A light source, with electrodes of alternating polarity attached to a substrate in an excimer ultraviolet (UV) lamp, for generating a plasma discharge between each of the electrodes. The shape of the substrate can shape and control the plasma discharge to reduce exposure of materials susceptible to attack by the halogens. The electrodes can be located such that the plasma discharge occurs in a region where it produces less contact of the halogens with the vulnerable areas of the lamp enclosure. The materials, such as the electrodes, substrate, and envelope, can be selected to withstand corrosive materials. In another embodiment, a plurality of sealed tubes, at least some of which contain an excimer gas are positioned between two electrodes.

A light source, with electrodes of alternating polarity attached to a substrate in an excimer ultraviolet (UV) lamp, for generating a plasma discharge between each of the electrodes. The shape of the substrate can shape and control the plasma discharge to reduce exposure of materials susceptible to attack by the halogens. The electrodes can be located such that the plasma discharge occurs in a region where it produces less contact of the halogens with the vulnerable areas of the lamp enclosure. The materials, such as the electrodes, substrate, and envelope, can be selected to withstand corrosive materials. In another embodiment, a plurality of sealed tubes, at least some of which contain an excimer gas are positioned between two electrodes.

An electrodeless laser-driven light source includes a laser source that generates a CW sustaining light and a pump laser that generates a pump. An optical beam combiner combines the CW sustaining light and the pump such that the CW sustaining light and the pump propagate co-linearly. A Q-switched laser crystal generates pulsed light in response to the pump. A gas-filled bulb is configured such that the pulsed light ignites a pulse plasma in a breakdown region of the gas bulb and the sustaining light sustains a CW plasma in a CW plasma region of the gas bulb, thereby emitting a high brightness light from the gas bulb, where the gas-filled bulb is positioned between the output of the pump laser and the pump input of the Q-switched laser crystal such that the CW plasma absorbs the pump light quenching the pulsed light generated by the Q-switched laser crystal.

An electrodeless laser-driven light source includes a laser source that generates a CW sustaining light and a pump laser that generates a pump. An optical beam combiner combines the CW sustaining light and the pump such that the CW sustaining light and the pump propagate co-linearly. A Q-switched laser crystal generates pulsed light in response to the pump. A gas-filled bulb is configured such that the pulsed light ignites a pulse plasma in a breakdown region of the gas bulb and the sustaining light sustains a CW plasma in a CW plasma region of the gas bulb, thereby emitting a high brightness light from the gas bulb, where the gas-filled bulb is positioned between the output of the pump laser and the pump input of the Q-switched laser crystal such that the CW plasma absorbs the pump light quenching the pulsed light generated by the Q-switched laser crystal.

A method of operating a flashlamp in a skin treatment system comprises the steps of charging capacitor, discharging the capacitor through a flashlamp, and interrupting the discharge of the capacitor through the flashlamp at a predetermined time based on at least one condition caused by the discharge of the capacitor through the flashlamp.

A method of operating a flashlamp in a skin treatment system comprises the steps of charging capacitor, discharging the capacitor through a flashlamp, and interrupting the discharge of the capacitor through the flashlamp at a predetermined time based on at least one condition caused by the discharge of the capacitor through the flashlamp.

A lighting device that is capable of discriminating a type of an external power source device connected from among types of connectable devices without increasing the number of terminals of a connector. A connector is electrically connectable to an external power source device and includes a first terminal for supplying electric power from the external power source device to a main capacitor and a second terminal for discriminating a type of the external power source device. An obtaining unit obtains the information for discriminating the type of the external power source device by comparing a voltage value of a signal input to the second terminal from the external power source device with a predetermined voltage threshold when an attribute of the second terminal is set to an input. A discrimination unit discriminates the type of the external power source device by contrasting the information obtained with information stored.

An illumination apparatus that emits light from a light source using accumulated electric energy and that performs wireless communication with another illumination apparatus via a communication unit includes a capacitor that accumulates the electric energy used to emit light from the light source, a detection unit that detects a charge state of the capacitor, and a notification unit that performs notification indicating information indicating that the illumination apparatus is in a flash available state and notification indicating information indicating that both the illumination apparatus and the other illumination apparatus are in a flash available state in a distinguishable manner in accordance with information on the other illumination apparatus received by the communication unit and a result of the detection performed by the detection unit.

A lighting device that is capable of discriminating a type of an external power source device connected from among types of connectable devices without increasing the number of terminals of a connector. A connector is electrically connectable to an external power source device and includes a first terminal for supplying electric power from the external power source device to a main capacitor and a second terminal for discriminating a type of the external power source device. An obtaining unit obtains the information for discriminating the type of the external power source device by comparing a voltage value of a signal input to the second terminal from the external power source device with a predetermined voltage threshold when an attribute of the second terminal is set to an input. A discrimination unit discriminates the type of the external power source device by contrasting the information obtained with information stored.

An element set including one capacitor, one coil, one thyristor, and one regeneration diode is provided for three parallel-connected flash lamps. The one thyristor collectively effects on-off control of the current flowing through the three corresponding parallel-connected flash lamps. The thyristor is able to suppress a tail current flowing through the flash lamps during flash irradiation. Since a smaller number of element sets than the number of parallel-connected flash lamps are provided, the number of elements provided in a heat treatment apparatus is reduced as compared to the case in which individual element sets are provided for the flash lamps. This suppresses the increase in apparatus costs and reduces the installation space for the elements.