Re: Lightning Gun To Combat Terrorists - WHERE IS THE RETURN PATH???

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Original poster: Scott Stephens <scottxs@xxxxxxxxxxx>

Sorry for jumping in the thread late. I would add that nobody is 
considering the dynamics of the arc or plasma channel. Plasma, as an 
ionized gas, has interesting, complex dynamics. Creating a microwave 
plasma in a waveguide with a magnetic field could perhaps start a 
channel-mode propagating. That is, the microwaves "blow" the plasma 
out the waveguide like you might blow soap into a bubble, except in 
this case the bubble is a tube. You can google for "plasma", 
"soliton", Langmuir, Landau, et. to learn more.

Then theres using atomized fluid streams or micro-bb's to create a 
dielectric breakdown path through the air. Or perhaps a powerful 
acoustic shock to create a dielectric fault? Since dielectric 
breakdown happens much faster than the speed of sound, perhaps a 
supersonic acoustic soliton could channel an arc?

But anyways, you've done little more than make an electronic 
flamethrower that any good rain or drizzle would put out.

Scott