Large area silent discharge excitation radiator

A silent discharge radiator comprising:

• a plurality of discharge tubes having at least one wall, said discharge tubes adapted to contain a filler gas capable of emitting radiation under dielectric discharge conditions, wherein at least one wall of each of said discharge tubes is substantially transparent to a wavelength emitted by said filler gas, said tubes having physical discontinuities which distribute sites of discharge;
• and
• electrodes being disposed between the discharge tubes.

An electrode for a silent discharge radiator comprising a conductive element imbedded within a dielectric material, and further comprising a multiplicity of physical discontinuities provided in said dielectric material, said discontinuities providing sites of distribution of discharge.

An electrode for a silent discharge radiator comprising a conductive element imbedded within a dielectric material having physical discontinuities and further comprising a plurality of gas channels in said electrode, wherein said gas channels have a gas channel axis substantially perpendicular to said electrode.

A silent discharge radiator comprising:

• at least two electrodes;
• walls delimiting a discharge space containing said electrodes, said discharge space being adapted to be filled with a gas capable of emitting radiation under dielectric discharge conditions, at least one wall of said discharge space being substantially transparent to a wavelength of the emitted radiation;
• wherein said at least one of said electrodes comprises a conducting element imbedded within a dielectric material having a plurality of depressions in the dielectric material of said electrode.

A silent discharge radiator comprising:

• a stacked array of adjacent discharge tubes comprising a dielectric material, each discharge tube having two substantially parallel sidewalls and two other walls, said sidewalls of adjacent discharge tubes being closely apposed to each other, said discharge tubes adapted to contain a filler gas capable of emitting radiation under dielectric discharge conditions, wherein at least one of said other walls of each of said discharge tubes is substantially transparent to a wavelength emitted by said filler gas, said dielectric material having physical discontinuities which distribute sites of dielectric discharge;
• and
• plate electrodes being disposed between the sidewalls of said adjacent discharge tubes.

A silent discharge radiator comprising:

• an array of discharge tubes comprising a dielectric material, each discharge tube having sidewalls and two other walls, wherein at least one of said other walls of each of said discharge tubes is substantially transparent to a wavelength emitted by a filler gas, said discharge tubes adapted to contain said filler gas capable of emitting radiation under dielectric discharge conditions, said dielectric material having physical discontinuities which distribute sites of dielectric discharge;
• said discharge tubes mounted on a thermally conductive material;
• said electrodes being disposed between and adjacent to said sidewalls of said adjacent discharge tubes, thereby defining a space between said electrode, said sidewalls of adjacent discharge tubes and said thermally conductive material.