Ignition circuit for igniting a discharge lamp and method for igniting the discharge Lamp

The invention specifies a starting circuit arrangement for starting at least one discharge lamp by applying an electrical starting voltage pulse to the discharge lamp, the starting circuit arrangement having the following features: at least one source circuit arrangement for providing an electrical primary voltage pulse, at least one starting circuit for providing the starting voltage pulse, and at least one inductive coupling element for inductively coupling-in the primary voltage pulse into the starting circuit for the purpose of generating the starting voltage pulse. The starting circuit arrangement is characterized by the fact that the inductive coupling element has a transformation ratio for a voltage transformation which is selected from the range of from 1/25 to 1/400. In addition, the invention also specifies a method for starting a discharge lamp by applying a starting voltage pulse using the starting circuit arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, having the following method steps: a) forming a starting resonant circuit with a discharge lamp connected in parallel, and b) generating the starting voltage pulse in the starting resonant circuit. In particular, the starting circuit arrangement is used for starting VIP lamps, it being possible for the VIP lamps also to be started again in the hot state during operation at temperatures of from 500° C. to 1000° C.