ARC DISCHARGE LIGHT SOURCE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an arc discharge light source that obviates disadvantages of a prior art and thereby enables quick ignition. SOLUTION: The arc discharge light source comprises an arc tube, an electrode, and a low-voltage pulse starting aid associated with the arc tube. The arc tube has a hollow body arranged along a longitudinal axis and is provided with first and second ends, the first and second ends having, respectively, first and second joint areas provided with the hollow body. The electrode is sealed in each of the first and second ends, and an arc generating and sustaining medium is contained within the hollow body. The low-voltage pulse starting aid has an electrically conductive member having an intermediate portion and proximal and distal ends, the intermediate portion extending beyond the length of the hollow body. The proximal and distal ends terminate in loops each comprised of at least one turn of an electrically conductive material. The loop from the proximal end surrounds the first joint area and the loop from the distal end surrounds the second joint area. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI