[BC] More thoughts about AM transmitter lightning

[Gregory Muir]

Similar to the behavior of a flashtube.  Exceed the manufacturer's power 
density rating of the lamp (in watts) and the plasma within the envelope 
becomes large enough so as to create high internal pressure that breaches 
the walls of the tube.

Greg


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <RichardBJohnson at comcast.net>
To: "Broadcasters' Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 2:15 PM
Subject: Re: [BC] More thoughts about AM transmitter lightning


> However, RF will fire them off! If you used a high work-function
> gas like dry nitrogen so that RF wouldn't fire them, they will
> certainly explode when 3,000 joules of lightning power sets
> them off. Ball-gaps can take that, something enclosed
> with its internal gas instantly heated to thousands of degrees,
> will not be observed intact again.
>
> --
> Cheers,
> Richard B. Johnson
> Read about my book
> http://www.LymanSchool.org
>