Abstract: A long life high pressure arc discharge lamp configuration is disclosed. In some embodiments, the lamp includes a first non-cycling high pressure arc tube having a first ignition aid and a second arc tube electrically connected in parallel to the first arc tube. A lamp envelope is provided about the first and second arc tubes. In some cases, each of the first and second arc tubes is a non-cycling high pressure sodium arc tube, and each is configured with an ignition aid strip running lengthwise down the corresponding arc tube. In some cases, the first and second arc tubes are oriented such that their respective ignition aid strips are effectively 180 degrees+/?90 degrees away from each other, or so that their respective ignition aid strips are effectively 180 degrees+/?5 degrees away from each other. In some such, the second arc tube is a low-pressure arc tube.

Abstract: A long life high pressure arc discharge lamp configuration is disclosed. In some embodiments, the lamp includes a first non-cycling high pressure arc tube having a first ignition aid and a second arc tube electrically connected in parallel to the first arc tube. A lamp envelope is provided about the first and second arc tubes. In some cases, each of the first and second arc tubes is a non-cycling high pressure sodium arc tube, and each is configured with an ignition aid strip running lengthwise down the corresponding arc tube. In some cases, the first and second arc tubes are oriented such that their respective ignition aid strips are effectively 180 degrees+/?90 degrees away from each other, or so that their respective ignition aid strips are effectively 180 degrees+/?5 degrees away from each other. In some such, the second arc tube is a low-pressure arc tube.

Abstract: There is described a lamp having a ceramic discharge vessel with a niobium feedthrough that has been coated with a layer of chromium to provide oxidation resistance. In a preferred method, a slurry containing chromium powder is applied to the niobium feedthrough and dried. A sub-assembly is formed by inserting the coated niobium feedthrough into an annular polycrystalline alumina (PCA) disc and heated in vacuum to 1700° C. to 1900° C. to bond the feedthrough to the PCA and form the sub-assembly and an oxidation-resistant coating on the feedthrough. The sub-assembly is then sealed to a ceramic body of the discharge vessel in a conventional manner.