Re: fluorescent tube question

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "davep by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <davep-at-quik-dot-com>

Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "David Thomson by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <dave-at-volantis-dot-org>
> 
> Hi Ed,

> >I always thought (maybe incorrectly) that the RF from the Tesla coil
>>was exciting the phosphor on the inside of the tube directly and not
>>ionizing the gas in the tube.

> Place a broken fluorescent tube next to the output of a tesla coil.
> If the phosphor coated glass glows, you are correct.

	Perhaps.
	Might be the RF ionizing the air (low level) and the air
	exciting the phosphor.  (hence my suggestion of a CRT:
	no air, indeed, no nothing... (gr -5))

	(Mercury vapor is used because it is best (most efficient).
	Other gasses can produce similar effects...)

	best
	dwp