Re: Lab sparks make x-rays

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Antonio Carlos M. de Queiroz" <acmdq@xxxxxxxxxx>

Tesla list wrote:
> Original poster: "Gerry  Reynolds" <gerryreynolds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Hi Antonio,
> I've been thinking about your original idea and Jim's response and I 
> was wondering if it is still possible given the following scenerio:
> The initial air is at, say, standard temp and pressure.  An initial 
> arc occurs that heats the channel.  The temperature becomes hot and 
> PV=-nRT suggests that P goes way up (n is same as before the 
> arc).  A shock wave propagates out to allow P to return to 
> normal.  Since the channel is still hot, n has been reduced. Before 
> the channel cools, another arc occurs and reheats the channel but 
> now with a smaller n.  If enough subsequent arcs occur fast enough, 
> can n get small enough to allow the MFP to extend enough to allow 
> xrays.  Of course Dmitry's comment about the channel being ionized 
> at this point and reducing the field strength is a good one.
In lightning strikes something like this may really occur, as there are
multiple discharges in rapid sequence, and the discharges take significant
time. Even in the discharge of a Marx generator, or other capacitor
discharge sparks, something similar may occur, as the discharge may have
significant oscillations (remember the Hertz oscillator, or the classic
Leyden jar discharge, that are clearly oscillatory).

Antonio Carlos M. de Queiroz