylinder walls at the closed end of the envelope cylinder. A ground potential reference point is provided outside the double walled cylinder, and a power supply is provided to couple an a.c. electrical signal between the electrode and the ground potential reference point for producing visible electrical discharges in said gas discharge area.

Abstract: A method and device are provided to prevent grooves from occurring on a cathode surface of a cathode arc discharge evaporating device by adding a second movement to a first rotational movement of a magnetic field generator within the device, which enables the arc spot to scan a substantial portion of the cathode surface.

Abstract: A method of and a device for the operation of a high-pressure discharger lamp provided with a discharge vessel (3) which accommodates an ionizable filling and two electrodes (4, 5), between which electrodes in the operating condition the discharge takes place. The lamp is operated from a supply source which supplies a power of periodically alternating value. According to the invention, for each power frequency .nu..sub.i (i=1,2, . . .) the relation .nu..sub.i .gtoreq.60 .nu..sub.1 is satisfied, where .nu..sub.1 is the lowest frequency at which in the operating condition of the lamp standing pressure waves can occur in the discharge vessel (3). Thus, it is possible to operate the lamp so as to be free from arc instabilities due to standing pressure waves.

Abstract: A high-intensity discharge (HID) metal vapor lamp and starting apparatus includes a metal vapor lamp having an outer envelope containing a gas filled arc tube, the fill gas including xenon, the arc tube having a pair of spaced electrodes with a starting aid surrounding the arc tube intermediate the electrodes, a non-linear dielectric element shunting the spaced electrodes and a ballast means and an electrical conductor coupling the spaced electrodes to a base member connected to a low voltage source whereby starting of the metal vapor lamp from a low voltage source is effected.

Abstract: A lighting assembly including a plurality of housing sections, a series of rib groups arranged circumferentially on the exterior of the housing sections, and a remote control assembly for selectively energizing tri-color diodes embedded in the ribs so that the rib groups can be selectively and independently caused to glow in various colors depending on the aspect of the electrical energy delivered to each particular rib group.

Abstract: A thyratron utilizable as a circuit interrupting protective device is provided. The thyratron includes an apertured grid between anode and cathode which is divided transversely into two parts separated by an insulating layer. Both surfaces of the composite grid remote from the insulating layer carry conductive meshes which meshes cover the exits of the apertures in the composite grid. The thickness of the insulating layer and the dimensions of the meshes are such that no point within an aperture is further from a part of the grid or a mesh than the Debye distance whereby the effects of Debye shielding tend to be reduced when a negative potential is applied between two said parts of said grid to quench a discharge previously initiated by applying positive potential to both parts of the grid.

Abstract: The invention provides a laser arrangement including in its discharge circuit a switching thyratron which is capable of conduction normally in one direction and protectively in the reverse direction. The thyratron has an anode formed as a hollow body which is adapted to retain plasma generated during a pulse of forward conduction so that the anode is provided to act as a cathode permitting protective reversal of the thyratron when this is subject to reversal of voltage.

Abstract: An extra-high pressure mercury discharge lamp comprising an end-sealed glass tube shaped to provide a long arc type tube, mercury contained in the both ends respectively of the glass tube, a pair of electrodes provided in the both ends respectively of the glass tube, each of the electrodes including one end portion extending toward the exterior from the associated end of the glass tube, an intermediate portion immersed in the mercury, and the other end portion extending toward the interior beyond the surface of the mercury facing toward the middle of the glass tube, and a power source connected between the externally extending portions of the electrode pair to supply power thereacross, the other or internally extending portions of the electrode pair having a length so selected that the mercury discharge lamp emits light of a sharp emission profile suitable for the exposure of a very fine pattern.

Abstract: A spark gap switch is disclosed. The spark gap comprises opposite and adjacent electrodes and a trigger arrangement for triggering a discharge arc between the opposite and adjacent electrodes. The trigger arrangement includes a solid insulative material to facilitate a discharge between trigger electrodes to trigger the spark gap. The trigger arrangement is located rearwardly of the adjacent electrode to position the solid insulative material in a manner to prevent a main discharge arc affecting the structural integrity of the solid insulative material. Such an arrangement provides protection for the solid insulative material to increase lifetime of the unit and has the capability of reducing jitter.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the flow of high energy electrical pulses to a load using a switch having a plasma cathode which has rapid start up capability and requires no heater power.

Abstract: Narrow pulse modulation (less than four nanoseconds) of millimeter wave ts will enable radar systems to achieve improved pattern recognition. The modulator has an outer cylindrical return shield surrounding a tetrode thyratron. An inner cylindrical shield connected to the anode provides capacitive energy storage for generating the output pulse when the control grid is triggered. The anode is connected via only a resistance to the direct current supply.

