Re: visibility of an arc

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Mddeming@xxxxxxx 

In a message dated 4/9/06 5:48:01 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
tesla@xxxxxxxxxx writes:
Original poster: "Langer Giv'r" <transworldsnowboarding19@xxxxxxxxxxx>

Hello, I've been wondering, how and why are we able to see the
electric arc that a tesla coil gives off?  I know that it is the
ionization of the air and shifting the air into a plasma, but how and
why do we see it?
Thanks


Hi Langer,

    When the air is ionized by an arc or streamer from a TC, not all 
the electrons are stripped away from the atoms. In fact, most are 
not. They are, however kicked up several energy levels from their 
normal positions. As they drop back down these energy levels, they 
emit photons, the energy of each being unique to the specific level 
transition. Some of these are in the visible range.  Thus, what we 
see is the visible range energy given off by the electrons returning 
to their normal state in the air molecules.

Matt D.