| abstract |
An ultraviolet light source comprising an ultraviolet bulb (10, 110a, 110b, 210a, 210b, 310, 410, 510, 610, 611, 710, 710b, 711a, 711b, 810a, 810b); characterized by a microwave energy source to excite said ultraviolet bulb (60, 160a, 160b, 260a, 260b, 360, 460b, 560, 660, 760a, 760b); and an optically transparent waveguide (20, 120a, 120b, 220a, 220b, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720a, 720b, 820) to guide the microwave energy that originates from said microwave energy source to the ultraviolet bulb, wherein said waveguide completely surrounds the ultraviolet bulb, and in which the dominant wavelength of the ultraviolet light source is (a) from 140 to 240 nm and the ultraviolet light source is suitable for use in the promotion of molecular dissociation reactions; or (b) from 300 to 400 nm and the ultraviolet light source is suitable for use in the promotion of photochemical reactions. |