Neonlamput

Neonlamput are a type of gas-discharge lamp that produces light by passing an electric current through a noble gas, typically neon, at low pressure. When a sufficiently high voltage is applied across the electrodes within the tube, the gas becomes ionized and glows. Pure neon gas emits a characteristic reddish-orange light. By adding other gases or coating the inside of the tube with phosphors, a wide spectrum of colors can be produced.

The invention of the neon lamp is credited to Georges Claude, a French engineer, who demonstrated it in 1910. Initially, neon lighting was expensive and primarily used for advertising signs due to its novelty and brightness. Over time, manufacturing processes improved, making neon lamps more accessible and popular for decorative and architectural lighting. The distinctive glow of neon signs became an iconic element of urban landscapes in the mid-20th century.

Neon lamps operate by creating an electrical discharge in a glass tube filled with a specific gas or gas mixture. Electrodes are placed at each end of the tube. When a high voltage is applied, electrons are accelerated, colliding with gas atoms. These collisions excite the gas atoms, causing them to emit photons, which we perceive as light. Different gases produce different colors: argon for blue, helium for pink, and krypton for greenish. For colors not produced by a single gas, a fluorescent coating on the inside of the tube is used. When the electrical discharge excites these phosphors, they emit visible light.

Although often referred to generally as "neon lights," many colored signs use other inert gases or mixtures, with true neon only producing its signature red. Neon lamps are known for their long lifespan and energy efficiency compared to incandescent bulbs. They have a distinctive flicker-free and vibrant light quality. However, they require a high-voltage transformer to start and maintain the electrical discharge.