Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

Manfred Salvermoser

Daniel Ely Murnick

Excimers are formed in a gas () by applying a pulsed potential between a first electrode () and a counter electrode () so that corona discharge occurs, substantially without arcing, when the potential is on. The pulses or on-times of the potential desirably are about 100 microseconds or less. Use of a pulsed potential provides greater efficiency than a constant potential. Where the excimer-forming gas is a pure inert gas, the gas desirably contains less than 10 ppm water vapor.

Corona discharge lamps

A method of generating light comprising the step of applying an electric field to an excimer-forming gas such as a gas mixture containing noble gases and hydrogen or halogen, and providing free electrons in the gas. The electric field is configured to accelerate electrons to at least the energy required to form excimers, but in at least one region of the electric field, the field does not substantially ionize the gas, so that the field does not induce arcing through the gas. For example, electrons can be injected from one or more field emission electrodes ( ) such as one or more a metal needle tip conductors, whereas the electric field can be a field between the field emission electrodes and a counterelectrode ( ).

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Newark, NJ, United States of America

Manfred Salvermoser