Electron collision ionized plasma waves in the positive column of a fine discharge tube

In fluorescent lamp tubes, a few millimetres in radius, operating at several tens of kilohertz, the initiation of light radiation is characterized by the propagation of an electron plasma wave, accompanied by ionization caused by electron collision. Due to the effects of the ionization collision of electrons on the dispersion behaviour of the plasma waves, the electron plasma waves generated by the pulses of operation voltage, propagate along the positive column plasma without experiencing damping. The propagation velocity of radiated light, which represents the propagation of the electron plasma wave, can be higher than the electron thermal velocity.