Emission Characteristics of Xenon and Xenon-Rare Gas Dielectric Barrier Discharge Fluorescent Lamps

Abstract

The profile of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV), visible and near IR emissions of xenon and xenon-rare gas pulsed discharge fluorescent lamps were observed as a fundamental research on developing a mercury-free fluorescent lamp. All lamps were operated by pulsed dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). As the pulse width decreases, higher intensity of VUV emissions is obtained, while luminance and efficacy also increase. As the pulse frequency increases, the intensity of VUV emissions increases, however the radiative output per one pulse period decreases and the efficacy decreases. The decay time of VUV emissions which are exciting a phosphor, can be controlled by introducing a rare-gas mixture into xenon.