Patent ID: 8049417

Claim:
An ultraviolet light source comprising: (a) an elongated tube having first and second ends and an axial direction between the ends; (b) an excimer-forming gas disposed within the tube; (c) a light exit device mounted adjacent the first end of the tube; and (d) a plurality of electrodes spaced apart from one another along the length of the tube, the electrodes being constructed and arranged so that upon application of RF energy to the electrodes, an electrical discharge occurs within the excimer-forming gas disposed within the tube, whereby the excimer-forming gas will form excimers within the tube and the excimers will decay and emit ultraviolet light, at least some of the ultraviolet light being directed generally axially within the tube into the light exit device wherein the tube is at least partially reflective to the emitted ultraviolet light, the tube has an aspect ratio of at least about 10, and the tube has an internal diameter of less than about 1 mm.