How do neon signs produce orange-red light?

Neon signs produce their characteristic orange-red light through the process of gas excitation. When an electrical current is passed through neon gas contained at low pressure within a glass tube, the electrical energy excites the neon atoms.12

This excitation raises the atoms from their ground state to higher energy levels. As these atoms decay back to their original ground state, they release the stored excitation energy in the form of photons, which we perceive as a bright orange-red light. This phenomenon is a specific application of the electric discharge lamp, where the unique energy transitions of the neon element dictate the specific color of the emitted light.3214