Method and device for producing photons (7), in the UV-wavelength range, comprising planting in a solid matrix, ions from a gas which is inert or insoluble relative to the matrix, excitating the captive gas (2) in the solid matrix, and emitting of said photons (7) by the excitated gas, as well as notably the ionic bombardment of one surface from the solid matrix with low-energy ions from at least one gas as stated above, and the electronic bombardment (4) with low energy of the solid matrix, with emission of the photons (7).