Abstract: A spectral source comprises a lamp containing an anode and a cathode in an inert gas. The cathode has a hollow portion therein, and a opening at its side wall. The anode is positioned to face the opening of the cathode. The anode and cathode are different in shape and connected to a high-frequency discharge power source. A magnetic field is arranged in perpendicular to the direction of the axial center of the opening.

Abstract: A device is provided comprised of an elongated flexible transparent thermoplastic tube which confines an electrically excitable gas, and an electrical supply which generates a pulsed direct current of high peak voltage and feeds said current to an electrode entered into one end of said tube, whereby said tube is caused to emit visible light and is capable of undergoing movement while emitting light.

Abstract: A plasma switch comprising a substantially evacuated chamber, a generally tubular cathode disposed within the chamber, an elongated anode disposed concentrically within and projecting from the opposite ends of the cathode, the opposite ends of the cathode being substantially closed by an electrically conductive end plates, at least one of such end plates being electrically insulated from the cathode and from the anode, and circuit means for selectively connecting such end plate to the anode or to the cathode.

Abstract: A portable fluorescent tube assembly is disclosed having a relatively low voltage electric convenience outlet associated with the assembly. Although higher than normally supplied voltages are needed to initiate the lighting of a fluorescent tube, these voltages are unsuited for energizing still other electrical apparatus which is designed for normally supplied voltages. The circuitry of the present fluorescent tube assembly supplies both relatively high and low voltages at the portable unit itself, so that the tube can be fired to initiate lighting at the relatively high voltage, and yet other electrical apparatus can be energized directly from the portable assembly at a relatively low voltage.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric device provided with a switch which is constructed as a discharge tube which comprises at least two main electrodes and a reversible hydrogen getter.According to the invention the discharge tube contains a rare gas so that the current flow in the conducting state of the switch is mainly ensured by that rare gas. The non-conducting stage of the switch can be obtained by heating the getter. Namely, the hydrogen pressure in the discharge tube then becomes so high that the discharge in the tube is extinguished. Heating of the getter is preferably effected by the heat developed by the current between the main electrodes. This results in a self extinguishing breakdown element.

Abstract: An optical generator of an electrostatic field at light frequencies tuneable over the entire band of visible light frequencies including a pair of spaced electrodes in a gas filled tube having at least one absolute condenser plate adjacent one electrode, a dielectric-filled container enclosing the tube, and a resonant circuit operable to generate electric light of a selected frequency.

Abstract: A device for producing an electric discharge in a flat-plate transmission line.The device includes at least a first electrode (8), a second electrode (9) opposite the first electrode and passing through a hole (5) in the transmission line (1). With this arrangement it is possible to avoid deposits of metal particles building up on the edges of the hole and eventually shorting together opposite sides of the transmission line.Such flat-plate transmission lines are used in particular in nitrogen laser generators.

Abstract: A handheld lamp is disclosed wherein the light source is a rapid pulse unconfined xenon arc tube containing more than three atmospheres of xenon gas pressure, and providing a selectable spectral output of ultraviolet, visible, or ultraviolet and visible wavelengths. The lamp contains a radiation guide for directing the generating light, the tip of which is maintained cool for effective use such as in curing tooth restorative materials. The lamp may be located in the power supply and light delivered through a flexible light pipe.

Abstract: Method and device for efficiently generating white light with good color rendition of illuminated objects. This is achieved by blending three different colors of light, namely, a green to yellow-green color of light, an orange to red color of light, and a purplish-blue to greenish-blue color of light. The relative intensities of the blended colors of light are selected to produce white light of predetermined ICI coordinates. The resulting blended light has at most only a limited amount of radiations of a wavelength shorter than 430 nm and at most only a limited amount of radiations of a wavelength longer than 630 nm. Also, the blended light has at most only a limited amount of radiations of a wavelength of about 575 nm and at most only a limited amount of radiations of a wavelength of about 500 nm.

Abstract: Miniature high pressure metal vapor lamps containing mercury in a discharge volume of one cubic centimeter or less when operated at low frequencies have extremely high reignition voltages; the problem is compounded in metal halide lamps, particularly during warm-up. Ballast designs capable of coping with these conditions at 60 Hz have disadvantages. The discovery of the existence of resonance-free regions in the frequency range between 20 and 50 KHz has made stable and efficient lamp performance possible through the use of compact, practical and economical high frequency ballasts.

Abstract: A system is provided for controlling the porosity of a web or film issuing from an electric spark perforating apparatus in accordance with an operator-set reference porosity regardless of variations in web speed, inherent web porosity, spark discharge energy and spark repetition frequency by controlling the frequencies of the electrical sparks applied to the web in accordance with the product of two signals, one a difference signal obtained by comparing the porosity of the web leaving the perforator and the reference porosity and the other signal derived from the speed of the web.