I've got a question about vacuum tube driven Tesla coils. Every one of these I've seen produce distinctive-looking sparks - the link below to Roger Smith's TC is a great example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29248051@N02/6104333777/in/photostream What is it about using a vacuum tube to drive a Tesla coil that creates these sparks? I am guessing it has something to do with thermionic emission speeding up the electrons as they leap across the tube. Please correct me if this is wrong.
I'd think electron speed across the tube is irrelevant. Spark gap class coils generate a 'damped' Oscillation.It rises in voltage over over a few cycles, then falls. The typical VT coil
generates a 'continuous', constant voltage oscillation. The sparks will be different... -- best dwp _______________________________________________ Tesla mailing list Tesla@xxxxxxxxxx http://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla