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Re: A Puzzle




From: 	Greg Leyh[SMTP:lod-at-pacbell-dot-net]
Sent: 	Saturday, September 06, 1997 4:08 PM
To: 	Tesla List
Subject: 	Re: A Puzzle

Richard Wayne Wall wrote:

> Contrary to popular opinion, "current levels
> required to support streamer growth are in the multi-ampere range" are
> not required to form the ionization channel.  In fact, current, per se,
> does not cause ionization.  This is an outmoded EM concept.  Ionization
> of ambient gases around a TC is due to electrostatic energy.

True, the _initial_ ionization occurs via the electric field.  However, the
subsequent maintenence and growth of the arc channel is accomplished in large
part by Joule heating (Isquared X R) of the arc channel.  Actual measurements 
of the secondary current show that this is the case.


-GL