Abstract: The ageing process of a low-pressure hot-cathode gas discharge light source, especially a fluorescent lamp is carried out by applying high alternating voltage being at least 8 times and at most 16 times higher than the burning voltage rating of the gas discharge light source after preheating electrodes thereof, whereby a short discharge arc is generated and then after changing the connecting arrangement of the input terminals of the electrodes the application of high alternating voltage is repeated.

Abstract: A process for flushing and filling a low pressure gas discharge lamp which has an exhaust tube and discharge electrodes at each of its ends and which is provided with a discharge vessel for limiting or bounding the gas discharge, wherein the course of the process the discharge vessel is coupled via the exhaust tubes to a pumping apparatus. Flushing or fill gas is continually charged into the discharge vessel via one of the exhaust tubes and simultaneously via the other exhaust tube the gas is discharged in such a manner that within the discharge vessel an equilibrium pressure prevails which coincides with the final charging pressure of the lamp, while the flow rate of the flowing gas is expediently maintained at a constant value.