high-pressure mercury-vapor lamp

high-pressure mercury-vapor lamp

[′hī ¦presh·ər ′mər·kyə·rē ¦vā·pər ′lamp] (electronics) A discharge tube containing an inert gas and a small quantity of liquid mercury; the initial glow discharge through the gas heats and vaporizes the mercury, after which the discharge through mercury vapor produces an intensely brilliant light.