Geissler and Discharge tubes
Geissler and Discharge tubes
Geissler tubes are the great grand daddy of fluorescent lights.
They are tubes with rarefied air in them that glow when a
suitable high voltage power sully is put across them.
They will work of of a Wimshurst or of an induction coil.
Some are amazingly intricate and use not only normal glass but
also exotic materials such as uranium glass that fluoresces
green when exposed to ultraviolet light. Such as this one.
I have several but take care, if the vacuum has gone then there is always the chance they will explode.
This one looks like a condenser when not in use, the liquid jacket is filled with fluoroscene,
a dye that glows when exposed to UV.
This is a simple one with just plain glass but shows the route the current takes.
Another simple one. Colours and the striations vary with the gas pressure, but that is another story.
Hydrogen discharge tube, shows its spectra
Oxygen discharge tube, shows its spectra
Carbon dioxide discharge tube, shows its spectra
Neon lamp, shows its spectra