Abstract: A discharge lamp comprises an electrode assembly structured to induce tension in certain of the component electrodes and compression in others of the component electrodes. The balancing tensile and compressive forces cause the electrode assembly to be a unitary, self-supporting structure, which can be inserted into a prefabricated envelope and in which the forces are induced independently of interaction with the envelope. The electrodes in tension may be relatively thin wires and the electrodes in compression may be relatively thicker rods. The electrode assembly may include concentric arrangements of electrodes, with a plurality of rod counter-electrodes spaced circumferentially around a thin wire electrode, or a plurality of thin wire electrodes spaced circumferentially around a central rod counter-electrode. In other embodiments, a counter-electrode may have a flat, polished surface facing one or more electrodes overlying the surface. Dummy electrodes may equalize bending loads on the counter-electrode.

Abstract: A discharge lamp comprises an electrode assembly structured to induce tension in certain of the component electrodes and compression in others of the component electrodes. The balancing tensile and compressive forces cause the electrode assembly to be a unitary, self-supporting structure, which can be inserted into a prefabricated envelope and in which the forces are induced independently of interaction with the envelope. The electrodes in tension may be relatively thin wires and the electrodes in compression may be relatively thicker rods. The electrode assembly may include concentric arrangements of electrodes, with a plurality of rod counter-electrodes spaced circumferentially around a thin wire electrode, or a plurality of thin wire electrodes spaced circumferentially around a central rod counter-electrode. In other embodiments, a counter-electrode may have a flat, polished surface facing one or more electrodes overlying the surface. Dummy electrodes may equalize bending loads on the counter-electrode.

Abstract: A system and method for curing compositions on optical fibers. A UV curing cassette is provided with an elongate tube through which the optical fiber is drawn. A pair of medium pressure arc lamps are positioned on diametrically opposite sides of the tube and a pair of reflectors are positioned around the respective arc lamps. A stepless power supply is connected to the arc lamps to drive the lamps, thereby generating ultraviolet light. The arc lamps are selected and adjusted, if necessary, to produce a wavelength output that substantially correlates with at least one wavelength range of the absorbency spectrum of the photoinitiator in the composition to be cured. By this system and method, UV curable compositions may be cured to a high curing percentage at quick draw speeds to produce optical fibers of strong but flexible fiber quality.