Plasma globe

Not to be confused with Plasma lamp.

A plasma globe or plasma lamp (also called plasma

The eect of a conducting object (a hand) touching the plasma

globe

5 kV.[1] This energy comes from a lower-voltage DC

power supply usually connected to mains power, and ows
through a high-voltage transformer combined with a highfrequency electronic oscillator circuit which together output a high frequency and high voltage AC to the electrode. Therefore, the circuitry inside the electrode can
be considered as a specialized power inverter. The highfrequency high-voltage power, or radio frequency energy,
is transmitted into the gas within the globe through an
electrode at its center. A much smaller hollow glass orb
can also serve as an electrode when it is lled with metal
wool or a conducting uid that is in communication with
the transformer output. In this case, the radio-frequency
energy is admitted into the larger space by capacitive coupling right through the glass. Plasma laments extend
from the inner electrode to the outer glass insulator, giving the appearance of moving tendrils of colored light
within the volume of the globe (see corona discharge and
electric glow discharge).

A plasma globe with laments extending between the inner and

outer spheres

ball, dome, sphere, tube or orb, depending on shape) is

(usually) a clear glass sphere lled with a mixture of various noble gases with a high-voltage electrode in the center
of the sphere.
Plasma laments extend from the inner electrode to the
outer glass insulator, giving the appearance of multiple
constant beams of colored light (see corona discharge and
electric glow discharge). Plasma globes were most popular as novelty items in the 1980s.[1]
The plasma lamp was invented by Nikola Tesla[2] after his
experimentation with high-frequency currents in an evacuated glass tube for the purpose of studying high voltage
phenomena, but the modern versions were known to be
rst designed by Bill Parker.[1] Tesla called this invention
an inert gas discharge tube.[3]

Some globes have a control knob that varies the amount

of power going to the center electrode. At the very lowest setting that will light or strike the globe, a single
tendril is made. This single tendrils plasma channel engages enough space to transmit this lowest striking energy
to the outside world through the glass of the globe. As the
power is increased, this single channels capacity is overwhelmed and a second channel forms, then a third, and
so on. The tendrils each compete for a footprint on the
inner orb as well. The energies owing through these are
all of the same polarity so they repel each other as like
charges: a thin dark boundary surrounds each footprint
on the inner electrode.

Description

Although many variations exist, a plasma lamp is usually a clear glass sphere lled with a mixture of various gases (most commonly neon, sometimes with other
noble gases such as argon, xenon and krypton) at nearly
atmospheric pressure. They are driven by high-frequency
alternating current energy at approximately 35 kHz, 2 Placing a nger tip on the glass creates an attractive spot
1

2
for the energy to ow, because the conductive human
body (having non-ohmic resistance of about 1000 ohms
at room temperature) is more easily polarized than the dielectric material around the electrode (i.e. the gas within
the globe) providing an alternative discharge path having
less resistance. Therefore, the capacity of the large conducting body to accept radio frequency energy is greater
than that of the surrounding air. The energy available
to the laments of plasma within the globe will preferentially ow toward the better acceptor. This ow also
causes a single lament, from the inner ball to the point
of contact, to become brighter and thinner.[1] The lament is brighter because there is more current owing
through it and into the 150 pF capacity, or capacitance,
presented by an object, a conducting body, the size of
a human. The lament is thinner because the magnetic
elds around it, augmented by the now-higher current
owing through it, causes a magnetohydrodynamic eect
called self-focusing: the plasma channels own magnetic
elds create a force acting to compress the size of the
plasma channel itself.

HISTORY

the laments.
The neon available for purchase for a neon-sign shop often comes in glass asks at the pressure of a partial vacuum. These cannot be used to ll a globe. Tanks of gas,
each with its specic, proper, pressure regulator and tting, are required: one for each of the gases involved.
Of the other noble gases, radon is radioactive, helium escapes through the glass relatively quickly, and krypton
is quite expensive. Other gases can be used. Molecular
gases may be dissociated by the plasma.

