Re: ATM Neon lamps in Fizeau tester

["Bob May" <bobmay@nethere.com>]

Yep, the neon bulb is a current device and it starts out lighting a small
part of the two terminals where the breakdown is smallest and gradually
ionizes more as the current goes up.  It gets to a point where all of the
two terminals are fully illuminated.  At this point, any increase of
brightness is insignificant with higher currents and eventually you get to
the point where the ionized gas gets so hot that it starts illuminating in a
higher band and that's the real start of a quick destruction.
Bob May
http://nav.to/bobmay
bobmay@nethere.com