DC primary?

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: norman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 

I am new to Tesla coils (I design analog ICs), so please excuse me if my
questions seem naive.  Looking at Tesla coil circuits, it seems that the
primary coil could be powered by a high voltage direct current source rather
than 60 Hz AC.  The "AC" for the Tesla coil seems to come from the spark gap
and the L-C resonance, not the 60Hz.  Is this correct?  Is there any advantage
to DC over AC?

Also, I have seen two different ways to connect the 6kV transformer to the
Tesla
coil.  One way has the transformer across the spark gap, and the other way has
the
transformer (in series with an RFC) across the CAP.  Is one way preferred?

I plan to build a Tesla coil capable of throwing an 8 inch spark.