Patent ID: 7586261

Claim:
A rare gas fluorescent lamp comprising: a light-emitting tube whose inner surface is coated with a fluorescent material, and which has a discharge space therein, wherein the discharge space is filled with a rare gas; a plurality of external electrodes which are provided on an outer surface of the light-emitting tube; and a conductive material, which is provided in the discharge space at an end in an axis direction of the light-emitting tube and on an inner surface of the light-emitting tube that corresponds to portions on which the external electrodes are arranged, so that the inner surface of the light-emitting tube that corresponds to the portions on which the external electrodes are arranged is short circuited by the conductive material, the rare gas fluorescent lamp further comprising: a creeping discharge prevention unit that is provided in an inward side of the conductive material in an axial direction to prevent diffusion of creeping discharge occurring between the conductive material and electrical charges stored on the inner surface of the light-emitting tube whereby charges which are accumulated on the inner surface of the light emitting tube under the creeping discharge prevention unit are reduced.