Plasma Lamp:
Plasma lamps are a type of electrodeless gas-discharge lamp energized by radio frequency(RF) power. The internal-electrodeless lamp was invented by Nikola Tesla after his experimentation with high-frequency currents in evacuated glass tubes for the purpose of lighting and study of high voltage phenomena. The first practical plasma lamps were the Sulfur Lamps manufactured by Fusion Lighting. This lamp suffered a number of practical problems and did not prosper commercially. Plasma lamps with an internal phosphor coating are called External Electrode Fluorescent Lamps(EEFL); These external electrodes or terminal conductors provide the radio frequency electric field.
If you've ever touched a plasma ball when it's on, you know that placing your finger on the glass draws a colorful strand of light to your finger. It's like creating your own personal bolt of lighting from the electrode to your finger!
The phenomenon occurs because of the conductive properties of the human body. When you touch the glass, you create a discharge path with less resistance than the surrounding glass.
At first let's know what is Plasma?
What is Plasma?
Although it sounds a bit mysterious, plasma is actually the most common form of matter in the universe. Plasma is simply the fourth state of matter that's different from solids, liquids, and gases. The Southwest Research Institute defines plasma as "a hot ionizes gas containing roughly equal quantities of positively charged electrons".
Plasma Ball:
A Plasma Ball- also sometime called as 'Plasma Globe', "Plasma Dome" or "Plasma Sphere" is a clear glass sphere filled with various gases like Neon sometimes with other noble gases such as Argon, Xenon and Krypton at nearly atmospheric pressure and with a high-voltage electrode at it's center. A crackle tube is a related device filled with phosphor coated beads.
The plasma lamps are driven by high frequency (approximately 35KHz) alternating current at 2-5 kV. Plasma filaments extend from the electrode to the glass when electricity is supplied, creating fascinating beams of color light.
History:
In February 6, 1894, Nikola Tesla describes a plasma lamp. This patent is for one of this first high-intensity discharge lamps. Tesla used an incandescent-type lamp globe with a single internal conductive element and excited the element with high voltage currents from a Tesla Coil, thus creating the brush discharge emanation. He gained patent protection on a particular form of the lamp in which a light-giving small body or button of refractory material is supported by a conductor entering a very highly exhausted globe or receiver. Tesla called this invention "The Single Terminal lamp", or, later, the "Inert Gas Discharge Tube".
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