Abstract: A carbon nanotube device has a substrate (1), a layer (3) having a space (5) which penetrates in the vertical direction of the substrate (1), and carbon nanotubes (7) formed on the surface of the substrate facing the space (5) in such a manner as to have number density distributions successively changed according to the distances from the center of the space (5), the supply amount of catalyst substances is diluted by supplying the catalyst substances through an opening of a coating film (4) opposite to the substrate (1) and the hole (5), a catalyst having a nominal thickness distribution according to the way how the space (5) appears is formed on the substrate (1) facing the space (5), and a carbon source is supplied, thereby forming carbon nanotubes having the number density distribution are formed on the substrate (1).

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp includes an external electrode and an internal electrode provided at opposite ends of a fluorescent tube. A power conductor may connect to the internal electrode extend outside the tube to provide a connection point for the internal electrode. The tube may include an internal support element at a first end of the tube and a substantially self supporting second end of the tube. A method for assembling a backlight includes obtaining a fluorescent lamp with an external electrode at a first end of a tube, an internal electrode at a second end of the tube opposite the first end, and an internal support element at the second end of the tube. The first end of the tube may be substantially self supporting. The method also connects first and second drive connectors to the first and second ends of the tube.