A backlight assembly including a light guide plate having a plurality of side
surfaces,
a first lamp having a first lamp tube disposed adjacent to the plurality of side
surfaces, first and second electrodes disposed at opposite end portions of the
first lamp tube, a second lamp having a second lamp tube disposed adjacent to the
plurality of side surfaces, third and fourth electrodes disposed at opposite end
portions of the second lamp tube, the third and first electrodes being disposed
adjacent to one another, and the fourth and second electrodes being disposed adjacent
to one another, a connector for electrically connecting the first and third electrodes,
and a power supply for supplying a first discharge voltage to the second electrode
and a second discharge voltage to the fourth electrode, the first and second discharge
voltages having a phase difference of 180 and a same voltage level.