RE: vacuum spark gap

• To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
• Subject: RE: vacuum spark gap
• From: "Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau-at-compaq-dot-com> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)
• Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 18:35:10 -0600
• Approved: twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net
• Delivered-To: fixup-tesla-at-pupman-dot-com-at-fixme

I don't believe that a "vacuum spark gap" actually involves a vacuum.
Rather it employs a vacuum cleaner motor to suck or blow air across static
gaps.  The spark gap must assume a low resistance state in the triggered
condition, and this requires plasma - super hot ionized air.  I don't think
a spark gap would work in a vacuum, and it would work poorly in low pressure
air.

Gary Lau
Waltham, MA USA

		-----Original Message-----
		From:	Tesla List [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
		Sent:	Saturday, April 29, 2000 11:35 AM
		To:	tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
		Subject:	vacuum spark gap

		Original Poster: "Alfred C. Erpel" <aerpel-at-pil-dot-net> 

		Hello,
		
		    I am going to build a vacuum spark gap. I have a vacuum
pump capable of
		10^-4 torr. I have all the machine shop equipment, vacuum
grade grease etc. to
		do this properly. It will need to switch less than 500
watts.
		    What non-mechanical issues might there be? X-ray
concerns or any other type
		of radiation? What percentage of energy might be expected to
be absorbed by the
		gap and/or radiated? What is the dielectric strength of a
10^-4 torr vacuum?
		
		Regards,
		Alfred Erpel
		
		

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