Fluorescent excimer lamps
AssigneeRutgers, The State University
InventorsDaniel E. Murnick, Nazieh Mohammad Masoud, Richard Riman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Excimers are formed in a high pressure gas by applying a potential between a first electrode (14, 214) and a counter electrode (25, 226) so as to impose an electric field within the gas, or by introducing high energy electrons into the gas using an electron beam. A phosphor for converting the wavelength of radiation emitted from the formed excimers is disposed within the gas and outside a region (62, 162) where the excimers are expected to be formed, so as to avoid degradation of the phosphor.
Claims22
A method of generating light comprising:
- forming excimers within a chamber containing an excimer-forming gas and a phosphor by providing energetic free electrons within the gas, so that the excimers produce radiation and the radiation impinges on the phosphor, the step of providing energetic free electrons within the gas being performed so that in a region of the chamber a substantial majority of free electrons in the gas have energies equal to or greater than the excitation energy required to form the excimers and in a further region of the chamber few or no free electrons with energy equal to or greater than said excitation energy are present, wherein the phosphor is within the gas and within the further region of the chamber.
Apparatus for forming excimers in a gas comprising:
- a chamber for containing an excimer-forming gas;
- an electron source associated with the chamber, the electron source being arranged to provide high energy electrons in the gas so that within a region of the chamber a substantial majority of free electrons in the gas have energies equal to or greater than the excitation energy required to form the excimers and so that in a further region of the chamber few or no free electrons with energy equal to or greater than said excitation energy are present;
- and
- a phosphor disposed within the chamber and within the further region of the chamber.
An apparatus for forming excimers in a gas comprising:
- a chamber for containing an excimer-forming gas;
- an electron source associated with the chamber, the electron source being arranged to provide high energy electrons in the gas so that within a region of the chamber a substantial majority of free electrons in the gas have energies equal to or greater than the excitation energy required to form the excimers and so that in a further region of the chamber few or no free electrons with energy equal to or greater than said excitation energy are present;
- and
- a phosphor disposed within the chamber and within the further region of the chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.