A luminescent tube is a gas-discharge lamp that produces light by exciting a phosphor coating with ultraviolet light. The most common type of luminescent tube is the fluorescent lamp, which is used in a wide variety of applications, including indoor lighting, outdoor lighting, and automotive lighting.
Luminescent tubes are typically made of glass and are filled with a low-pressure gas, such as argon or neon. When an electric current is passed through the gas, it ionizes the atoms, causing them to release electrons. The electrons then collide with the phosphor coating, which absorbs the energy and emits light.
The color of the light emitted by a luminescent tube depends on the type of phosphor used. For example, fluorescent lamps that are used for indoor lighting typically use a phosphor that emits white light. However, luminescent tubes can also be used to produce other colors of light, such as red, green, and blue.
Luminescent tubes are more energy-efficient than incandescent lamps, which means that they produce more light for the same amount of electricity. They also have a longer lifespan than incandescent lamps. However, luminescent tubes contain small amounts of mercury, which can be a health hazard if they are broken.
