The gas discharge lamp has a burner, which has a discharge vessel with a void,
in which a filling of gas and other substances is disposed. Two electrodes protrude
into the void, and between them, in operation of the gas discharge lamp, an electric
arc develops. On the outside of the discharge vessel, in the region of the void,
two auxiliary electrodes of opposite polarity are disposed facing one another.
The auxiliary electrodes are formed by coating the outside of the discharge vessel
with electrically conductive material. Prior to and optionally also during the
ignition of the gas discharge lamp, high-frequency high voltage is applied to the
auxiliary electrodes, which facilitates the ignition of the gas discharge lamp.
