| abstract |
A high-pressure gas discharge lamp (HID [high intensity discharge] lamp) is described which is free from mercury and suitable in particular for use in automotive technology. The lamp is particularly remarkable in that a rise in temperature of the coldest (lowermost) bottom regions (10) is achieved by an asymmetrical electrode arrangement, such that the light-generating substances accumulated in said regions enter the gas phase in a sufficient quantity upon switching-on of the lamp. The temperature of the hottest (uppermost) wall regions (13) is not raised thereby, indeed, it may even be reduced. An essential advantage of this lamp is that its external shape, its dimensions, and the electrodes (3) themselves need not be changed when the lamp is operated in a horizontal position with vertically aligned pinches (5), while the electrodes (3) are fastened each to a metal foil (4) in a suitable downwardly-shifted position. |