Use of barium cold cathodes for low voltage DC-gas discharge color display panels

A technique for providing barium cold cathodes in a dc-gas discharge color display panels has been developed. A 21 × 111 cell green panel, fabricated in accordance with this technique, yielded a maintenance voltage of 88 ± 8 V. This value is approximately ⅓ that for conventional nickel cathode panels, resulting in a threefold increase in luminous efficiency.