2 History

Much of the movement of the laments is due to heating of the gas around the lament. When gas along the
lament is heated, it becomes more buoyant and rises,
carrying the lament with it. If the lament is discharging into a xed object (like a hand) on the side of the
globe, it will begin to deform into a curved path between
the central electrode and the object. When the distance
between the electrode and the object becomes too great
to maintain, the lament will break and a new lament
will reform between the electrode and the hand. (see also
Jacobs Ladder)
An electric current is produced within any conductive
object near the orb. The glass acts as a dielectric in a
capacitor formed between the ionized gas and the hand. Video of plasma globe
In U.S. Patent 0,514,170 (Incandescent Electric Light,
1894 February 6), Nikola Tesla describes a plasma lamp.
This patent is for one of the rst high-intensity discharge
lamps. Tesla used an incandescent-type lamp globe with
a single internal conductive element and excited the element with high voltage currents from a Tesla coil, thus
creating the brush discharge emanation. He gained patent
protection on a particular form of the lamp in which a
light-giving small body or button of refractory material
is supported by a conductor entering a very highly exhausted globe or receiver. Tesla called this invention the
single terminal lamp, or, later, the Inert Gas Discharge
Tube.[3]
A Tesla ball at the NEMO science museum in Amsterdam

The Groundstar style of plasma globe was created by

James Falk and marketed to collectors and science museums in the 1970s and 1980s. Jerry Pournelle in 1984
praised Orb Corporations Omnisphere as the most fabulous object in the entire world and magnicent ... a
new kind of art object, stating you can't buy mine for
any price.[4]

The globe is prepared by pumping out as much air as

is practical. The globe is then back-lled with neon
to a pressure similar to one atmosphere. If the radiofrequency power is turned on, if the globe is struck or
lit, now, the whole globe will glow a diuse red. If a
little argon is added, the laments will form. If very little
xenon is added, the owers will bloom at the ends of The technology needed to formulate gas mixtures used in

3
todays plasma spheres was not available to Tesla. Modern lamps typically use combinations of xenon, krypton
and neon, although other gases can be used as well.[1][3]
These gas mixtures, along with dierent glass shapes and
integrated-circuit-driven electronics, create the vivid colors, range of motions and complex patterns seen in todays plasma spheres.

Applications

Plasma lamps are mainly used as curiosities or toys for

their unique lighting eects and the tricks that can be
performed on them by users moving their hands around
them. They might also form part of a schools laboratory
equipment for demonstration purposes. They are not usually employed for general lighting. However, as of recent
years, some novelty stores have begun selling a nightlight
plasma lamp that can t into a standard light socket.[5][6]

Hazards

Bringing conductive materials or electronic devices close

to a plasma globe may cause the glass to become hot. The
high voltage radio frequency energy coupled to them from
within the globe may cause a mild electric shock, even
through a protective plastic casing. The radio frequency
eld produced by plasma lamps can interfere with the operation of touchpads used on laptop computers, digital
audio players, cell phones, and other similar devices.[1]
Some types can radiate sucient radio frequency interference (RFI) to interfere with cordless telephones and
Wi-Fi devices several feet or some meters away.
If a tinfoil hat is placed on the globe, capacitive coupling
can transfer enough current through the foil to give a small
arc burn or light a small lamp connected to earth ground.
This is possible because the globes glass acts as a capacitor dielectric: the inside of the lamp acts as one plate,
and any conductive object on the outside acts as the other
capacitor plate.[3] This is dangerous to do, can damage
the globe, and presents a re hazard.[1]

See also
Fusor
List of light sources
List of plasma (physics) articles
Sulfur lamp
Vacuum arc

6 References
[1] Gache, Gabriel (January 31, 2008). How do plasma
lamps work?". Softpedia. Retrieved November 16, 2009.
[2] Tesla, Nikola (1892). Experiments with Alternate Currents of High Potential and High Frequency. Retrieved
July 26, 2010.
[3] Barros, Sam (2002). PowerLabs Plasma Globes Page.
Retrieved November 16, 2009. |section= ignored (help)
[4] Pournelle, Jerry (April 1984). The Most Fabulous Object
in the Entire World. BYTE. p. 57. Retrieved 2 March
2016.
[5] Plasma Ball Night Light Makes Us Nostalgic For Bed
Wetting, gizmodo.com, 2007-11-27
[6] Plasma Night Light, 4physics.com, 2010-02-17

