Abstract: A coated article suitable for use in a vacuum consisting essentially of a refractory metal substrate and a first coating of TiB.sub.2 and Mo. An overcoat of TiB.sub.2 may be applied to the first coating as a second layer upon which additional layers may be applied if desired.

Abstract: An arc tube bulb comprises a sealed portion formed at one end of the bulb and an enclosure portion formed at the other end to surround a discharge space. A pair of metal foils are buried in the sealed portion. A rare gas for start-up, mercury and a metal halide are charged in the discharged space. A pair of electrodes comprise a pair of electrode rods connected to the metal foils and coils disposed at the tips of the rods. These coils are positioned within the discharge space apart from each other and facing each other. The lamp is lit when the value of the input power WL (watt) divided by the inner surface area S (cm.sup.2) of the discharge space falls within the range of between 20 and 70, i.e., 20.ltoreq.WL/S.ltoreq.70. The surface region of the electrode rods is formed of a pure rhenium metal or a rhenium-tungsten alloy.

Abstract: A cathode (12) for a glow discharge device and comprising a hollow body provided with an opening and having an internal working surface (18) which is substantially frusto-ellipsoidal. The cathode has particular application to a laser gyroscope.

Abstract: A metal halide discharge lamp includes an arc tube having a chemical fill, and a pair of electrodes sealed in the arc tube. The electrodes are tungsten and have differing thoria contents. The electrodes with differing thoria contents provide faster starting times than electrodes with equal low thoria contents and eliminate the electrode meltback, voltage increase and lumen loss that is characteristic of electrodes with equal but higher thoria contents. Preferably, one electrode has a thoria content of about 1.5 to 2 weight percent, and the other electrode has a thoria content of about one weight percent or less.

Abstract: The high-power radiator includes a discharge space (4) bounded by dielectrics (1, 2) and filled with a noble gas or gas mixture and electrodes (5, 6). The electrodes (5, 6) are transparent to the radiation produced by silent electrical discharges and are, situated on the surfaces of the di-electrics facing away from the discharge space. In this manner, a large-area UV radiator with high efficiency is produced which can be operated with high electrical power densities of up to 50 kW/m.sup.2 of active electrode surface.

Abstract: To improve the heat distribution of the electrodes within a high-pressure discharge vessel, particularly a vehicle (1) of quartz glass having a fill of mercury, a noble gas, and an additive which includes a metal or metal halide, especially, for good color rendition, tin which attacks the electrodes, the electrodes (4, 5) are pinch-sealed through the quartz glass envelope and include a parallel shaft portion (15, 17, 21) to which pin elements (16, 18, 19) are attached, for example by welding, which have a cross-sectional area larger, preferably by a factor of between 1.5 to 3, than the cross-sectional area of the shaft portion, to obtain high heat capacity of the electrodes while minimizing heat transfer to the pinch or press seal of the electrodes through the quartz glass vessel (2) via the shaft portions.

Abstract: An X-ray generator comprises an anode (4) and a cathode (10) disposed in an enclosure (2) under low helium pressure and powered by an electric pulse generator (20) providing sufficient voltage in order to generate runaway electrons. The emission face of the cathode is a section of an emission plate (10) constituted by a carbon felt whose fibers have a privileged orientation perpendicular to said face in order to encourage the emission of electrons from said face. The invention is particularly applicable to pre-ionizing the discharge chamber of a gas laser.

Abstract: To improve the arc stability of a high-pressure arc discharge lamp, typically a xenon arc lamp, the cathode (4) has an essentially conical end portion (9), terminating in a roughly flat, or slightly rounded tip (10). The cathode is covered with a carbide layer (11) decreasing in thickness towards the tip (10) and, preferably, leaving a zone (12) adjacent the tip and extending over about one-third of the end zone (9) free from carbide. The carbide has a lower melting temperature than the tungsten of the electrode, and leaving the tip free from carbide prevents deterioration of the electrode due to melting of the carbide material, in operation of the lamp.

