Naked Science Forum
General Science => General Science => Topic started by: lennie on 12/04/2008 23:38:31
-
Can one have a clear tube and therefor more light?
-
No. The definition of a fluorescent tube is that it relies on fluorescence. The discharge in the tube produces UV light which then is absorbed by the fluorescent coating and re-emitted in the visible spectrum. You can have clear discharge emissions, like a sodium light for example, but then there is no fluorescence involved.
-
No. The definition of a fluorescent tube is that it relies on fluorescence. The discharge in the tube produces UV light which then is absorbed by the fluorescent coating and re-emitted in the visible spectrum. You can have clear discharge emissions, like a sodium light for example, but then there is no fluorescence involved.
I've got a "clear" tube - it gives off a sky-blue light... and lots of ultraviolet. This is the natural colour of the (mercury) discharge. If I had more time I'd do you a nice photograph!
As Graham says, they put the white phosphor on the tube to convert that ultraviolet to visible. The visible light you see from a fluorescent tube is generated in the white coating on the inside of the glass - and is much brighter than the bluey/UV "inside" light would be.