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Strange Spark Phenomena
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From: richard hull [SMTP:rhull-at-richmond.infi-dot-net]
Sent: Saturday, January 31, 1998 6:53 PM
To: Tesla List
Subject: Re: Strange Spark Phenomena
At 02:32 PM 1/31/98 -0600, you wrote:
>
>----------
>From: Edward V. Phillips [SMTP:ed-at-alumni.caltech.edu]
>Sent: Saturday, January 31, 1998 3:31 AM
>To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
>Subject: Re: Strange Spark Phenomena
>
> I see this effect more often when operating at very low spark
>rates. Also see it in rather fascinating form when taking sparks off
>one of my Van de Graaf generators in the dark.
>
>Ed
>
>
Ed brings up an interesting point.
I, too, have noted this effect on my large Morris and Lee generator. This
is why I am not totally convinced that the Tesla coil spark/sine timing or
pulse train variations are the culprit.
I also hold that the spark channel, whether AC or DC generated, and when in
action, is a closed resonant system in and of itself! It has very high peak
currents setup in a conductor (ionized plasma) of fixed length (spark
length) It has both inductance and capacitance. The arc's self-resonant
frequency is in the UHF range! We might be seeing reflected power or nodes
in this ultra short wave region based on a number of dynamic sliding
impedances, but mostly the source impedance (tesla coil resonator and the
instantaneous state of the terminal capacitance whether static machine or
Tesla coil.
Richard Hull