Fundamental Research on Mercuryless Fluorescent Lamps I – Inner Electrode Operation with Pulsed Discharge –

Abstract

The characteristics of xenon-neon discharge fluorescent lamps with inner electrodes are described in this paper. All lamps were operated by pulsed discharge. When the partial pressure of neon is high, the ignition voltage and operation voltage are low because of the Penning effect. Thus, a higher mixing ratio of neon is desirable for lower ignition and operation voltages. However, the luminance of phosphor increases as the mixing ratio of xenon increases. As the pressure of xenon increases, the second peak of phosphor emission in afterglow increases. These increases seem to be caused by the VUV light of xenon excimers. Therefore, though there is the problem of ion bombardment of the cathode under a high operation voltage, the pulsed discharge of the xenon-neon mixture at a high xenon mixing ratio is desirable in mercuryless fluorescent lamps because a strong radiation of xenon excimer is obtained.

The afterglow characteristics of xenon pulsed plasma for mercury-free fluorescent lamps

“…Here let us discuss on the decay of phosphor afterglow. During the afterglow period, the phosphor is mainly excited by the 172 nm radiation of xenon excimers [2]. The xenon excimers are produced by the three-body collision among xenon atoms and metastable xenon, that is Xe m + 2Xe → Xe * 2 + Xe, where Xe m denotes a matastable xenon atom.…”

“…However, low-pressure xenon fluorescent lamps have not yet obtained sufficient luminance. Authors have studied xenon pulsed discharge lamps and have already reported that the phosphor is mainly excited by the excimer radiation of 172 nm at the afterglow period [1,2]. In this study, the spectroscopic characteristics of radiations from xenon pulsed plasma are measured and explained by a rate equation determined experimentally as a study on a mercury-free fluorescent lamp.…”

Simulation of the A–X and B–X transition emission spectra of the InBr molecule for diagnostics in low-pressure plasmas

“…Several properties of mercury are hereby utilized such as a high vapour pressure and the strong and efficient radiation in the visible and especially the ultraviolet spectral range. Recent research both in low and high pressure lamps ( [1,2,3] and [4,5]) focuses on finding efficient substitutes for mercury due to its toxicity. Molecular radiation -especially from metal halides -is under discussion to be a good alternative to mercury [6].…”

Plasma study of a moly-oxide-argon discharge bulb

“…D UE to the potential for environmental regulations, there has recently been substantial interest in nonmercury plasma discharges for lighting applications. In the standard low-pressure fluorescent bulb, xenon [1], or pulsed xenon-neon mixtures are under investigation as replacements for Hg [2]. Such rare gas fills require new phosphors and affect the electrode behavior [2], [3].…”

“…In the standard low-pressure fluorescent bulb, xenon [1], or pulsed xenon-neon mixtures are under investigation as replacements for Hg [2]. Such rare gas fills require new phosphors and affect the electrode behavior [2], [3]. In high-pressure discharges, metallic zinc has been studied as a mercury replacement as it is also a group IIB element in the periodic table [4].…”