To provide a glow discharge lamp having an improved starting characteristic under a dark condition by shortening lighting duration and to provide luminaire using this glow discharge lamp.
This glow discharge lamp is provided with a discharge chamber 1, a pair of electrodes 2 and 3, a discharge medium, and a electrode activator 4 comprising a metallic film principally consisting of zinc and supported by at least one of a pair of electrodes 2 and 3. This metallic film is provided with a film thickness of 1.0-20 μm, desirably 3.0-7 μm and optically 5 μm approximately. When a part of the metallic film is formed of zinc oxide, electron emission ability is improved. This metallic film serving as the electrode activator 4 and principally consisting of zinc may be formed of an alloy consisting of zinc and nickel. A melting point of the electrode activator is increased, consumption due to spattering is reduced, and gas discharge is lowered.
MATSUNAGA HIROYUKI
OSAWA SHIGERU
YORIFUJI TAKASHI
SHIOZAKI MITSURU
IZUMI MASAHIRO
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