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A cold cathode vacuum tube, also known as a cold cathode tube or simply a
cold tube, is a type of vacuum tube that does not require a heated filament to
emit electrons. Instead, it uses a cathode that is made of a material with a low
work function, such as certain metals or semiconductors. When a high voltage is
applied between the anode and the cathode, electrons are emitted from the
cathode and flow toward the anode.
The absence of a heated filament distinguishes cold cathode tubes from hot
cathode tubes, such as the more common vacuum tubes like the triode or the
tetrode. In a hot cathode tube, the filament is heated to a high temperature,
which causes electron emission.
Cold cathode tubes can be found in various applications, such as neon lights,
voltage regulators, and gas discharge tubes. They are also used in some types of
vacuum fluorescent displays (VFDs), where they provide bright and uniform
illumination.
One specific example of a cold cathode vacuum tube is the
Nixie tube. Nixie
tubes were popular in the mid-20th century as numeric displays for electronic
devices like calculators, counters, and clocks. They consist of a series of
cathodes in the shape of numerals or other symbols, surrounded by a mesh anode.
When a specific cathode is activated by applying voltage to it, the
corresponding numeral or symbol lights up.
Overall, cold cathode vacuum tubes offer an alternative method of electron
emission compared to hot cathode tubes and have found applications in various
electronic devices.
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