Abstract: A surface for electrical discharge for incorporation in a gas discharge chamber and designed to produce a uniform distribution of the field strength factor, and an increase in the photon and/or the electron density. This is achieved by employing a microstructure combining at least two materials of different physical properties and having a geometry which increases electron emission.

Abstract: Disclosed is a discharge electrode material essentially made of yttrium oxide and blended with rhenium or ruthenium. This electrode material is used as the electrode for air plasma cutting, electrode for plasma spraying, and others, and it is excellent in heat resistance and oxidation resistance, and its wear resistance is more than twice as high as that of conventional electrode materials such as zirconium and hafnium.

Abstract: Electrodes for lamps comprising elongated structures comprised of layers containing varying amounts of metal and refractory oxide. In a preferred embodiment the electrode has a first end comprising 9.6 volume percent tungsten or molybdenum and the remainder alumina. The second end comprises substantially 100% tungsten. The intermediate body contains layers of, e.g., 12, 20, 35, 50 and 75% tungsten.

Abstract: An electric light filament comprising a single crystal whisker is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment the whisker consists essentially of silicon carbide (SiC), preferably beta silicon carbide, doped with a sufficient amount of nitrogen to render the whisker sufficiently electrically conductive to be useful as a light bulb filament at household voltages. Filaments made of such materials are characterized by high strength, durability, and resilience, and have higher electrical emissivities than conventioanl tungsten filaments.

Abstract: A high-pressure sodium discharge lamp provided with a solid electrode consisting mainly of tungsten plus a small quantity of rhenium, and free of alkaline earth metals. The addition of rhenium suppresses sodium attack which caused the tip end of the electrode to break off before the desired lamp life was reached.

Abstract: To improve the heat distribution of single-ended metal-halide high-pressure discharge lamps, and particularly lamps in which the fill is apt to attack a helically wound electrode (4) facing a similar electrode (5) within a discharge vessel (2), the end portions of the electrodes have a mandrel or pin element (17) located within a plurality of coiled windings (16), such that the coiled windings of the electrodes surround the mandrel or pin elements (17). Preferably, the mandrel is made of thorium dioxide-doped tungsten, and the electrodes includes an electrode shaft portion (15) pinch-sealed through the quartz-glass vessel. The shaft portions are unitary with the coiled windings (16) and are made of undoped, essentially pure tungsten.

Abstract: This invention relates to a glow discharge starter having an hermetically sealed envelope containing an ionizable medium, a bimetallic electrode and a counter electrode located within the envelope. A silver plating completely covers the nickel-containing portions of the electrodes. Preferably, the thickness of the silver plating is from about 0.0002 inch to about 0.0004 inch. The present invention results in a glow discharge starter which has stable electrical characteristics, does not require the use of complex gas mixtures, and has an increased life.

Abstract: An improved gas plasma panel having an array of electrodes which define pixel points of light during gas ionization is disclosed wherein the wall charges generated at these pixel points during such ionization is concentrated about the pixel by the introduction of a dopant material onto the surface of the dielectric layer and in contact with the electron emissive layer.

Abstract: A discharge lamp device includes a tube, and a cathode disposed in said tube and made of a valence-compensated semiconductor ceramic material, or a forcibly reduced semiconductor ceramic material, or a valence-compensated and forcibly reduced semiconductor ceramic material. Since the cathode does not include an electron-emitting material, but uses a semiconductor ceramic material, no vapor is produced by the cathode and also the cathode does not react with mercury vapor filled in the tube. Therefore, the discharge lamp device has improved characteristics such as greater heat resistance, better chemical resistance, and improved discharge characteristics. The discharge lamp device is less costly because the semiconductor ceramic material used as the cathode is inexpensive.

