Dielectric barrier discharge lamp

Abstract

A dielectric barrier discharge lamp having a generally cylindrical double-tube arrangement of an outer tube coaxially disposed about an inner tube, with an outer electrode disposed on an outside surface of the outer tube, an inner electrode disposed on an inside surface of the inner tube, and a discharge space provided between the outer tube and the inner tube which is filled with a discharge gas for formation of excimer molecules by dielectric barrier discharge achieves firm engagement of the inner electrode against the inner tube and a stable discharge over a long time even if part of the electrode corrodes due to the ozone produced or it wears. This is achieved by embodiments in which the inner electrode is a generally tubular part which is slit in an axial direction along the full length thereof. The tubular part can be a single cylindrically sheet having opposite longitudinally extending edges spaced from each other by a gap or overlapped. Alternatively, the tubular part can be formed of a pair of substantially semi-cylindrical parts which are separated by a gap between each pair of longitudinally extending edges.