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Re: Laser Triggered Spark Gap

You've got a really cool idea here. I'm going to ask one of our local People
Who Know About These Things about laser ionization, and what level of power
would be needed. For a bigger laser source, you might consider finding a
dead laser which still contains a working lasing tube and hooking that tube
to an ignition coil.

You also mention ignition coils being used to start the arc--what physical
arrangement would be involved here?

           --Mr. Postman (Doug Brunner)
                <dabrunner-at-earthlink-dot-net>
-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Date: Tuesday, November 03, 1998 2:57 AM
Subject: Laser Triggered Spark Gap


>Original Poster: "Steve Young" <youngs-at-konnections-dot-com>
>
>To fellow sparkers,
>
>This list has a lot of discussion about spark gap performance, quenching,
>etc., which certainly is valuable and needed.  For static gaps, discussions
>seem to indicate quenching is improved for wider gaps.  But a point is
>reached where the gap is too wide for spark initiation.  Thus the need for
>a means to "help" a wider gap initiate a spark.
>
>Occasionally the use of triggered spark gaps is mentioned, but the thread
>soon dies.  I would think this is an area for experimentation which could
>yield a LOT of benefits.  For one thing, the bps could be under our precise
>control simply by varying the trigger frequency.  If one chose to lock the
>trigger frequency to the AC line frequency and adjust the phase
>relationship, one would in effect be able to duplicate the performance of a
>RSG without having to mess with high RPM balanced rotors, etc.  Having the
>gap fire when WE want it to instead of when it can no longer resist firing
>itself would make for much better control and scope pictures for some of
>the other testing Terry and others are doing.
>
>The various triggering mechanisms have been touched on in this list.  These
>can range from pulse generator driven ignition coils to lasers.  My
>experiments with SCR driven crummy ignition coils indicates they are good
>for break rates up to at least 800 bps.  I don't know how the good GM
>ignition coils perform at higher break rates - anyone have some experience?
>
>
>Lasers would have the advantage of being able to simultaneously trigger a
>bunch of aligned series gaps by aiming the beam through all the gaps.  I
>suspect some Marx generators are fired that way.  But where can the
>cash-strapped experimenter find a suitable laser which can sufficiently
>ionize the air to initiate spark breakdown?  The only potential cheap
>sources I am aware of would be to use a $15 laser pointer in a pulse mode.
>Would this work?  Specifically, can the laser diodes handle microsecond
>pulses of a much higher energy without self destructing?  If so, could they
>produce enough pulse energy to trigger spark gaps?  If so, what would the
>pulse width and peak power need to be?  Does anyone know what the laser
>diodes used for tattoo removal, etc. cost and where to get them?
>
>In summary, isn't it time to move toward triggered spark gaps for
>disruptive TCs?
>
>Thanks in advance for your comments.
>
>--Steve
>
>
>