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Re: TC Characteristics Q's
There aren't any uses of TC's in spacecraft that I am aware of (doesn't
mean that there isn't though, just I haven't heard of it). In fact,
because of the sort of broad spectrum RF noise from a typical TC, I think
the folks responsible for Electromagnetic Compatibility and Interference
would run like the wind....
There have been experiments with plasmas, etc.
----------
> From: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: Re: TC Characteristics Q's
> Date: Sunday, April 23, 2000 10:01 PM
>
> Original Poster: "Jacob Smith" <camelot-at-erols-dot-com>
>
> Thanks Jim for your response. I really appreciated it.
> I noticed you email address. Are you aware of use of TCs in any of our
> spacecraft?
> Well, anyway, I will continue to educate myself concerning Tesla's work.
>
> Thanks again.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2000 1:17 PM
> Subject: Re: TC Characteristics Q's
>
>
> > Original Poster: "Jim Lux" <jimlux-at-jpl.nasa.gov>
> >
> >
> > > My questions involve the conditions around and inside the
> > different
> > > components of a Tesla Coil itself. I understand there is ionization
of
> > the
> > > air immediately around the top capacitance whether it's a sphere or a
> > > toroid. Is this true? Can anyone explain? (anything to do with the
> > skin
> > > effect and electron bombardment of oxygen molecules?)
> >
> > Not much to do with skin effect. Lots to do with high voltage. If the
> > electric field is greater than about 30 kV/cm (70 kV/inch) the air
breaks
> > down (i.e. ionizes). In some circumstances you get a corona discharge,
in
> > others a spark (lots of complex and disputed theory as to why one and
not
> > the other in a particular situation, by the way). If you have a sphere
> (or
> > something) at a high voltage relative to ground, the field is strongest
> > right next to the surface, and gradually gets less as you move farther
> > away.
> >
> >
> > > Also, I was interested in finding out if there are magnetic
> > fields
> > > inside of the top capacitance or inside the coils themselves (rail
> > guns?).
> >
> > Certainly there are magnetic fields, but they aren't all that strong.
> The
> > total stored energy in a tesla coil is on the order of a few joules,
the
> > currents aren't all that high (compared to, say, a can crusher or
quarter
> > shrinker). Rail guns (and coil guns) work by an entirely different
> > principle.
> >
> > > I saw a photo of a huge demonstration TC where a man was actually
inside
> > of
> > > the sphere while it was operating. Could this be true also?
> >
> > Most certainly... Inside any conductive object there is no net field.
This
> > is the principle behind a faraday cage, a Van de Graaf generator, and
> > shielding in general. Now, if I were standing in that top sphere, I
> > wouldn't go sticking my hand outside the sphere, though!!
> >
> >
> >
>
>