How to light up a lamp with a plasma ball?
A high voltage electrode sits in the center of the plasma ball and is connected to the power source. electrical current ionizes the gas in the ball when the ball is turned on, this creates plasma. The high frequency current extends beyond the surface of the ball. When you bring the fluorescent tube near the ball the same energy "excites" the mercury atoms inside the bulb. These atoms emit ultraviolet light which is absorbed into the phosphor coating inside the tube, lighting up the tube.