Re: Holloween Ideas...

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

Original poster: Neonglo-at-aol-dot-com 

In a message dated 9/30/03 5:57:27 PM Central Daylight Time, 
tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:

>Um... We were talking about inert gasses (Helium, Neon and Argon) exactly
>because we don't want to cause an explosion. That, and because noble gasses
>are a lot easier to ionize than air, meaning that just a few thousand volts
>can light up some feet of neon sign tubing.


Yes, but only at very low pressures, typlically 10 Torr or so in a neon 
tube. The nobels (or any of the gasses) are much harder to ionize at 
atmospheric pressures. Helium has the highest ionazation potential, making 
it more difficult to ionize than the rest of the nobels. Xenon has the 
least, making it the easiest to ionize, but the price makes it impractical 
to use. I wouldn't expect to see the natural color of the gas if this 
works, because of the diluting effect of the air, mainly nitrogen and water 
vapor. Any air or water vapor left in a neon tube will greatly affect the 
color. Also, argon has the weakest light output of all the nobels. All 5 
noble gasses are shown lit in the pictures on eBay at:

<http://cgi.ebay-dot-com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2561581535&category=361&rd=1>http://cgi.ebay-dot-com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2561581535&category=361&rd=1

Best Regards,

Tony Greer
Special Effects Neon
Lubbock, Texas