Variable electric field strength metal and metal oxide microplasma lamps and fabrication

A microcavity plasma lamp, comprising:

• a first metal and metal oxide layer defining a first array of microcavities and an oxide encapsulated first thin metal electrode;
• a second metal and metal oxide layer defining a second array of microcavities and an oxide encapsulated second thin metal electrode, said second metal and metal oxide layer being separated from said first metal and metal oxide layer;
• a packaging containing said first and second metal and metal oxide layers;
• and
• plasma medium contained within said packaging;
• wherein said first and second metal and metal oxide layers are configured and arranged to create a varying ratio of electric field strength and total gas pressure (E/p) between the first and second metal and metal oxide layers (where E is the electric field strength and p is the total gas pressure), further comprising a power source, wherein said first and second metal electrodes are driven by said power source, and further comprising a non-driven spacer layer of metal and metal oxide not electrically connected to any power source and containing a third array of microcavities between said first and second thin metal oxide layers.

A microcavity plasma lamp, comprising:

• a first metal and metal oxide layer defining an array of microcavities and an oxide encapsulated first thin metal electrode;
• a second metal and metal oxide layer defining an array of microcavities and an oxide encapsulated second thin metal electrode;
• a packaging containing said first and second metal and metal oxide layers;
• and
• plasma medium contained within said packaging;
• wherein said first and second metal and metal oxide layers are configured and arranged to create a varying ratio of electric field strength and total gas pressure (E/p) in the lamp (where E is the electric field strength and p is the total gas pressure), wherein said first and second metal and metal oxide layers are suspended with a gap between at least one of said first and second metal oxide layers and said packaging.

A microcavity plasma lamp, comprising:

• a first metal and metal oxide layer defining a first array of microcavities and an oxide encapsulated first thin metal electrode;
• a second metal and metal oxide layer defining a second array of microcavities and an oxide encapsulated second thin metal electrode, said second metal and metal oxide layer being separated from said first metal and metal oxide layer;
• a packaging containing said first and second metal and metal oxide layers;
• and
• plasma medium contained within said packaging;
• wherein said first and second metal and metal oxide layers are configured and arranged to create a varying ratio of electric field strength and total gas pressure (E/p) between the first and second metal and metal oxide layers (where E is the electric field strength and p is the total gas pressure), further comprising a power source and a non-driven spacer metal and metal oxide layer separating said first and second metal and metal oxide layers, wherein said first and second metal electrodes are driven by said power source and said non-driven spacer metal and metal oxide layer is not electrically connected to any power source.

A microcavity plasma lamp comprising:

• a plurality of metal and metal oxide layers defining a plurality of arrays of microcavities and encapsulated thin metal electrodes and being separated from each other such that there is no direct physical contact between each other;
• packaging that packages said plurality of metal and metal oxide layers;
• and
• means for varying a ratio of electric field strength and total gas pressure (E/p) between adjacent ones of said plurality of metal and metal oxide layers.

A method for manufacturing a microcavity plasma lamp, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of metal and metal oxide layers defining a plurality of arrays of microcavities and encapsulated thin metal electrodes in packaging;
• enclosing the packaging between sealed plates;
• simultaneously evacuating the volume within the packaging and a volume surrounding the packaging to maintain an insignificant or zero pressure differential across the packaging;
• and
• backfilling the packaging with a plasma medium while maintaining an insignificant or zero pressure differential across the packaging.