Abstract: The electric lamp has a ceramic lamp vessel (1) having a filling of rare gas and metal halide. Current conductors (2, 3) which support electrodes (4, 5) inside the discharge vessel (1) enter the discharge vessel (1) in a gastight manner through a ceramic sealing compound (6). At least one of the current conductors (2, 3) has inside the lamp vessel (1) a first, halogen-resistant part (21, 31) which is selected from tungsten silicide, molybdenum aluminide, molybdenum boride, pentamolybdenum trisilicide and combinations of at least two of these intermetallic compounds. These compounds have a coefficient of thermal expansion which corresponds to that of the discharge vessel (1). It is thereby prevented that the discharge vessel starts leaking if the ceramic sealing compound (6) extends beyond the first part (21, 31).

Abstract: The high-pressure metal halide discharge lamp has tungsten electrodes in a light-transmitting lamp vessel which is closed in a vacuumtight manner. The electrodes comprise an emitter which is distributed throughout their mass and is formed by a first oxide chosen from hafnium oxide and zirconium oxide and by a second oxide chosen from yttrium oxide, lanthanum oxide, cerium oxide and scandium oxide, and are substantially free from thorium oxide. The lamp retains its initial light output to a high degree throughout its life.