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How does Neon work? Neon lights (cold cathode luminous tubes) consist of sealed, vacuum-tight glass tubing fitted at both ends with glass-enclosed metal terminals called electrodes. These tubes are attached to a vacuum pump which removes the air inside the tube. A small amount of a rare gas such as neon or argon is drawn into the tube, and the tube is permanently sealed. When the electrodes are connected to a high voltage source, the current bombards the inert gas atoms with electrons knocking them out of their orbits. The electrons collide with other free electrons sending them back toward the atoms. As they are absorbed back into the atom, energy is given off as light. Neon consumes very little power and gives off very little heat while providing a continuous and steady glow.
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