We developed high-performance electrodes of narrow cold cathode discharge lamp. The discharge characteristics of the electrodes were measured. The electrode used for discharge lamp was a small cylinder type (cup type). The electrode had an inner diameter of 2.6 mm. The MgO film was deposited on the inner wall of the Ni cup by DC sputtering. The cathode voltages of the electrodes both with and without MgO films were simultaneously measured with a high voltage probe connected to a digital oscilloscope when the lamp was operated by a sine-wave power supply under the same discharge condition. The maintained voltage was about 60 % lower for the electrode with the MgO film than the Ni electrode. Furthermore, there was hardly any sputtering in the discharge tube for the electrode with MgO film.
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