How do electrons travel in a coiled compact fluorescent lamp?

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SUMMARY

Electrons in a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) travel through a coiled structure by utilizing an electric field that bends around corners, allowing for efficient electron movement from one end to the other. The CFL operates similarly to a fluorescent tube lamp (FTL), where light is produced through the excitation of gas atoms due to electron bombardment. The gas mixture within the CFL is maintained under low pressure, and the initial strong electric field ionizes the gas in an avalanche-like process, enabling ions to conduct current effectively.

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  • Understanding of electric fields and their behavior in conductive materials
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  • Basic concepts of electron behavior in electric circuits
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  • Research the ionization process in low-pressure gas mixtures used in CFLs
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Fluorescent tube lamp (FTL), in very simple words, produces light from excitation of atoms due to bombardments of electrons. A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) is a coiled-shaped version of FTL.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/06_Spiral_CFL_Bulb_2010-03-08_(white_back).jpg

My question is, since CFL is coiled, how do electrons travel from one end to the other end? I mean, FTL is straight so there is no problem for electrons to travel in a straight line from one end to the other end, but how is that achieved in a CFL? Do the electric field in a CFL also automatically bend around the corner, so that electrons would bend and thus can travel from one end to the other end? How is that achieved in that case?

Thank you in advance.
 
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These lamps contain a gas mixture under low pressure. Initially applying a strong electric field it is ionized in an avalanche-like process and afterwards ions conduct current in a similar fashion as liquid electrolytes.
 

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