Large Scale Microcavity Plasma Array for Flat Light Sources

Summary form only given. Flat light sources, having radiating areas as large as 1 ft² and comprising arrays of Al/Al₂O₃/glass microcavity plasma devices, have been fabricated and characterized in the rare gases and gas mixtures. Sealed arrays of devices with microcavities having diamond-shaped cross-sections yield lamps with an overall thickness less than 1 mm (of which ~80% of the thickness is contributed by glass or quartz window). These arrays can utilized as UV lamps or thin, flat fluorescent lamps by the selection of materials, discharge gas and optical design. Engineering of the array geometry as well as the microcavity-phosphor arrangement to achieve the highest luminous efficacy are under investigation. The properties of the microdischarge array in various gases will be discussed in detail.