by 
The Curious Bag
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"Neon Under-Glow" has become sort of a catch-all term that covers any sort of indirect lighting system mounted beneath a car. These eye-catching light systems have seen a number of crests and falls over the years, but remain one of the most popular aftermarket lighting alterations on the street today.
History
Neon underglow was first used on emergency vehicles in the late 1970s to help with night-time visibility, but eventually worked it's way to the custom car scene in the early 1990s.
Neon Function
Neon lights work by passing an electric current through a tube filled with a mixture of gases to produce light.
Pure Gas Colors
Neon itself produces a signature red glow, argon makes lavender, krypton is green, argon and mercury makes ultraviolet, helium makes gold and CO2 glows white.
Coated Tubes
Many colors are produced by coating the inside of the tube with a phosphorescent coating and filling it with ultraviolet argon and mercury. This effect is exemplified by the glow that naked "black-lights" impart to a darkened room.
Legality
Generally, any color used by emergency vehicles is prohibited on road-going neon systems. This includes blue, white, red and (in some cases) yellow or gold.
Source:
Neon Haven: Neon Light Articles
Chevrolet Forum: Neon Light Discussion
Import Tuner Magazine: 2002 NOPI Coverage
Resource:
youtube.com: LED Underbody Lighting (Video)
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