Original poster: "Kurt Schraner" <k.schraner@xxxxxxxxxxx> Hi,my mother's language is German (more precise: Schwyzerdütsch), so here goes (please excuse my clumsy English):
the importent part of the text at: http://www.ipp.mpg.de/ippcms/de/presse/pi/05_06_pi.html"Abgesehen von der Energieversorgung durch eine leistungsfähige Kondensatorbatterie ist der Versuchsaufbau ziemlich einfach: In ein mit Salzwasser gefülltes Becherglas ragen zwei Elektroden, wobei die eine durch ein Tonröhrchen vom umgebenden Wasser isoliert ist. Wird Hochspannung angelegt, so fließt für 0,15 Sekunden ein bis zu 60 Ampere starker Strom durch das Wasser. Durch einen Überschlag vom Wasser aus gelangt der Strom in das Tonröhrchen, wobei das dort enthaltene Wasser verdampft. Nach dem Stromimpuls zeigt sich ein leuchtendes Plasmoid aus ionisierten Wassermolekülen."
translates to:Irrespective of the powersupply by means of a powerful capacitor battery, the experimental setup is fairly simple: two electrodes are plunged into a saltwater filled tumbler(?), one of whose is insulated from the surronding water by a small clay-tube. When HV is applied, an up to 60A strong current flows through the water during 0.15 seconds. By means of an electric spark (--> "electric blow" by dictionary translation) starting from the water, current gets into the clay-tube, whereby the water contained therein evaporates. After the current pulse a luminous plasmoid composed of ionized water molecules shows up.
The last sentence as well as the use of a clay(=ceramic)-tube seem relevant to me. My current hypothesis about the working principle goes like this: The developing arc at the surface of the water in the tube evaporates and ionizes the water, transforming it to a plasma, starting at the surface. Ceramic material is important, in order not to destroy the tube by the hot arc. Not shure, if the porosity of the tube also plays a role, but probably not. As seen in the accompanying schematic sketch, the HV is introduced from the downside of the tube. This may be, in order not to disturb the free evaporation from the surface, at the same time forcing the current to travel through the water in the tube, instead of taking the short way, i.e. between the electrode wires. Not shure, if the lower end of the tube is sealed against the surrounding water, but probably not (why else having the _surrounding_ water, if not for filling the tube for the next flash...maybe some cooling properties?). Continuing my speculation, important parameters might be the surface(=cross section area) of the tube as well as the volume of the contained water, and the salt concentration of it. The PSU must bring sufficent voltage, to ignite the arc, and sufficient joules to evaporate a certain amount of water. The upper rim of the ceramic tube must be not too far above the water surface, in order not to need too high voltage for ignition.
BTW: I'm fairly confident, the phenomena shown are not a fake, 'cause even some diploma-thesis subjects, regarding the "ball lightning experiment" are pubished here:
http://plasma.physik.hu-berlin.de/The experiment seems quite fascinating to me, and I'd like to see "our" first replicate ... or do it myself ;-)
Cheers, Kurt Tesla list wrote:
Original poster: Vardan <vardan01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Hi Jim, So they might mean an actual "porous clay" thing that, when all wet, allows current to pass through but would still be physically like a little "pressure canon". That might be very similar to the situation where a lightning strike hits the ground and drills a hole Earthwards. I don't have anything like a clay tube. So a power drill with a small bit :-))) I can't think of any common items from the hardware store that could be "utilized" right off... Most modern clay electrical ceramics are very water proof... The time function given is about right but I wonder if the current is very high at first and decreases dramatically during the event. They might have just done a simple average RC time thing to get the odd very low 60 amp number... I bet it is more of a high initial pulse current to get the explosion of plasma going and just all inertia driven after that. Cheers, Terry At 06:27 PM 6/9/2006, you wrote:At 04:13 PM 6/9/2006, you wrote:Original poster: Vardan <vardan01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Hi, The problem is - what in the world is a ""Clay/tone"" ???? It really means 'nothing' in English.. A number of net translator engines get "small" out of it too... The original key word, with the little spots and all lost, is "Tonröhrchen"...ö = oe die Roehre is a tube (either as in a pipe, or as in a "valve" in electronics) roehrchen is a small tube Tonroehr would be a resonant tube/organ pipe/etc. The clay-pipe reference probably refers more to a Tonpfeife.. a flute made of clay, as opposed to wood/etc. So, there's some sort of tube insulating the electrode from the water. It says that the current flows through the water for 0.15 seconds at up to 60 Amps (einflussen is the verb, here) The next sentence is talks about "via the Ueberschlag (overturning, dissociation?)of the water of the current (Strom) through the tiny tube .. the contained water evaporates. After the current impulse (Stromimpuls) a glowing plasmoid is (shown) from ionized water molecules. I think zeigen, here, means "created" as opposed to the usual meaning of pointing or showing.I think this is one of those terms only locals that really speak the language all the time understand. So we need some German person to translate it for "sure" ;-)) There is a city named Clayton, but I don't think it would fit in the tank... Cheers, Terry