> On Oct 9, 2023, at 3:23 PM, Jim KO5V <[email protected]> wrote: > > As suggested, I think the photons from the lamp helped with the ionization > just enough to allow the tube's segments to eventually light up enough to > heal themselves.
I don't know about healing but light helps the gas to ionize. I would assume that the shorter the wavelength the better as the energy increases. Try using a blue or near-ultraviolet source. Ultraviolet would also work but may not penetrate the glass. Ionizing radiation will work even better because it...you know. Try using Thorium as a beta source—that should penetrate the glass. Gamma sources are even better. I just happen to have some Radium (clock dials, TR cell) and Cesium-137 around the house. Sadly, the alpha particles from While you're experimenting, try firing up a Tesla coil that's too far away to fully ionize the gas by itself. Or hold it near a plasma sphere. Terry Bowman, KA4HJH "The Mac Doctor" https://www.astarcloseup.com "Every kid starts out as a natural-born scientist, and then we beat it out of them. A few trickle through the system with their wonder and enthusiasm for science intact."—Carl Sagan, Psychology Today, 1996 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/81E06BC9-AAE0-4E02-87FE-DA8E6C9333CB%40gmail.com.
