Circuit arrangement and method for operating a discharge lamp

A circuit arrangement for operating a discharge lamp including an inverter, which at its output provides a signal with a preselectable frequency; at least one lamp inductance between the output of the inverter and the discharge lamp; at least one capacitor and, coupled to the lamp inductance, an actuating device for actuating the inverter with the signal; a control device for controlling a control parameter which is dependent on the lamp current, wherein the control device has a first time constant; wherein the discharge lamp has a second smaller time constant; the circuit arrangement has at least one area with a first and a second stable operating point and between these an unstable region of operation, and the actuating device varies the preselectable frequency during the operation of the discharge lamp in such a way that the circuit arrangement is operated in the unstable region of operation.