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1/4 Wave Theories - Trash Them!
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From: Jim Lux [SMTP:jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net]
Sent: Thursday, June 04, 1998 11:46 AM
To: Tesla List
Subject: Re: 1/4 Wave Theories - Trash Them!
Tesla List wrote:
>
> ----------
> From: terryf-at-verinet-dot-com [SMTP:terryf-at-verinet-dot-com]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 1998 1:56 AM
> To: Tesla List
> Subject: Re: 1/4 Wave Theories - Trash Them!
>
> At 11:13 PM 6/2/98 -0500, you wrote:
> >
> >----------
> >From: Malcolm Watts [SMTP:MALCOLM-at-directorate.wnp.ac.nz]
> >Sent: Monday, June 01, 1998 10:03 PM
> >To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> >Subject: Re: 1/4 Wave Theories - Trash Them!
> >
> >All,
> > Earlier I wrote:
> >
> >> I hate to perpetuate what I think are basically useless ideas
> >> in here but I would be interested to see some top and bottom current
> >> measurements under no breakout conditions. All input welcome.
> >
> >Forget the request. I see it has been abundantly answered in other
> >posts I hadn't read at the time I replied.
> >
> > I suppose that one point of interest remains: can one possibly
> >do better with a coil having no topload and the same Ctot as a coil
> >with topload? I'm betting not, mainly due to ionization clamping. So
> >now I guess we're at the point when we figure out just what it takes
> >to burn air efficiently - i.e. what is the best you can possibly do
> >for some given figure of E x BPS? I suppose even this is passe - one
> >can do wondrous things if BPS is a fraction and E is huge!
> >
> > Bearing that in mind, what goals do we aim for now? Fixed E and
> >the best you can otherwise do etc.? I am beginning to feel some
> >lassitude coming on.
> >
> >Malcolm
> >
> >
> >
>
> Hi Malcolm,
>
> Here is something interesting to consider. In a coil without a top
> terminal most of the capacitive charge is stored from the windings to
> ground. In order for an arc to discharge, the current must pass through the
> inductance of the top windings to discharge the capacitance. This may add a
> very significant reactance to the discharge path. If a top terminal is
> present, the discharge can occur with extremely small series inductance.
>
> An interesting idea that may have many implications.......
>
> Terry Fritz
Especially since making a long spark requires that the voltage in the
"gap" come up slowly. If the rate of rise of the voltage is too high, it
causes too much electrostatic force on the leader, which then tries to
propagate faster than it can be "supplied" with charge to fill it. So,
you get lots of short brushy leaders with a high dv/dt (like a coil with
a high resonant frequency). The series inductance in the top of the
coil may actually help provide the proper waveshape for a long spark.