Reply To: What can we do with $189 Billion?

[Francisl]

Here is possible method to produce an effect similar to glow discharge along the full length of the cathode arms. Indirectly heated cathodes could be placed along the full length and on both sides of each of the cathode arms. These heated elements would create a thermionic electron emission that would ionize the nearby gas similar to a glow discharge. The heating elements would only have to be operated a short time before each shot. A side effect is that the heater elements could also heat the chamber to a specified temperature so that there is more uniformity in shot to shot performance.

This approach could be tested in a college physics lab. Place a Jacob’s ladder spark gap in a bell jar with the same pressure and fuel as used in a dpf. Put indirectly heated cathodes along the sides of the spark electrodes. Observe the operation of the spark discharge with and without the use of the cathodes.