3B Scientific Teltron Luminescence Tube S User Manual
3B SCIENTIFIC
Luminescence Tube S 1000615
Instruction sheet
12/12 ALF
®
PHYSICS
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
1 Guide pin
2 Connection pins
3 Heater filament
4 Cathode
5 Anode
6 Luminescence screen
6.1 Zinc sulfide, activated with
silver
6.2 Yttrium vanadate, activated
with europium
6.3 Zinc sulfide, activated with
silver and cobalt
6.4 As 6.3 but graphite-coated
back to prevent heat radiation
7 4-mm plug for luminescence
screen
12 34 5 6
1. Safety instructions
Hot cathode tubes are thin-walled, highly evacuated glass tubes. Treat them carefully as there
is a risk of implosion.
• Do not subject the tube to mechanical
stresses.
• Do not subject the connection leads to any
ten- sion.
• The tube may only be used with tube holder
S (1014525).
If voltage or current is too high or the cathode is
at the wrong temperature, it can lead to the tube
becoming destroyed.
• Do not exceed the stated operating parame-
ters.
• Only use safety experiment leads for con-
nect-ing circuits.
• Only change circuits with power supply
equipment switched off.
• Only exchange tubes with power supply
equipment switched off.
When the tube is in operation, the stock of the
tube may get hot.
• Allow the tube to cool before dismantling.
7
The compliance with the EC directive on electromagnetic compatibility is only guaranteed
when using the recommended power supplies.
2. Description
The luminescence tube serves to demonstrate
the luminescence of a phosphorous anode when
excited by electrons (cathodoluminescence) or
ultraviolet light (photoluminescence).
The luminescence tube is a highly evacuated
tube with an electron gun consisting of a pure
tungsten heater filament inside an apertured
“cathode can” and a cylindrical anode contained
in a clear glass bulb. A luminescence screen
with three mica flags with different phosphors is
mounted on a metal support.
1
3. Technical data
Filament voltage: 6.0 V AC/DC (8.0 V max.)
Filament current: 1.6 A typical at U
= 6.0 V
F
Anode voltage: 2000 - 5000 V DC
Anode current: 160 µA typical at
U
= 4500 V
A
Phosphor screen
current: 100 µA typical at
U
= 4500 V
S
Glass bulb: 130 mm diam. approx.
Total length: 260 mm approx.
Luminescence screen:
6.1: fluorescent blue, approx. 450 nm, medium decay time
6.2: fluorescent red, approx. 625 nm, medium short decay time
6.3: fluorescent green, approx. 510 nm fluorescent, approx. 515 nm phosphorescent,
long decay time
4. Operation
To perform experiments using the luminescence
tube, the following equipment is also required:
1 Tube holder S 1014525
1 High voltage power supply 5 kV (115 V, 50/60 Hz)
1003309
or
1 High voltage power supply 5 kV (230 V, 50/60 Hz)
1003310
1 Analogue multimeter AM51 1003074
1 High-pressure mercury vapour lamp 1000852
Spectrum tube power supply (115 V, 50/60 Hz)
1003195
or
Spectrum tube power supply (230 V, 50/60 Hz)
1003196
1 Infra-red light source
4.1 Setting up the tube in the tube holder
The tube should not be mounted or removed
unless all power supplies are disconnected.
• Press tube gently into the stock of the holder
and push until the pins are fully inserted.
Take note of the unique position of the guide
pin.
4.2 Removing the tube from the tube holder
• To remove the tube, apply pressure with the
middle finger on the guide pin and the thumb
on the tail-stock until the pins loosen, then
pull out the tube.
5. Example experiments
5.1 Excitation by cathode ray bombardment
• To better observe the afterglow effects
(phosphorescence), carry out the the last
step of the experiment in a darkened room.
• Set up the luminescence tube as shown in fig.1.
• Connect both the screens and the anode to
earth for maximum safety.
• Set the voltage U
• Observe the luminescence.
The three phosphors fluoresce at different wavelengths (colours).
• Vary the voltage between 2500 V and 4500 V.
• Observe the change of the luminous phe-
nomenon.
While the intensity of the fluorescence varies
with the voltage, wavelength does not.
• With U
at 4500 V use a hand held spectro-
A
scope to view the emissions from each
phosphor.
Note that the emission from the red phosphor
comprises a number of discrete emission lines.
• Switch off the power supply and observe the
afterglow (phosphorescence).
The removal of the source of thermionic bombardment causes luminescence to cease. The
decay of emission from the phosphors is particularly apparent on the green phosphor.
5.2 Excitation by ultra-violet light
• Carry out the experiment in a darkened room.
• Set up the luminescence tube as shown in fig.2.
• Do not switch on the power supply.
Note that there is no visible photoluminescence
due to the ambient light levels.
• Illuminate the gun side of the screen with
ultra-violet light and note the initial time dependency of emission intensity.
The three phosphors fluoresce at the same
wavelength as when excited by cathode ray
bombardment.
• Vary the intensity of the ulta-violet light, ei-
ther by changing the distance between the
light source and the phosphor, or by interposing suitable filters.
While the intensity of the fluorescence varies
with the intensity and energy of the exciting radiation, wavelength does not.
• Remove the ultraviolet light and observe the
afterglow (phosphorescence).
The decay characteristic of the green phosphor
appears longer than was observed after removal
of cathode ray bombardment. The reason for
this is that the phosphorescence of this material
is quenched by infra-red radiation. When the
filament supply is switched off there remains
sufficient infra-red emission from the cooling
filament to partially quench phosphorescence.
• Set the voltage to about 4500 V and note
the current flowing (typically 0.02 µA due to
leakage on or through the glass bulb).
• Illuminate the phosphors with ultra-violet light
and note that there is no change in current.
Since there is no change in current, it is clear that
the emission from the phosphorous materials is
due to excitation processes and not to ionisation.
to about 3500 V.
A
2
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