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Code Number: 7B35.75
Demo Title: Plasma Tubes & Globes
Condition: Good
Principle: Plasma and Plasma Tubes
Area of Study: Modern Astronomy
Equipment:
Induction Coil, plasma tubes, vacuum pump.
Procedure:
Connect the electrodes on the plasma tube to the induction coil. Also, attach the vacuum pump to the plasma tube. Turn on the induction coil and set at about 1/3 power. As you then pump down on the tube you will probably see an electron beam before the whole tube is filled with glowing plasma. This is particularly striking when using the Plexiglas plasma tube.
The Plexiglas tube also has some extra accessories for doing electron beam and magnet demonstrations.
NOTE: Always unscrew the end caps after use so that there is no pressure on the O-rings for extended periods of time. Otherwise the end caps may lock onto the tube and possible breakage could result from any attempts to remove them.
Attach the special plasma tube to the top of the small Tesla coil. As this tube is extremely long and thin, great care should be taken to guard against breakage. Adjust the output power of the coil to give the best glow of the plasma tube.
Plasma effects may also be explored by bringing your hand near a commercial plasma tube.
The luminescent properties of the phosphor coatings on fluorescent tubes may be explored using the bulb that has 1/2 or its length coated and 1/2 or its length uncoated.
References:
- James Lincoln, "Plasma Globe Revisited", TPT, Vol. 56, #1, Jan. 2018, p. 62.
- Nicholas R. Guilbert, "Deconstructing a Plasma Globe, TPT, Vol. 37, #1, Jan. 1999, p. 11.
- Nicholas R. Guilbert, "Shedding Some Light on Fluorescent Bulbs", TPT, Vol. 34, #1, Jan. 1996, p. 20.
- Herbert h. Gottslieb, "Apparatus - Extinguishing a Fluorescent Lamp in a Magnetic Field", TPT, Vol. 35, #2, Feb. 1967, p. 86.
- Amy Ffield and Richard Wolfson, "Microwave Measurements of a Fluorescent Lamp Plasma", AJP, Vol. 55, #7, July 1987, p. 637.
- W. F. DiVergilio, P. M. Kam, D. S. Pappas, K. R. MacKenzie, "A Large, Quiescent Plasma Device", AJP, Vol. 42, #2, Feb. 1974, p. 169.
- D. L. Landt, C.M. Burde, H. C. S. Hsuan, K. E. Lonngren", "An Experimental Simulation of Waves in Plasmas", AJP, Vol. 40, #10, Oct. 1972, p. 1493.
- Arnaud Beck, Nicole Meyer-Vernet, "The Trajectory of an Electron in a Plasma", AJP, Vol. 76, #10, Oct. 2008, p. 934.
- Back Scatter, "Grape Balls of Fire!", Physics Today, Vol. 70, #10, Oct. 2017, p. 96.
- Johanna L. Miller, "Powerful Lasers Mimic Intergalactic Plasmas in the Lab", Physics Today, Vol. 68, # 9, Sep. 2015, p. 16.
- Johanna Miller, "Plasma Wakefield Acceleration Shows Promise", Physics Today, Vol. 68, # 1, Jan. 2015, p. 11.
- Donald B. Batchelor, "Integrated Simulation of Fusion Plasmas", Physics Today, Vol. 58, # 2, Feb. 2005, p. 35.
- Julien Clinton Sprott, "4.8, Gas Discharge Tube", Physics Demonstrations, p. 200.
- Jearl Walker, "6.125, Colors in Fluorescent Light", The Flying Circus of Physics, p. 294.