Patent ID: 6943498

Claim:
A high intensity discharge lamp comprising an alumina ceramic arc tube having a discharge arc tube, alumina ceramic narrow tubes formed at both end portions of the discharge arc tube, wherein narrow tubes have smaller diameter compared to the diameter of the discharge arc tube, electrode rods and power feeders, the electrode rods and the power feeders being arranged to form spaces between the electrode rods, the power feeders and inner surfaces of the narrow tubes, wherein the alumina ceramic arc tube is arranged in an outer bulb, the outer bulb is provided with a starter therein, the starter comprising a switching element, the discharge arc tube is filled with a neon gas or a neon-based gaseous mixture as a starting-assistance rare gas, a filling pressure is set to 13 kPa or more, the high intensity discharge lamp is lit by being connected to a ballast having no pulse-generating function in the ballast itself, and a high voltage pulse is induced at the ballast due to interruption of current by the switching element of the starter so as to start the alumina ceramic arc tube.