To positionally stabilize the arc spot and to prevent the formation of so-called flicker, a super-high pressure discharge lamp which is filled with greater than or equal to 0.20 mg/mm³ of mercury has a feed device which supplies an alternating current with a steady-state operating frequency of from 60 Hz to 1000 Hz and a low frequency of from 5 Hz to 50 Hz. The feed device inserts the alternating current with the low frequency into the alternating current with the steady-state operating frequency with a time interval which has a length equal to at least one half period and at most to five periods, and the time interval being in the range of from 0.1 sec to 120 sec.