7 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

7.1

Text

Plasma globe Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_globe?oldid=742590542 Contributors: Arpingstone, Cyp, Julesd, Glenn, Jengod, Doradus, Tpbradbury, Geraki, Stormie, Denelson83, Robbot, Kizor, Dina, Wjbeaty, Dbenbenn, Art Carlson, Avsa, Foobar, Wronkiew,
Matt Crypto, Geni, R. end, ConradPino, LucasVB, MistToys, Iantresman, M1ss1ontomars2k4, Arminius, Discospinster, Neep, Rama,
ESkog, Slike, Danieljackson, Ylee, Kaszeta, Art LaPella, RoyBoy, StoatBringer, RichardNeill, PiccoloNamek, Atlant, Keenan Pepper, Ransack, Atomicthumbs, Wtshymanski, Vcelloho, T1980, Skatebiker, Computerjoe, Kouban, Bookandcoee, MickWest, ChrisJMoor, Mel
Etitis, Canadian Paul, Slike2, Akira625, SDC, Snaekid, Saperaud~enwiki, Rjwilmsi, Quiddity, Alban, Lotu, Fish and karate, Kevmitch,
Arnero, Srleer, WriterHound, Ravenswing, Jehoy, Dili, Shawn81, Bovineone, NawlinWiki, Howcheng, Nick, Ragesoss, Searchme,
Tabby, E Wing, Colin, Toastysoul, Pdraic MacUidhir, NickelShoe, The Claw, SmackBot, Eskimbot, Antidote, Gilliam, Thumperward,
Shalom Yechiel, Wen D House, T-borg, Jhugart, Andrew c, DMacks, Dguye, Ck lostsword, Dogears, Ricky540, Rootbeerinacan, Carnby,
Mystc, Thorium~enwiki, Iridescent, Tawkerbot2, Orangutan, HDCase, Daedalus969, Rglong, Greg.loutsenko, LaFoiblesse, Reywas92,
Rob.desbois, Gogo Dodo, Chris is not available, Kire Delacroix, Editor at Large, Thrapper, Coelacan, Keraunos, Headbomb, Electron9,
Siawase, Nick Number, ChrisKing, AntiVandalBot, Dioxholster, Gkhan, JAnDbot, LoveCowboy2024, Railk, Penubag, Magioladitis, Mgmirkin, Ragimiri, Cpl Syx, Spewmaster, Artaxiad, Triceratops 07, Bragr, James brown007, Am00nz0r5, Fountains of Bryn Mawr, JohnEklund, Delmlsfan, Belegur, JavierMC, Nero design, Malik Shabazz, SdgPlasmaArt, GLPeterson, P1h3r1e3d13, Falcon8765, Meson81,
Quantpole, Adams4num2, Lestrade23, AlexHillan, Meltonkt, Mywood, Vegetable4, Jc-S0CO, Ellamosi, OKBot, Denisarona, Chjalani,
Martarius, ClueBot, Mriya, Piledhigheranddeeper, Calimo, Squid tamer, Editor510, DumZiBoT, KingsOfHearts, Ost316, Gamesquad,
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Rubinbot, Materialscientist, The High Fin Sperm Whale, Xqbot, Capricorn42, Wikikone, StefanPtr, Kgncombavato, Mathonius, JayJay, Thayts, Chutznik, MikeyFaraday, Rain drop 45, Teulon3000, Mean as custard, Ripchip Bot, Hhhippo, Matthewcgirling, James Falk,
Chris857, Stanstanstanstanstan, ClueBot NG, Gen Scinmore, Dominiquewikki, Reify-tech, Mark Arsten, Sparkie82, John many jars, Shawn
Worthington Laser Plasma, Callum Waugh, BattyBot, HueSatLum, Rezonansowy, Sminthopsis84, Lugia2453, Dustin V. S., Ugog Nizdast,
Saectar, Sierras17, Sharmavishakha01, Johnb1371, AwesoMan3000, Kaden806, Sammii123, Filipz123, Ericj1212 and Anonymous: 228

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