The startability of an ultraviolet ray generation device including an excimer lamp as an ultraviolet light source is to be improved. An ultraviolet ray generation device includes: an excimer lamp having a discharge container in which a discharge gas is sealed; a first electrode body and a second electrode body that are disposed so as not to be exposed to the discharge gas; and a first conductor electrically connected to one of the first electrode body and the second electrode body. The first conductor faces the other electrode body or a second conductor electrically connected to the other electrode body, through a dielectric member. The first conductor causes an atmospheric discharge around the first conductor.

A method of generating light with a laser-driven light source includes generating a CW sustaining light and propagating the CW sustaining light to a gas filled bulb comprising an ionizing gas. A pump light is generated. A Q-switched laser crystal is irradiated with the generated pump light, thereby generating pulsed laser light. The pulsed laser light is propagated to the gas filled bulb comprising the ionizing gas so as to generate a CW plasma that emits light. The light generated by the CW plasma in the gas filled bulb is detected. The pump light is controlled so as to extinguish the pulsed laser light after the light generated by the CW plasma is detected.

A method of generating light with a laser-driven light source includes generating a CW sustaining light and propagating the CW sustaining light to a gas filled bulb comprising an ionizing gas. A pump light is generated. A Q-switched laser crystal is irradiated with the generated pump light, thereby generating pulsed laser light. The pulsed laser light is propagated to the gas filled bulb comprising the ionizing gas so as to generate a CW plasma that emits light. The light generated by the CW plasma in the gas filled bulb is detected. The pump light is controlled so as to extinguish the pulsed laser light after the light generated by the CW plasma is detected.

The startability of an ultraviolet ray generation device including an excimer lamp as an ultraviolet light source is to be improved. An ultraviolet ray generation device includes: an excimer lamp having a discharge container in which a discharge gas is sealed; a first electrode body and a second electrode body that are disposed so as not to be exposed to the discharge gas; and a first conductor electrically connected to one of the first electrode body and the second electrode body. The first conductor faces the other electrode body or a second conductor electrically connected to the other electrode body, through a dielectric member. The first conductor causes an atmospheric discharge around the first conductor.

The startability of an ultraviolet ray generation device including an excimer lamp as an ultraviolet light source is to be improved. An ultraviolet ray generation device includes: an excimer lamp having a discharge container in which a discharge gas is sealed; a first electrode body and a second electrode body that are disposed so as not to be exposed to the discharge gas; and a first conductor electrically connected to one of the first electrode body and the second electrode body. The first conductor faces the other electrode body or a second conductor electrically connected to the other electrode body, through a dielectric member. The first conductor causes an atmospheric discharge around the first conductor.

A sterilization device has an ultraviolet light unit including an ultraviolet light source and a filter for filtering wavelengths of 230 to 270 nm, emitted from the ultraviolet light source; a lighting unit including an LED light source; and a control unit which controls on and off of the ultraviolet light unit and the lighting unit and supplies power, wherein the filter includes a nanophosphor which is 3 nm or less and converts the light having a wavelength of 230 to 270 nm into light of another wavelength.

During a normal operation, alternating drive voltage to be applied between a pair of electrodes provided to face an outer surface of a bottom part of a gas discharge light emitting tube is switched to a voltage value V2 lower than a voltage value V1 at the time of starting lighting. Further, the alternating drive voltage to be applied during the normal discharge operation is intermittently applied in a predetermined cycle and duty ratio to enable adjustment of light emission intensity.

During a normal operation, alternating drive voltage to be applied between a pair of electrodes provided to face an outer surface of a bottom part of a gas discharge light emitting tube is switched to a voltage value V2 lower than a voltage value V1 at the time of starting lighting. Further, the alternating drive voltage to be applied during the normal discharge operation is intermittently applied in a predetermined cycle and duty ratio to enable adjustment of light emission intensity.

A light irradiation device according to an embodiment includes an excimer lamp including a light emitting tube emitting light, a first electrode disposed at an outer side of the light emitting tube, a second electrode disposed at an outer side of the light emitting tube in correspondence to the first electrode, and an auxiliary light emitting body disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode to emit light toward the light emitting tube when a voltage is applied to the first and second electrodes, and a case in which the excimer is provided and which has a contact point adjustment part configured to accommodate a portion of the auxiliary light emitting body.

A light irradiation device according to an embodiment includes an excimer lamp including a light emitting tube emitting light, a first electrode disposed at an outer side of the light emitting tube, a second electrode disposed at an outer side of the light emitting tube in correspondence to the first electrode, and an auxiliary light emitting body disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode to emit light toward the light emitting tube when a voltage is applied to the first and second electrodes, and a case in which the excimer is provided and which has a contact point adjustment part configured to accommodate a portion of the auxiliary light emitting body.