Abstract: A high pressure sodium vapor discharge device including a polycrystalline alumina arc tube which contains a fill including sodium and mercury is disclosed. An electrode is disposed at each end of the arc tube, and an emissive material including an oxygen getter, such as, zirconium and/or niobium, and thorium dioxide is coated on at least one of the electrodes. The improved emissive material coating reduces the rate of sodium loss from the arc tube and inhibits loss of luminosity due to discoloration of the arc tube.

Abstract: In an arc tube for a high intensity metal halide discharge lamp, a particular composition of metal halide dose is provided to control thorium transport to the electrodes within the arc tube and tungsten transport to the wall to improve arc tube performance.

Abstract: A lead wire arrangement used in the pinch seal of a tungsten halogen incandescent or air burning discharge lamp. The outer lead wires are made of an oxidation resistant material having a melting point significantly lower than the temperature surrounding the foil and lead wire arrangement during the pinch sealing process. Because the temperature reached during pinch sealing is of the order 2,000.degree. C. conventionally outer lead wires have been made of a highly refractory material, for example, molybdenum which has to be coated with platinum to prevent oxidation. The invention uses materials having significantly lower melting points than 2,000.degree. C. which are also oxidation resistant thus avoiding the use of the expensive platinum. Suitable materials for the outer lead wires include titanium wire, titanium coated wire, nickel/iron alloys and titanium/molybdenum alloys.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an impregnated cathode produced by attaching at least two layered thin films, the thin films comprising an under layer consisting of a high melting point metal thin film composed of, for example, Os, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, Re, Mo, W, Ta, etc., and an over layer consisting of a high melting point metal layer which contains Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3 and which is placed over the layer, on the surface of the impregnated cathode pellet generated by impregnating a refractory porous base body with electron emissive materials. The invention relates also to an electron tube having this cathode. This cathode maintains a low work functional mono-layer stably for a long period of time on its surface.

Abstract: A gas discharge display panel adapted for effecting display by a plurality of gas discharge elements arranged in a matrix has a cathode formed by coating the substrate surface with a (100) preferred film of a rare earth hexaboride such as LaB.sub.6. The gas discharge display panel can be driven at relatively low voltage.

Abstract: A low wattage metal halide discharge lamp includes a sealed outer envelope with a pair of electrical conductors passing therethrough and containing an arc tube having a pair of electrodes electrically connected to the pair of electrical conductors with a chemical fill within the arc tube including iodides of sodium and scandium of a molar ratio in the range of about 20:1 to 28:1.

Abstract: A gas discharge lamp such as a flashbulb consisting of an anode and a cathode in a transparent housing, the cathode being composed of a sintered member made up of powdered titanium (Ti), and vanadium (V), as well as at least one of the other metals tantalum (Ta) or niobium (Nb), the particles having a grain size of no more than 50 microns, and the Ti being present in a precentage of at least 40% by weight, and the V content being at least 10% by weight.

Abstract: A device is disclosed which produces high current, low noise, low lateral energy, stochastic electron emission from a multiplicity of insulative particles subjected to a field. The insulative particles are in and of a surface thickness comprised of a random mixture of insulative and conductive particles in ohmic contact. Emission is achieved at applied potentials of about 5 volts which produce a field sufficient to emit electron currents of nanoamperes to milliamperes. Single devices or arrays of devices may be batch fabricated. Each device has an imtegral, implicity self-aligned electron optic system comprising means for modulating, focusing and deflecting the formed current beam, and means shielding the device from ambient magnetic fields.

Abstract: High pressure sodium lamps have been subject to progressive reduction in pressure of contained sodium with attendant reduction in lighting quality. It has been discovered that modification of lamp components permits the pressure of contained sodium to be maintained at higher levels. Emission materials enclosed within the lamp are altered to limit reactive oxygen in the lamp atmosphere. A thermionic electrode as equipped with an improved emission composition as illustrated in areas B and C of the triaxial plot of FIG. 3.

