It requires a source of electrons and a gas to fluoresce. The inside of a TV picture tube has many of these ingredients with an electron beam striking the photo-cathode causing the material there to fluoresce. Ordinary fluorescent bulbs are also another similar analog with a gas excited to fluoresce by being stimilated by electrons.
All answers are provided by Dr. Sten Odenwald (Raytheon STX)
for the
NASA IMAGE/POETRY
Education and Public Outreach program.