You know LCDs have taken over when people don't know the difference between a particle accelerator and a CRT :-).

Basically the guy uses a 45Kv voltage source to 'accelerate' electrons past a grid which then hit a phosphor and emit light (poorly). If he had used mercury vapor he could have created ultraviolet light and then used a phosphor to convert that to visible light and thus make his very own fluorescent bulb.

Now this stuff used to come out every month in Scientific American's Amateur Science column, these days they are afraid to publish such information for fear of being sued. Sad really.