Geissler Tube

A Geissler tube is an early gas discharge tube used to demonstrate the principles of electrical glow discharge. The tube was invented by the German physicist and glassblower Heinrich Geissler in 1857. It consists of a sealed, partially evacuated glass cylinder of various shapes with a metal electrode at each end, containing rarefied gasses such as neon, argon, or air; mercury vapor or other conductive fluids; or ionizable minerals or metals, such as sodium. When a high voltage is applied between the electrodes, an electrical current flows through the tube. The current disassociates electrons from the gas molecules, creating ions, and when the electrons recombine with the ions, the gas emits light. The color of light emitted is characteristic of the material within the tube, and is composed of one or more narrow spectral lines. Many different colors and lighting effects can be achieved. In the early 20th century, Geissler tube technology was commercialized and evolved into neon lighting.