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Re: red 8 mm tube pressure:XENON, Krypton
About your question on Krypton or Xenon:
YES, I experimented with Krypton, but xenon is too expensive
(12 liters at atm pressure cost abt 800DM here)
Ionization potentials of Kr and Xe are lower than of Ar.
So the operation voltage after ignition is lower per foot.
The cathode fall of Kr and Xe is HIGHER than of Ar and Ne and He.
So your electrodes will get hotter than with Ar.
But to use it in combination with mercury, I could not recommend it.
The lower the ionization potential, the cooler the tube is.
You will get too low partial Hg pressure, so your tubes will be
only as bright as pure Argon / Mercury in deep winter outside.
So for special effects Kr and Xe might be okay, but not for standard use.
How much is Xe at your supplier? Comes it in glass flasks or bottles?
Would be interested, if cheap...
Marcus Thielen
Student of physics at Duisburg University
email: marcus@ttphysik.uni-duisburg.de
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