Re: BIG plasma spheres

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <Neonglo-at-aol-dot-com>

In a message dated 1/23/01 1:45:10 PM Central Standard Time, tesla-at-pupman-dot-com 
writes:

<< Original poster: "Jim Lux by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" 
<jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>
 
 What's the biggest plasma sphere (i.e. a TC running inside an evacuated
 chamber that has been backfilled with some interesting gas) that has been
 built?  Are any details available?
 
 I've been asked about the feasibility of building a 4 foot(ish) diameter
 hemisphere or spherical display. >>
-----------------------

Hi Jim,

Are you talking about a large all glass plasma globe filled with inert 
gasses? If so, I'm pretty sure that the plasma artist Larry Albright has 
produced a globe that is at least 36" in diameter, but my memory is a little 
fuzzy on the details. Some problems I remember were weight, large enough 
vacuum system, large enough bake-out oven, and expense of inert gasses due to 
the sheer volume of a globe that size. (BTW, I can get 100 liter tanks of 
spectroscopically pure neon or argon for probably around $2 per liter, plus 
the cost of the tank.)

If you like, I can ask your question to the Neon List and see if anyone knows 
more about this, which *someone* probably does.

Tony Greer
Special Effects Neon
Lubbock, Texas
"Flowing Glass and Glowing Gas"
       ~~~SINCE 1980~~~

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