Primary Q's and Spark Gaps

To: tesla-at-grendel.objinc-dot-com
Subject: Primary Q's and Spark Gaps
From: EDHARRIS-at-MPS.OHIO-STATE.EDU
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 1995 00:20:27 -0500 (EST)
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	Just getting back to a topic which bugs me a bit: based on some 
comments by Mark B., I was rather suprised that people are only getting (and 
correct me if this is wrong) primary Q's of maybe 10-20 with no coupling to 
the secondary circuit.

	Throwing some numbers at it, let's assume the primary inductances 
people might use are, say, Lp=100uH and the primary capacitance, Cp, might 
be 20nF. Estimating Qp=sqrt(Lp/Cp)/Rp, the "average" primary resistance 
from all factors such as spark gaps, skin, proximity, adn dielectric losses 
should be about Rp=0.3ohm. Seem reasonable?

	Is most of this Rp coming from the spark gap? 

	If so, have there been any serious attempts to improve the 
conductance{of the spark gap? I realize that we've got a catch 22 situation 
here: gaps that have high conductance are usually harder to quench- still, 
I'm curious... 

-Ed Harris