A New-type of Xenon-Neon Barrier Discharge Fluorescent Lamps:

Double Helical External Electrodes Lamp (DHEL)

Abstract

Recently as interests in environmental issues increase, demands for mercury-free fluorescent lamps are increasing because mercury is harmful to human beings and creatures. As one of the solutions of this issue the authors have developed a new-type of mercury-free fluorescent lamps using double helical external electrodes. In this paper the fundamental characteristics of Xenon-Neon discharge in the Double Helical External Electrodes Lamps (DHEL) such as the luminance, power consumption and lamp current are investigated. When the pressure ratio of Xe: Ne was fixed at 7 : 3, total pressure at 1.33 kPa and external electrode pitch as 10 mm, luminance over 10000 cd / m² is achieved. In addition as a prototype 1 m length DHEL is prepared and demonstrated to show basically there is no limit in length of DHEL.