Electric discharge lamp, illuminator, and liquid crystal display

A cold-cathode electric discharge lamp (1) comprises a glass bulb (10), electrodes (20, 21) disposed inside at least one of ends (12, 13) of the glass bulb (10), metal conductors (30, 31) provided around the ends and electrically connected to the electrodes , and an emitter (40) installed on the inner surface of the glass bulb. The edge (30a) of the metal conductor is nearer to the center of the glass bulb than the edge (20a) of the electrode. The emitter is nearer to the center of the glass bulb than the edge (30a). The electric field in the position of the emitter of when the cold-cathode electric discharge lamp is started is so strong that ion impact is induced. Therefore, secondary electrons are easily produced, and the dark startability is improved.