Abstract: The invention is a gas mixture for a diffuse discharge switch which is capable of changing from a conducting state to an insulating state in the presence of electrons upon the introduction of laser light. The mixture is composed of a buffer gas such as nitrogen or argon and an electron attaching gas such as C.sub.6 H.sub.5 SH, C.sub.6 H.sub.5 SCH.sub.3, CH.sub.3 CHO and CF.sub.3 CHO wherein the electron attachment is brought on by indirect excitation of molecules to long-lived states by exposure to laser light.

Abstract: There is disclosed a gas discharge panel, especially of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,499,167 or 3,559,190, operated with an ionizable gaseous medium of neon and at least one minority rare gas component selected from argon, krypton, and xenon. In one embodiment, there is used a gaseous medium of about 99.5 to 99.99 percent atoms of neon and 0.5 to 0.01 percent atoms or at least one minority gas component.

Abstract: A sealed beam lamp having an outer envelope defining a gas-tight enclosure filled with an inert nonreactive gas at a pressure in the range of 5 to 50 Torrs, and an illuminating burner capsule mounted within the enclosure. The integrity of the gas-tight enclosure as well as the pressure of the gas is verified by creating a predetermined electrical potential within the enclosure to form a glow discharge in the gas if the gas pressure is within a predetermined range indicating the lamp is serviceable and an arc discharge if the gas pressure is in excess of the range indicating the lamp is defective.

Abstract: A compact fluorescent lamp has an outer envelope in which there is supported a capsule containing a mercury-free fill comprised of aluminum tribromide. The fill is energized to produce a plasma discharge which emits ultraviolet and visible radiation. Phosphor, in the form of a particulate layer or a gas, converts the ultraviolet into visible light. The lamp may contain electrodes or be electrodeless. In the electrodeless embodiment RF energy may be capacitively or inductively coupled to the fill.

Abstract: An ultraviolet light source includes a volume filled with a dose of AlBr.sub.3 and an inert gas. No mercury is used. During electrical discharge excited states of AlBr.sub.2, and AlBr emit light, with AlBr having a broad ultraviolet emission peaking at about 278 nm. The source may be energized with or without internal electrodes. Phosphors may be employed to convert the ultraviolet to visible light. The lamp's envelope may be aluminosilicate coated quartz.

Abstract: A discharge lamp comprising an inner arc tube and an outer tube enclosing the inner tube. The outer tube is filled with neon at a pressure of 0.1 atm or more, or a gas mixture of neon in 80 pressure percent or more and breakdown suppressing gas.

Abstract: An improved short-arc gas discharge lamp having a solid ceramic body with an integral reflector surface. The lamp includes a sapphire window, fitted to one end of the ceramic body, and a thermally and electrically conductive base fitted to the opposite end of the ceramic cylinder to form a sealed pressure chamber. The window is secured to a unitary U-shaped flange for improved strength and leak resistance. A pair of annular back-up rings secure the window flange to the ceramic body so as to relieve stress on the window flange. The reflective surface is formed by pressing the ceramic body, when hot, with an unpolished mandrel, for greater accuracy in surface configuration. A smooth, highly reflective surface is obtained by subsequent surface treatment.

Abstract: A luminous tube is provided with three color producing inner tubes and is mounted within a clear outer tube. The luminous gas filling the outer tube also fills the open-ended inner tubes. Each of the color-producing tubes has an electrode to enable the current density to be independently controlled, and thus control of the light-intensity emitted from each of the color-producing tubes. A luminous tube may also be constructed with at least one tube mounted inside an outer tube within a common luminous gas, where the inner tube houses an electrode and has a restricted diameter opening to produce a high-intensity luminous discharge.

Abstract: The invention concerns a way to prolong the service life of proportional counters, there being added to the gas mixture consisting of a rare gas and a hydrocarbon, serving as gas filling in the counters, hydrogen gas in the amount of 0.05-5.0% by weight, preferably 0.1-2.0% by weight. In addition, the hydrogen gas may in part at least be deuterium.

Abstract: A display device employs an electric discharge passing through a mixture of gases to form an excimer that fluoresces in the blue/green region of the optical spectrum.

Abstract: Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp having a curved discharge vessel in which a mercury discharge is maintained between the electrodes and in which furthermore an amlagam is provided to control the mercury vapor pressure, the discharge vessel containing a rare gas mixture which contains at least 50 at.% krypton at a pressure of 130 to 520 Pa.

Abstract: A glow lamp includes electrodes having both elements and oxides formed with a portion of the elements applied thereto to provide a glow lamp which can be used as a switch and which has a relatively low breakdown voltage but a relatively large current-handling capability. The glow lamp is constructed by a method which includes the step of causing relatively large, variable frequency currents to flow between adjacent electrodes for a limited time period to create the combination of elements and oxides on the electrodes.

Abstract: A lamp primarily containing neon gas is supplied with alternating electrical power at a frequency of not less than 5 kHz. The discharge current is determined on the basis of the gas pressure such that no striations occur. If necessary, getter means including a metal element belonging to the second, third, fourth or fifth periodic group are provided near each electrode, oriented so as not to interfere with any electron emissions from the lamp electrodes.

Abstract: Long life tungsten halogen lamps using bromine as the halogen are provided when the lamp contains the bromine as HBr and CH.sub.3 Br in a ratio of 2.5 to 1 when used with argon as a carrier gas and 1.5 to 1 when krypton is used.

Abstract: In a gas discharge display device with a gas discharge space which is separated by a hole matrix from an electron acceleration space, helium, to which an amount of 0.1 to 10% of at least one of the gases argon, crypton, xenon, nitrogen or carbon dioxide is admixed, is used as the filling gas with an overall pressure of 0.5 to 5 mbar to obtain an enhanced contrast effect on the picture screen.

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: The laser-triggered high voltage rail gap switch includes two parallel electrodes in a high pressure environment of SF.sub.6 and Ar. A pulsed UV laser directs a coherent beam parallel to the electrodes to initiate multichannel breakdown in the gap between the electrodes. This breakdown occurs at a fixed time delay after the laser pulse. This breakdown is enhanced by including an organic additive such as fluorobenzene or tri-n-propylamine in the gas mixture.

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.