APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING LIGHT BY EXCITING AN ELECTRODELESS LAMP WITH MICROWAVE ENERGY AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING HIGH INTENSITY VISIBLE LIGHT

摘要

Apparatus for exciting an electrodeless lamp to produce visible light. A source of microwave energy (22) is coupled to a cylindrical cavity (10) which encloses an electrodeless lamp (11). The cylindrical cavity (10) includes a sidewall and end wall (10a) which is made from a metallic mesh which passes light produced from the electrodeless lamp (11). The electric field intensity within the cylindrical cavity (10) is increased in the region (11a) above the lamp center (11b). The increased electric field intensity produces more uniform temperature across the bulb surface, thereby increasing the rate of plasma heating of gas molecules within the lamp (11).