Instantaneous and efficient surface wave excitation of a low pressure gas or gases

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:866800

Levy, Donald J ^[1]; Berman, Samuel M ^[2]

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1. Berkeley, CA
2. San Francisco, CA

A system for instantaneously ionizing and continuously delivering energy in the form of surface waves to a low pressure gas or mixture of low pressure gases, comprising a source of rf energy, a discharge container, (such as a fluorescent lamp discharge tube), an rf shield, and a coupling device responsive to rf energy from the source to couple rf energy directly and efficiently to the gas or mixture of gases to ionize at least a portion of the gas or gases and to provide energy to the gas or gases in the form of surface waves. The majority of the rf power is transferred to the gas or gases near the inner surface of the discharge container to efficiently transfer rf energy as excitation energy for at least one of the gases. The most important use of the invention is to provide more efficient fluorescent and/or ultraviolet lamps.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4792725
• OSTI ID: 866800
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

instantaneous
efficient
surface
wave
excitation
pressure
gas
gases
instantaneously
ionizing
continuously
delivering
energy
form
waves
mixture
comprising
source
rf
discharge
container
fluorescent
lamp
tube
shield
coupling
device
responsive
couple
directly
efficiently
ionize
portion
provide
majority
power
transferred
near
inner
transfer
ultraviolet
lamps
excitation energy
fluorescent lamp
pressure gas
inner surface
rf power
rf energy
discharge tube
provide energy
surface waves
surface wave
pressure gases
energy directly
wave excitation
efficient surface
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