Abstract

This paper describes the theory, construction and initial tests for an enclosed spark gap, otherwise known as a spark gap tube. This spark gap tube was used in place of a conventional open-air spark gap in the primary circuit of a small bipolar Tesla coil. The experimental results indicate that this spark gap tube is quiet and rapidly deionizing (quenching), and does not reduce the Tesla coil output. The spark gap tube used in this experiment is similar to ones used in early high-voltage switching research, conducted during World War II toward the development of radar.