Plasma ball science

◇ Although many variations exist, a plasma lamp is usually a clear glass sphere filled with a mixture of various gases (most commonly neon, sometiomes with other noble gases such as argon, xenon and krypton) at nearly atmospheric pressure.
They are driven by high-frequency altemating current energy at approximately 35kHz , [1] This energy comes from a lower-voltage DC power supply usually connected to mains power, and flows through a high-voltage transformer combined with a high-frequency 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 high-frequency 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 filled with metal wool or a conducting fluid 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 filaments 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).
◇ Placing a finger tip on the glass creates an attractive spot for the energy to flow, 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 filaments of plasma within the globe will preferentially flow toward the better acceptor. This flow also causes a single filament, from the inner ball to the point of contact, to become brighter and thinner. [1] The filament is brighter because there is more current flowing through it and into the 150pF caoacity, or capacitance, presented by an object, a conducting body, the size of a human. The filament is thinner because the magnetic fields around it , augmented by the now-higher current flowing through it ,causes a magneto hydrodynamic effect called self-focusing: The plasma channerl’s own magnetic fields create a force acting to compress the size of the plasma channel itself.
◇ Much of the movement of the filaments is due to heating of the gas around the filament. When gas along the filament is heated, it becomes more buoyant and rises, carrying the filament with it. If the filament is discharging into a fixed 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 filament will break and a new filament will reform between the electrode and the hand.
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.
◇ The globes is prepared by pumping out as much air as is practical. The globe is then back-filled with neon to a pressure similar to one atmosphere. If the radio-frequency power is turned on, if the globe is “struck” or “lit”, now, the whole globe will glow a diffuse red. If a little argon is added, the filaments will form. If a very little xenon is added, the “flowers” will bloom at the ends of the filaments.
The neon available for purchase for a neon-sign shop often comes in glass flasks at the pressure of a partial vacuum. These cannot be used to fill a globe. Tanks of gas, each with its specific, proper, pressure regulator and fitting, 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.