Electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp with split lamp stem

An electrodeless lamp assembly comprising:

• an electrodeless lamp capsule including a light-transmissive discharge envelope enclosing a discharge volume containing a mixture of starting gas and chemical dopant material excitable by high frequency power to a state of luminous emission, and a lamp stem attached to said discharge envelope, said lamp stem comprising a first section having a first cross-sectional area and a second section attached to said discharge envelope, said second section of said lamp stem having a longitudinal slot therein and having a second cross-sectional area that is less than said first cross-sectional area;
• at least one electric field applicator for coupling said high frequency power to said lamp capsule;
• a transmission line for coupling said high frequency power from an input to said at least one electric field applicator;
• and
• a support member coupled to said lamp stem for positioning the discharge envelope of said lamp capsule relative to said at least one electric field applicator.

A method for making an electrodeless lamp capsule, comprising the steps of:

• forming a light-transmissive discharge envelope enclosing a discharge volume;
• dosing said discharge volume with a mixture of starting gas and chemical dopant material excitable by high frequency power to a state of luminous emission;
• forming a lamp stem comprising a first section having a first cross-sectional area and a second section having a second cross-sectional area that is less than said first cross-sectional area;
• forming a slot in said second section of said lamp stem;
• and
• attaching the second section of said lamp stem to said discharge envelope.