Re: Magnetic quenching.

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

Original poster: "S & J Young" <youngs-at-konnections-dot-net> 


Matthew,

What you are probably remembering is an early RF oscillator called a Poulsen
Arc oscillator or transmitter.  Before vacuum tubes were used in
transmitters, high powered carbon arcs in a hydrogen atmosphere and a strong
magnetic field exhibited negative resistance characteristics that were
employed in transmitters.  They oscillated usually below 100 KHz.  The
magnetic field was produced by electromagnets in series with the arc
current.  Some of the transmitters were huge and consumed hundreds of
kilowatts.  One of the truly huge Federal transmitters was dismantled and
the electromagnet ended up being used in one of the first cyclotrons.

Do a web search for Poulen Arc for some very fascinating reading from a
by-gone era.  There was an experimenter in New Jersey I believe who
succeeded im making a Poulsen Arc powered Tesla coil.  The List archives
also has some information, and even the beginnings of a Poulsen Arc Club.
The latter has fizzled into obscurity as has the Poulsen Arc concept.

--Steve Y.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Saturday, March 13, 2004 12:12 PM
Subject: Re: Magnetic quenching.


 > Original poster: Matthew Smith <matt-at-kbc-dot-net.au>
 >
 > Tesla list wrote:
 > >Original poster: "Binny" <binny-at-midmaine-dot-com>
 > >Hello Again,
<SNIP>
 > Hmm.  This concept - at least that of having electromagnets in series with
 > the gap - sounds familiar, but I can't remember from where.  I seem to
 > remember seeing something in one of my ancient EE textbooks, but wouldn't
 > know where to start looking.  Sound familiar to anyone else?
 >
 > Cheers
 >
 > M
 >
 > --
 > Matthew Smith
 > Kadina Business Consultancy
 > South Australia
 > http://www.kbc-dot-net.au
 >
 >
 >
 >