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(Bizarre) Strange Spark Phenomena




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From:  FutureT-at-aol-dot-com [SMTP:FutureT-at-aol-dot-com]
Sent:  Tuesday, February 03, 1998 9:35 AM
To:  tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject:  Re: (Bizarre) Strange Spark Phenomena

In a message dated 98-02-03 03:45:12 EST, you write:

<< >One that I like is some sort of beating associated with the gap firing
> >energy point on the AC sine. (Varying in spark systems)  Another thought I
> >like might have to do with the number of beats in the decaying wave train
> >(coupling and gap related).
> >
> Richard,
> 	I've been doing some low break rate quenching tests today
> using a +-10kVdc supply. I've been observing the gap voltage and RF
> output. No matter what type of gap I've used, I see this type of spark
> to a grounded electrode at these low break rate; of between 1 and 10
> bps.
 
> 	It can't be an AC mains beat because I'm using a DC supply.
> It's not the beat envelop because I still see it when the gap quenches
> at the first beat notch. It didn't matter if I was using a 9 gap
> cylindrical gap, a 6 gap commercial gap, a pair of carriage bolts or
> my async rotary. (I just went out to the garage and double check this)
 
> 	Regards,
 
> 	jim >>

Richard, Jim, all,

I don't remember if I mentioned it on this list previously, but when
I operate my small staccato tube coil that produces the one, straight,
swordlike stabbing spark, if I turn up the power a little higher, small
sparks begin to appear at right angles to the main spark "trunk".  
The small sparks are separated by a few inches and I think evenly
spaced along the main trunk spark.  The whole thing looks like a
utility pole with the climbing nails that stick out of it going all the
way up to the top.  The main spark on the staccato coil is about 17"
high and goes straight upwards.

I have to take a look at the coil output to verify that these small
right angle spark protrusions are truly spaced evenly...but if they
are...it would suggest to me some sort of node points, maybe
a ringing in the arc itself, or some harmonic action, etc.  Or maybe
there's a better explanation.  Whatever it is, it's very bizarre, and
I've never seen anything like it in other types of coils. 

The right angle aspects of the small side sparks suggests to me that
these small sparks are seeing the main trunk as a sort of ground plane,
perhaps with energy storage within these nodes (which become
known only by the emission of the small side sparks).  Or maybe
there's a standing wave on the main spark trunk itself, but it would
have to be around 200MHz to have the few inch spacing.  The coil
runs at 500kHz.  It would be interesting if the small right angle side
sparks themselves have small side sparks which would suggest a
fractal nature.  I'll take a look at the spark again and report if there's
anything interesting.

John Freau