Electron plasma wave propagation in external-electrode fluorescent lamps

The optical propagation observed along the positive column of external electrode fluorescent lamps is shown to be an electron plasma wave propagating with the electron thermal speed of (kTe∕m)1∕2. When the luminance of the lamp is 10000–20000cd∕m2, the electron plasma temperature and the plasma density in the positive column are determined to be kTe∼1.26–2.12eV and no∼(1.28–1.69)×1017m−3, respectively.