A light source device includes a discharge tube, a discharge medium sealed inside
the discharge tube, and inner and outer electrodes for exciting the discharge medium.
The inner electrode is arranged inside the discharge tube. The outer electrode
includes a first outer electrode and a second outer electrode that are connected
electrically with each other. The first outer electrode is in contact with an outer
surface of the discharge tube at a plurality of first contact portions that are
located at different distances from the inner electrode and are provided discontinuously.
The second outer electrode is in contact with the outer surface of the discharge
tube at second contact portions. The second contact portions are arranged closer
to the inner electrode than the first contact portions at a surface density greater
than that of the first contact portions. Thus, it is possible to provide a light
source device with decreased fluctuations in the brightness distribution and with
higher brightness, and a liquid crystal display device in which the light source
device is employed.
