Patent ID: 6060828
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
In a radiation source (36; 48; 56) for operating a dielectrically obstructed, pulsed discharge, the radiation source (36; 48; 56) having an at least partially transparent discharge vessel, which is closed (38; 50) and filled with a gas filling, or which is open and has a gas or gas mixture flowing therethrouqh, which discharge vessel is made from an electrically nonconductive material and has electrodes (39, 41a, 41b; 51, 52a-52d; 58, 59), at least the electrodes of one polarity (41a, 41b; 52a-52d; 59) being separated from the interior of the discharge vessel by dielectric material (40a, 40b; 50; 67), and during the pulsed operation an electric field is generated in between respective pairs of the electrodes of opposite polarity, the improvement wherein at least the electrodes of one polarity and/or of the dielectric material comprises plural, spaced apart sites for local amplification of the electric field at which dielectrically obstructed individual discharges are generated exclusively during the pulsed operation, at most one of the individual discharges being generated at each of said sites.