RE: [TCML] Would a Tesla coil work in a vaccum?

[Thomas Schmit <Thomas.Schmit@xxxxxxx>]

Theoretically, yes it will work in a vacuum. Tuning may be slightly different than it was when operated at 1 atm but it should still work. Electromagnetic waves propogate in vacuum just fine and the dielectric capabilities of ultra-high vacuum is similar to that of air. It should be noted, however, that at partial pressures (i.e. rough vacuum) you will get corona discharge even at very low voltages - i.e. 1000 volts can generate a fantastic light show of plasma at rough vacuum.
 
 Also, keep in mind that vacuum is not an ordinary beast. If you try to put varnish (maybe shellac, too?) etc in vacuum, you will never reach UHV because these substance sublimate at low pressure. A single finger print will take roughly 2 years with a reasonable pump rate to gas off. In the meantime, it is constantly giving up gas molecules which makes it impossible to reach UHV. That is why everything has to be super clean and the system flushed with nitrogen and then baked during the pumping process. The materials used for vacuum service must be very carefully selected! 
 
Tom

________________________________

From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx on behalf of Brian Hall
Sent: Sat 4/17/2010 9:13 AM
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [TCML] Would a Tesla coil work in a vaccum?






As we know a Tesla coil is 'air cored', so what if the entire secondary and primary were enclosed in a vaccum chamber?  I imagine the toroid could sit atop and outside of the vaccum chamber, and the HV supply, spark gap and C1 could also be outside the vaccum - wires through the chamber walls sealed up nice and tight.



With no air for a 'core' would there still be streamers off the toroid, same length and brightness as there would be for the same coil if it was without the vaccum chamber? 


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Brian Hall


                                         
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