Gas-discharge displays: The state of the art

The physics of the cold-cathode gas discharge is reviewed, with emphasis on such display-related aspects as the visible light output and the use of priming as a method of moving the light-emitting site through the display. Displays used for numerics, alphanumeric characters, and computer graphics are described, with attention being given both to commercially available units and to those which are still in the laboratory. Attempts to produce gas-discharge TV displays are reviewed. Such related problems as drive circuitry and overall system cost are discussed, with emphasis on considering the entire display system, including all the required power supplies and drive-circuit components.