Characteristics of voltage oscillation observed in Hg-Ar discharge

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:419755

Watanabe, Yoshio ^[1]

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1. Kanagawa Univ. (Japan)

The voltage oscillation is observed in the discharge voltage waveform of a fluorescent lamp. The characteristics of the voltage oscillation are investigated experimentally as a function of discharge current, I{sub D}, operating frequency, f, discharge tube diameter, {Phi}, discharge length, L, and electrode heating current, I{sub H}, where the characteristics of the oscillation are descried by the amplitude of the voltage, V{sub pp}, and the half-cycle time, T{sub pp}, at the first half-cycle. The employed discharge tube is filled with Ar of 333 Pa and small quantity of Hg. The electrodes are those employed in ordinary 20 W fluorescent lamps. The voltage oscillation appears at f {le} 200 kHz, and V{sub pp} increase with decreasing f, for all {Phi} and L. It is concluded that this voltage oscillation takes place in the cathode region and at the phase when discharge current overcomes the zero-field thermal emission current. The oscillation is suppressed when the size of negative glow is restricted by the tube wall. It has been reported that cathode fall voltage at 50 kHz operation is lower than the ionization potential of Hg. Thus, the question is how to form ions with low cathode fall voltage under 50 kHz operation.

• OSTI ID: 419755
• Report Number(s): CONF-960634--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ARGON
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
FLUORESCENT LAMPS
MERCURY