Dr. Davis's counter began registering argon atoms.
Since nothing else could have created them in his underground tank, Dr. Davis concluded that every argon atom was the product of a collision with a neutrino.
This produces a 'fireball' that consists mostly of argon atoms with a rather small fraction of free electrons and argon ions.
The helium is then cooled to separate out the argon, and the argon atoms are counted based on their electron capture radioactive decays.
The argon atoms are ionized with a spark from tesla coil.
The argon atom has an analogous 3s 3p configuration.
Replies: Argon hung around because argon atoms are massive (compared to oxygen, for example) and therefore hard for the sun to blow away.
(It takes more energy to raise an argon atom out of earth's gravity than to raise an oxygen atom.)
The light is caused by glowing plasma produced by the ionization of the argon atoms.
It was found that argon atoms bombarded with continuous dosages of zeton radiation tended to become unstable.