High intensity far u.v. radiation source

Claim 1

A far ultraviolet emitting lamp comprising a. an evacuable bulb having an ultraviolet emissive portion in which at least a portion oF the bulb is transmissive of ultraviolet radiation of wavelengths shorter than 2,000 A.U.; b. a filling within said envelope including b1. a partial pressure of a material selected from the group consisting of krypton and xenon noble gas with the range of approximately 0.5 to 25 torr, and b2. a quantity of mercury sufficient, under lamp operating conditions wherein the coldest portion of the lamp bulb interior is maintained at a temperature of approximately 25* to 80* C, to maintain within said bulb a partial pressure of mercury of approximately 2 X 10 3 to 0.1 torr; c. means for coupling to said filling a voltage sufficient to ionize said krypton and establish an electric discharge therein, said discharge comprising krypton and mercury; d. said discharge comprising ionized mercury which when excited by current densities of approximately 0.5 to 100 amperes/cm.2 emits ultraviolet radiation at wavelengths shorter than 2,000 A.U. as the principal emission thereof.