Making low-pressure-reassure lamps relies on the fact that the discharge medium is liquid or gas at room temperature. If this condition isn’t met, then you have to jump through hoops (like low pressure sodium) to insulate the discharge tube and reflect IR light. Since mercury is the only metallic element that is liquid at room temperature, it is typically the only metal present in “traditional” style low pressure lamps (excluding amalgams). But, the alloy named Galinstan (68.5% Ga, 21.5% In, and 10% Sn according to google AI overview) is liquid all the way down to -19°C/-2.2°F. I wonder if this alloy could be used in fluorescent tubes as an alternative for mercury. Obviously, you would need to completely redesign the phosphor to better suit the emission of this alloy, but I don’t think that would be out of reach.
What do you think?
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