In reply to Horace Heffner's message of Sun, 22 Jul 2007 21:38:09 -0800: Hi Horace, [snip] I think Bill has a device somewhere on his web page that can create very high momentary voltages. Perhaps long enough to bring about fusion in the "cathode" (though as you pointed out, a gas cell may work better). The device comprises two coupled capacitors. One of the two is a door-knob type, the other is a sheet of foil wrapped around a fluorescent tube. When the tube is lit the plasma forms a second electrode separated from the foil by the glass wall of the tube. The foil is wired to the door-knob cap. When the tube is lit, the foil can be charged negatively relative to ground. If the tube is turned off, the plasma electrode disappears (its charge going to ground), and the charge on the foil is no longer balanced. This results in the charge spreading itself as thinly as possible over the metal surfaces with which it is in contact, including the door-knob cap. Because a single pole capacitor has a much smaller capacitance than a plate capacitor, the voltage jumps enormously.
Now if this door-knob cap. happens to be made of e.g. nickel, and furthermore is already saturated with Hydrogen, then fireworks may ensue. :) Regards, Robin van Spaandonk The shrub is a plant.
