Slayer exciter is simplest version of tesla coil as slayer exciter

requires only some basic components (transistor, resistor, a

primary coil and a secondary coil) and it is does not produce
much heat because it consumes less power.
But in the case of Tesla Coil the proper tuning of the windings
are required to match its resonant frequency, and it also
employ a large amount of power due to large sparks.

Hope that you remember the laws of mutual induction, I will again
proceed with the help of points.
As the circuit is closed the transistor starts working as a
switching device and this action produces a high
frequency pulsating wave which is further fed to the primary
coil.
Which induces a high voltage pulsating wave in the air
cored secondary coil.
These steps explain that how a high frequency, high
voltage wave is generated.
So now the earth works as the ground (0 volts) and the free
end of the secondary coil works as positive point, this setup
works as a Capacitor (can be understood simply as a charge
(energy) storage device) with air as dielectric.
We can also connect the free end of the secondary coil to any
hollow metallic conductor (in our case the foil ball) (just to
increase the area of positive plate).
Now as this function as a capacitor the high voltage electric
field (area over which electrostatic forces are significantly
strong and working) are generated across the plates.
When a CFL or any Fluorescent Bulb is placed near the coil it
intercepts the electric field and the particles inside the lamps
gets excited due to field, and due to excitation, it hits the
fluorescent walls and lights up.
Therefore, only CFLs glow when brought near the coil.
CAPACITOR

A capacitor is an electrical device that stores electrical

energy in form of electric charge.