Abstract: A device for operating a discharge lamp of the alternating current operating type has a high pressure discharge lamp with a silica glass discharge vessel in which a pair of opposed electrodes are located and on which a trigger electrode is located, a feed device which supplies an alternating discharge current to the high pressure discharge lamp, the feed device having a starter circuit, an inverter circuit with at least two switching devices; a coil which is located downstream of the inverter circuit and is series-connected to the discharge lamp; and a control element which produces on/off driving in alternation with a dead time, and in which the inductance of the coil is at most 210 ?H.

Abstract: A short arc ultra-high pressure mercury lamp, at least one of the electrodes of which has a melted part towards the electrode head and a coil part which extends from the melted part continuously and integrally with it in a direction away from the electrode head, avoids blackening of the tube wall and achieves a long service life by the provision of a power supply which supplies the discharge lamp with direct current when operation is starting and afterwards supplies it with an alternating current, the direct current supplied by the power supply to the discharge lamp being initially 0.3 to 0.6 times as great as the rated current and afterwards increasing to 1.0 to 2.0 times are great as the rated current.

Abstract: A device for operating a discharge lamp of the alternating current operating type has a high pressure discharge lamp with a silica glass discharge vessel in which a pair of opposed electrodes are located and on which a trigger electrode is located, a feed device which supplies an alternating discharge current to the high pressure discharge lamp, the feed device having a starter circuit, an inverter circuit with at least two switching devices; a coil which is located downstream of the inverter circuit and is series-connected to the discharge lamp; and a control element which produces on/off driving in alternation with a dead time, and in which the inductance of the coil is at most 210 ?H.

Abstract: A short arc ultra-high pressure mercury lamp, at least one of the electrodes of which has a melted part towards the electrode head and a coil part which extends from the melted part continuously and integrally with it in a direction away from the electrode head, avoids blackening of the tube wall and achieves a long service life by the provision of a power supply which supplies the discharge lamp with direct current when operation is starting and afterwards supplies it with an alternating current, the direct current supplied by the power supply to the discharge lamp being initially 0.3 to 0.6 times as great as the rated current and afterwards increasing to 1.0 to 2.0 times are great as the rated current.