Xenon retrofit in UrS6?

[Ameer Antar]

very true, the high voltage excite the xenon atoms so that the outer 
electrons move to higher electron states, ie. further from the nucleus. 
This step requires energy which comes from the high voltage. Then the 
electrons fall to a lower state, back to their more natural or ground 
state. This process gives off energy, which in this case just so happens to 
be light energy. Really nothing is being consumed, and there are no 
molecules being converted into something else like when fuel is burned. So 
the gas won't ever be 'used up'.

You can do the same to most gases, like mercury [in fluorescent tubes], 
hydrogen, etc. Each gas has it's own characteristic color, b/c each atom 
has it's own arrangement of electrons. Depending on how far the electrons 
move or where they move from and to gives off different wavelengths or 
colors of light. Each gas emits a few different wavelengths b/c there are a 
number of electrons which can move in several different ways. In the case 
of Xenon, this combination just happens to give the closest light to white 
light, probably b/c it has quite a few different electrons that can move in 
different ways, giving a balanced range of wavelengths [colors].

-ameer


At 06:46 PM 11/30/2000 , you wrote:
>FYI,
>
>As Eric said, the gas CAN'T wear out. The light it gives off is a
>physical property of the substance. Astronomers use this property to
>discover the composition of distant stars. The ballast used to get the
>right "excitation" voltage to get the gas to arc, that's a different
>story. In stars, nuclear reactions act as the trigger. Guess its time to
>get the Mr. Fusion device off the back of the DeLorean in "Back to the
>Future".
>
>the Physics Teacher
>
>On Thu, 30 Nov 2000 00:54:40 -0600 "Eric Fletcher S.O.C."
><Steadi at swbell.net> writes:
> >> I've seen many Mercedes's and BMWs that have Xenons that went out.
> >The gas
> >> will
> >> wear out in the end, but the lifespan is much longer than for
> >Halogen bulbs.
> >> You can read a lot about Xenon here:
> >http://www.hella.de/shop/xenon/indexe.htm
> >
> >
> >It's not the Gas it's the ballast and the electrodes in the envelope.
> >
> >
> >
> >Eric Fletcher
> >'00 S4tt
> >