[old_tv_nut]

Originally Posted by DavidGoncalv

With those examples, I guess the question is - what does the electron do once it has struck the phosphor and imparted its kinetic energy to the excitation of the phosphor atoms. Does it bounce back at a slower velocity and drift back to the nearest anode? Is there a weak surface current along the glass back to an anode surface?

'Bouce' also including secondary emission.

The current eventually returns to the most positive electrode. The unknown is what charges can accumulate on the phosphor and glass envelope.