Re: More on spark delay

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

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

In a message dated 4/23/02 10:29:52 AM Eastern Daylight Time, tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
writes:


>
> >So my supposition remains:  It is the capability of spark-gap systems to
> >deliver higher power during the (at least first part of) 100 us or so that
> >allows for the longer sparks.  And it is the physical/thermal inertia of the
> >air in the path of the spark that causes the 100-us phenomenon to exist.
> >
> >But perhaps this is old-hat to spark experts.  Comments?...
> >
> >Ken Herrick



Ken,

I would think that a first step would be to compare the spark length
for a spark gap TC running at 16 bps, to match the 16 bps of your
system.  Maybe such operation would show equal spark lengths
for each system? (assuming equal peak toroid voltages, with 
equal toroid sizes.)  I still think that most of the power in your system
is being "wasted" in the sense of feeding power for a too-long
duration (7mS), at a too slow pulse-rate.  This seems to make
the spark bright and thick,
rather than long.  In a spark gap TC, the spark pulse duration is short,
so it has no time to grow bright and thick.  There's no time for the spark
impedance to drop very much.  Instead, the streamer
path cools some, then reignites and extends on the next "bang".
These bangs come close enough together to give proper spark
length growth.  For best growth, it seems the break-rate must
be neither too fast nor too slow.  I have no idea if my ideas are
correct here.  It's possible that what I mention is only a part of the
answer.  

In any case, it's definitely a most interesting subject, and your
analyses are most appreciated.  It would be good to prove the
issue one way or another.

Cheers,
John