How does compact florescent lamp work?

Answer 1

All the above answers have their merit.

The only thing I'll add is:
To start the lamp, instead of a large transformer ballast to generate HV, the compact flourescant bulbs have an electronic circuit in the base, that electronically generates the necessary high voltage to start the bulb going.

In my experience, I have had 2 of those circuits fail WAY before the end of the bulb-life. That makes these types of lamps "not so hot" in my book.

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Answer 2

The main principle of fluorescent tube operation is based around inelastic scattering of electrons. An incident electron (emitted from the coils of wire forming the cathode electrode) collides with an atom in the gas (such as mercury, argon or krypton) used as the ultraviolet emitter. This causes an electron in the atom to temporarily jump up to a higher energy level to absorb some, or all, of the kinetic energy delivered by the colliding electron. This is why the collision is called 'inelastic' as some of the energy is absorbed. This higher energy state is unstable, and the atom will emit an ultraviolet photon as the atom's electron reverts to a lower, more stable, energy level. The photons that are released from the chosen gas mixtures tend to have a wavelength in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum. This is not visible to the human eye, so must be converted into visible light. This is done by making use of fluorescence. This fluorescent conversion occurs in the phosphor coating on the inner surface of the fluorescent tube, where the ultraviolet photons are absorbed by electrons in the phosphor's atoms, causing a similar energy jump, then drop, with emission of a further photon. The photon that is emitted from this second interaction has a lower energy than the one that caused it. The chemicals that make up the phosphor are specially chosen so that these emitted photons are at wavelengths visible to the human eye. The difference in energy between the absorbed ultra-violet photon and the emitted visible light photon goes to heat up the phosphor coating.

Hope that helps. All fluorescent lamps work like this

Answer 3

The compact bulbs work on the same principle as the 4 ft long tubes in ceiling fixtures.

Other responders describe how all florescent bulbs work, but simply put: Electrons passed into a gas in the tube excite the molecules and as each returns to normal they fire off a particle of energy called photon which we see as light.

Answer 4

electricity stimulates the gas (noble gas such as argon) which then causes the light to glow.
the advantages of these lights are that they don't give off much heat, and are cheaper to operate.

Answer 5

you can go to visit www.licht.com and you will find all the answer you need about lighting
note that this website is a german but there is an english button in it