Abstract: Disclosed is a probe needle material used for producing a probe needle which is used in contact with an inspection object to inspect electrical characteristics of the inspection object, comprising not less than 0.1% by volume but not more than 3.5% by volume of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of titanium boride, zirconium boride, hafnium boride, niobium boride, tantalum boride, chromium boride, titanium carbide, zirconium carbide, hafnium carbide, vanadium carbide, niobium carbide, tantalum carbide, zirconium oxide, hafnium oxide and chromium oxide and the balance of a tungsten alloy mainly consisting of tungsten.

Abstract: An electrode (1) for cold cathode tube has a cylindrical sidewall portion (2), a bottom portion (3) provided at one end of the sidewall portion, and an opening portion (4) provided at the other end of the sidewall portion. The sidewall portion and the bottom portion are made of tungsten. The tungsten has fibrous crystalline structure extending substantially perpendicularly to a direction of thickness of the sidewall portion or the bottom portion. The thickness T of the sidewall portion or the bottom portion and an average width W of the fibrous crystalline structures in the direction of the thickness satisfy the following relational expression: 0.003?W/T?0.07.

Abstract: Disclosed is a probe needle material used for producing a probe needle which is used in contact with an inspection object to inspect electrical characteristics of the inspection object, comprising not less than 0.1% by volume but not more than 3.5% by volume of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of titanium boride, zirconium boride, hafnium boride, niobium boride, tantalum boride, chromium boride, titanium carbide, zirconium carbide, hafnium carbide, vanadium carbide, niobium carbide, tantalum carbide, zirconium oxide, hafnium oxide and chromium oxide and the balance of a tungsten alloy mainly consisting of tungsten.

Abstract: An electrode (1) for cold cathode tube has a cylindrical sidewall portion (2), a bottom portion (3) provided at one end of the sidewall portion, and an opening portion (4) provided at the other end of the sidewall portion. The sidewall portion and the bottom portion are made of tungsten. The tungsten has fibrous crystalline structure extending substantially perpendicularly to a direction of thickness of the sidewall portion or the bottom portion. The thickness T of the sidewall portion or the bottom portion and an average width W of the fibrous crystalline structures in the direction of the thickness satisfy the following relational expression: 0.003?W/T?0.07.

Abstract: A metal halide lamp comprises a translucent air tight vessel (1) having an arc tube section (11) forming a discharge space (13) and sealing portions (121, 122) formed at the both ends thereof, a discharge medium with which the discharge space is filled, and a pair of electrodes (31, 32) projecting into the discharge space. The discharge medium is composed of a metal halide and rare gas and essentially containing no mercury. The pair of the electrodes is composed of tungsten containing thorium oxide. Protrusions (311, 312) are formed respectively, on the pair of electrodes and arc is formed between them when the metal halide lamp is operated.

Abstract: There are provided a mercury-free metal halide lamp which is improved in light flux rising immediately after starting, more practical and suitable for a headlight, and a metal halide lamp lighting device and a headlight using this. The metal halide lamp according to the present invention comprises: a translucent air-tight container having an inner volume which is not grater than 0.1 cc, including an enclosure portion forming an inner space having a flat surface on a bottom surface, and having a ratio D/L satisfying the following expression: 0.25 ? D/L ? 0.