Re: High speed Tesla spark photographs

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Vardan <vardan01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi Peter,

> At 01:23 AM 9/17/2006, you wrote:
> ...
> > It looks like the leader tip stalls a bit probably as that cycle 
> > reverses and cuts off the power. The next cycle reheats it and 
> > eventually it goes onward and briefly stalls again. ....
>
> I don't think these are leader tips and my interpretation is a 
> little different. What you have labelled as the leader tip on the 
> left looks to me like a simple change in direction for the spark. In 
> the two dimensions we see it in there is a sudden change in 
> direction downwards. This will overlap the streamers and make that 
> area bright. If the area is much brighter than expected (as it 
> appears to be visually) then this is due to a third dimensional 
> effect, ie the spark goes in or out of the plane of view for a 
> distance which will relate to the perceived brightness.

Yes!!  I see.  The leader is just towards or away from the camera 
making a bring area.  I was hoping one could also see the leader tip 
stall.  Maybe in future pictures if that does indeed happen.  But 
there are dark spots which should look like a continuous smear if 
that were the case to...  Have to think on that.  I suppose one day 
we will have a dual mirror system to show 3D :-))

> The second leader tip that you indicate on the right occurs where a 
> streamer branches. Again there is streamer overlap.

Still looks like branching to me 8-)

> In both cases the streamer channel continues although all the 4 or 5 
> channels may be "stepped" so it looks like one or two were stopped.
> The diagrams from Bazelyan/Raizer, while not well labelled with time 
> axes, indicate much faster events analysing what happens within the 
> first strike that I just see as a single event.
>
> > Happily, I just got my mirrors in ;-)))  A lot is going on the next 
> > few days, but I will see what I can get going!!
>
> Great, don't let me have all the fun...

Just got the last mirror glued and will let it cure overnight.

http://drsstc.com/~piranha/PIRANHA/GlueingMirrors.JPG

Finally, I will get to play too ;-)))


> > Cheers,
> >
> >         Terry
>
>
> Peter
> http://tesladownunder.com/HighVoltage.htm#High%20speed%20Tesla%20spark%20photography