Abstract: An electrode structure for sodium vapor lamps is disclosed having molybdenum metal wire coils wound around a tungsten shank to replace the customary all-tungsten electrode structure in these lamps. The improved electrode structures provide increased initial lumens with acceptable lumen maintenance.

Abstract: A composition for a conductor ink used in a screening process and including a nickel powder, a lead-free glass binder, and a vehicle suitable for firing at a temperature below about 590.degree. C. The conductor composition is designed for use in gas plasma display panels.

Abstract: A spark gap device for precise switching of an energy storage capacitor into an exploding bridge wire load is disclosed. Niobium electrodes having a melting point of 2,415 degrees centrigrade are spaced apart by an insulating cylinder to define a spark gap. The electrodes are supported by conductive end caps which, together with the insulating cylinder, form a hermetically sealed chamber filled with an inert, ionizable gas, such as pure xenon. A quantity of solid radioactive carbon-14 within the chamber adjacent the spark gap serves as a radiation stabilizer. The sides of the electrodes and the inner wall of the insulating cylinder are spaced apart a sufficient distance to prevent unwanted breakdown initiation. A conductive sleeve may envelop the outside of the insulating member from the midpoint of the spark gap to the cap adjacent the cathode. The outer metallic surfaces of the device may be coated with a hydrogen-impermeable coating to lengthen the shelf life and operating life of the device.

Abstract: High-intensity-discharge (HID) sodium lamp has a starting aid comprising a conducting ceramic which is hermetically sealed to and extends through an alumina arc tube at least at one end thereof to form an electrically conducting path. The conducting ceramic is fused to the alumina arc tube and is electrically conductive by virtue of having embedded therein a small percentage of finely divided refractory metal. At least during starting, the conducting ceramic is electrically connected through a resistor to the opposite lamp electrode and, as a result, on application of energizing potential, a glow discharge is established between an arc-tube-interior portion of the conducting ceramic and the adjacent electrode to ionize the atmosphere within the arc tube and facilitate lamp starting.

Abstract: A hollow cathode type light source is provided having improved operating stability by forming the cathode of an alloy of a highly reactive, unstable prime metal of interest for spectral emission, and of a chemically stable, readily sputtered metal. An alloy of silver and calcium with a small amount of magnesium provides a hollow cathode device which exhibits stable operation after a minimum warm-up time.

Abstract: A screenable ink for forming conductors in a gas-filled display panel including aluminum and an aluminum alloy as important constituents and a panel including such conductors as reinforcing transparent conductive films.

Abstract: An electric discharge type device is described having electrode means which include a refractory metal substrate having sintered thereon an open porous coating of refractory metal particles at a thickness up to about 1 millimeter thickness with electron emissive material being disposed in the pores of said sintered refractory metal coating. Representative electric discharge devices having said improved electrode means include discharge type electric lamps and photographic flash tubes wherein the electrode members have an elongated shaped body which is terminated at one end to provide more surface area for the coatings sintered thereon. Various electron emissive materials can be employed for impregnation of the open porous coating of refractory metal particles by such conventional techniques as dipping or spraying.

Abstract: A D.C. operable, miniature, low-wattage, single ended, arc discharge lamp. The cathode electrode includes electrical field modifying means to insure that the arc strikes between the electrode tips. During high pressure (.about.10 atm) operation electrode heating of the anode is dominated by electron bombardment, which creates substantially higher heat at the anode tip than at the cathode tip (the cathode being heated by ion bombardment and cooled by thermionic electron emission). Heat conducted down the anode electrode is dissipated in the single press and contributes to the heat conduction in the closely adjacent cathode electrode thereby reducing the net heat loss therein and helping to maintain the desired cathode temperature.

Abstract: A discharge device for use with pulsed, CO.sub.2 laser power conditioner tems, is disclosed. The device is comprised of Elkonite or molybdenum electrodes in a controlled nitrogen-xenon-oxygen environment, and having long life potential of close to twenty million discharges possible.