Low-energy cathodoluminescence of alkali yttrium terbium metaphosphate glass—A new AC plasma display

An ac plasma display cell has been fabricated having a newly developed alkali yttrium terbium metaphosphate glass as a major light emitter as well as a transparent insulative material. Unlike most other color plasma displays wherein coated phosphors are excited by UV radiation in the discharge and emit visible light, the metaphosphate glass is predominantly excited with low-energy plasma electrons whose energy matches the transition band energy of Tb³⁺ions in the glass. Light output from the cell was measured as a function of gas species and pressure. A brightness of 57 fL at a power efficiency of about 0.1 1m/W was obtained in an At-filled cell operated by 1000-V sinusoidal ac at 15 kHz.