The invention is a device for operating a high-pressure gas discharge
lamp, which is provided with a starting auxiliary electrode, with a
current of alternating polarity. The device has a series resonance
circuit with a resonance inductive resistor, through which flows the lamp
current when the lamp is in operation, and a starting device for
subjecting the starting auxiliary electrode to the starting voltage
required for starting the gas discharge in the high-pressure gas
discharge lamp. There is also a capacitive component, which is connected
in series to the resonance inductive resistor and is dimensioned in such
a manner that the capacitive component effects, after the gas discharge
in the high-pressure gas discharge lamp has been started, at least a
partial compensation for the inductance of the resonance inductive
resistor, through which the lamp current flows.