DBD lamps

[Michael Cyron]

hello,

if you have a Xenon filled DBD lamp with 2 dielectric layers, on each side,
and the electrons in the GAP are being accelerated, there are 3 scenarios
which can happen (if i understood it properly)

1. the kinetic electron energy is too low to generate new electrons
(townsend effect) or to excite the atom

2. the electron has enough energy to excite the atom, but not enough to
generate new electrons...so the Xenon will emit radiation, which will be
absorbed by the Phosphor

3. the electron has enough energy to generates new electrons after the
impact in the atom...if enough electrons are generated, a conducting channel
appears, the plasma

Is this in general correct?


And another question.
The visible light is the light from the excited atoms -> phosphor changes it
wave length to visible light.
But what is with the light from the plasma...shouldn't it also be visible,
like a lightning/flash?

Thanks a lot.