[NewCandle] aluminum holiday

[Horace Heffner]

On Dec 11, 2008, at 11:32 AM, Jones Beene wrote:

> "If the origin of light is solid state electro-
> luminescence then  it  is  probable  that  the  light
> intensity is a monotonously increasing function
> of  current.


This is exactly what I observed for anode glow at much higher  
voltages, i.e. 300-1000V.  I could instantly dial the brightness by  
simply turning the variac dial and thereby increasing current. I was  
using a scope and current measuring resistor.   I don't think the  
author's conclusion above necessarily applies to HV anodes though.

I see the author's or editor's spell checker probably rejected  
"monotonically" and substituted "monotonously", which it is anything  
but.  8^)

In any case you have to keep in mind the focus of the author's work  
is the *cathode*, and the glow range is so low that a photomultiplier  
tube had to be used, and the voltage range was a mere 0-10 V. I don't  
think it follows that HV anode glow is necessarily solid state, i.e.  
electron-hole annihilation, though I did suggest the possibility in  
my 2006 vortex posts on the subject, summarized here (see p.13 for  
note on e-hole annihilation):

http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/GlowExper.pdf

Best regards,

Horace Heffner
http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/