More fluorescent light...
Thanks to Dale I looked at the work of Richard Box, artist in residence with the Department of Physics at Bristol University.He had been working with glass - in fact he started the residency in the specialist glass blowing workshop integrated in the physics research activities. Prior to this he had to rely on objects made by others, but here he was able to develop his own glass-blowing skills.
There was a significant development in his work owing to a chance converstation with a friend that gave Box the idea to create Field, using 1301 fluorescent tubes powered only by the the electric fields generated by overhead powerlines.
A fluorescent tube glows when an electrical voltage is set up across it. The electrical field set up inside the tube excites atoms of mercury gas, making them emit ultraviolet light. This invisible light strikes the phosphor coating on the glass tube, making it glow. Because powerlines are typically 400,000 volts, and Earth is at an electrical potential voltage of zero volts, pylons create electric fields between the cables they carry and the ground. (Information taken from www.zen54564.zen.co.uk/r/press.htm )
I spoke to a friend currently studying Physics at Bristol and asked him if he thought I could recreate this or something similar - on a small scale! It seems that the length of the tubes is crucial - the longer the tubes the more chance of success, so my idea of using long-life low voltage bulbs (which are fluorescent tubes) may not work. Alistair also felt that the vertical postion of the tubes may be important, so that they conduct electricity - it is unlikely to work if the tubes are laid horizontally for example.
The position of the viewer, or any objects close to the power source and tubes, also affects the electrical field, so as the viewer approaches the lit tubes, they dim.
It is also important to use tubes that operate at low voltage, and in a situation where the pylons are close to the ground so that the charge does not dissipate before it hits the tubes. There is an electricity substation near where I live (not too near fortunately) and I may go out armed with fluorescent tubes one night to see if I can make them glow!
I can't seem to post any images today - I'll try again later, but if not it will have to wait until I return from a short ski trip!
posted by Lynda Cornwell @ 11:17 am
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