[ARC5] VR Tubes

[Bill Fuqua]

    It only takes a few free electrons to get the ionization process going.
That is easy due to the fact that it is practically impossible to find 
completely non-radioactive
materials on this planet. All the stuff spewed the core of the planet is 
radioactive, low level
at least. Not only that we also have cosmic rays. And on top of that there 
is field ionization due
to any very sharp points that may exist on the cathode. Lots of 
possibilities to get the first few
electrons free in the low pressure tube.
73
Bill wa4lav



At 09:32 PM 11/8/2012 -0500, WA5CAB at cs.com wrote:
>VR tubes contain a small amount of a radioactive gas (radon if I recall
>correctly but I won't swear to it) to provide a few photons at all times to
>help initiate the ionization event.  That's the reason for all of the 
>radiation
>warning trefoils on the added page in the front of most 1950's or 60's
>vintagae TM 11's, and added to the outside of the tube boxes.
>
>Robert Downs - Houston
>wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
>MVPA 9480
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