The present invention enables the illuminance of a dielectric barrier discharge lamp to be adjusted when a flyback type lighting circuit is used to light the dielectric barrier discharge lamp. This lighting circuit for lighting the dielectric barrier discharge lamp comprises: a direct-current power source; a transformer having a primary-side winding connected to a positive electrode-side terminal of the direct-current power source and a secondary-side winding connected to the dielectric barrier discharge lamp; a closed circuit in which the direct-current power source, the primary-side winding, and a switching element including a parasitic diode are serially connected; and a control unit for performing ON/OFF control of the switching element. The control unit executes a first step for causing the switching element to transition from the ON state to the OFF state and a second step for causing the switching element to transition from the OFF state to the ON state after a predetermined OFF retention time has passed from a time point at which the value of a regenerative current flowing in the primary-side winding had reached zero subsequent to the first step.
展开▼
