An improved high frequency ballast is disclosed. The high frequency ballast
establishes a lamp current for a gas discharge lamp during a starting
operation of the gas discharge lamp wherein an operating ampere level of
the lamp current facilitates a substantial achievement by the gas
discharge lamp of a color specification associated with the gas discharge
lamp. Thereafter, during a stable operation of the gas discharge lamp, the
high frequency ballast applies a frequency modulation to an operating
frequency of the lamp current and/or an amplitude modulation of the lamp
current.
