Re: Ball lightning ?

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

Original poster: "Terry Fritz by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <terry-at-hot-streamer-dot-com>

Hi Richie,

At 09:32 PM 1/4/2002 +0000, you wrote:
>Whoa Terry,  you overestimate my knowledge of Chemistry.
>
>That paper was _very_ heavy going for me,  but I'm sure there are
>others on the list that could validate this.  I should have paid
>more attention in high school chemistry lessons !

I didn't get much of it either but it "sounded " good too me. ;-))

>
>BTW.  I forgot to mention that the RF source in my SSTC runs from
>rectified BUT NOT SMOOTHED mains electricity.  Therefore the RF is
>not continuous but modulated with a 100Hz envelope.  (You probably
>guessed that from the sound ;-))  I guess your RF source generates
>a smooth CW output and produces a stable flame which is probably
>fairly quiet ???

OH!  I didn't know this.  That might actually make a big difference.  I
have always wanted to run in the staccato mode like John Freau but my
generator's external input has a low frequency response. Some of it's
internal control loops are very fast but I am a bit afraid of blowing it up.

>
>When I tried running my inverter from a smoothed supply,  the arc
>became much quieter and more stable,  but the flashes of light above
>the flame ceased.  I think the RF source might need to be pulsed in
>order to make the arc a bit unstable ???  Not sure.

OK! :-)

>
>Let me know how you get on with your research into this ;-))
>
>Cheers,
>
>-Richie,
>

I'll pass this onto the list too incase others are trying this stuff.
Thanks for the new pictures and movie too!  It looks like one needs sort of
a vortex of whirling air currents and some "dust" too.  If this stuff
really is the key to making "real" ball lightning, it would be a BIG deal :-))

Cheers,

	Terry