It occurred to me recently that the use of ANY plasma (including a simple spark gap) is VERY DANGEROUS to life if not precisely controlled and/or shielded.
If you don't know the frequency and the geometric formation of the plasma, and other such characteristics, you have no idea what kind of RADIATION it is giving off.
As a welder, I realize I may have to contend with SKIN CANCER and/or other such things.
A user of a SPARK GAP is at just as high a risk.
I've read of inventors who had ended up battling cancer due to the radiation they worked with.
If you don't believe me, then make an open-air plasmoid in your microwave (I pray you don't).
I did this once and NEVER will do it again. As a welder, I'm familiar with a small discomforting sensation in my brain each time an arc is struck. With a few seconds exposure to a plasmoid in a microwave (even with the shielding in the window) I felt that discomfort in my head for nearly half an hour after the experiment, at an intensity at least 10 times greater than any welding arc.
Not to mention the obvious danger to the eyes.
Shield all discharges with LEAD and/or ALUMINUM!
BE SAFE!
EDIT: And I'm sure you all are aware of the REAL and EXTREME DANGER of artificial MAGNETIC FIELDS.
****This is why the Egyptian Hieroglyphs depicted the operators of their devices clad in metal. They shielded their vital organs and had other metal to effectively act as a Faraday Cage.****
If you don't know the frequency and the geometric formation of the plasma, and other such characteristics, you have no idea what kind of RADIATION it is giving off.
As a welder, I realize I may have to contend with SKIN CANCER and/or other such things.
A user of a SPARK GAP is at just as high a risk.
I've read of inventors who had ended up battling cancer due to the radiation they worked with.
If you don't believe me, then make an open-air plasmoid in your microwave (I pray you don't).
I did this once and NEVER will do it again. As a welder, I'm familiar with a small discomforting sensation in my brain each time an arc is struck. With a few seconds exposure to a plasmoid in a microwave (even with the shielding in the window) I felt that discomfort in my head for nearly half an hour after the experiment, at an intensity at least 10 times greater than any welding arc.
Not to mention the obvious danger to the eyes.
Shield all discharges with LEAD and/or ALUMINUM!
BE SAFE!
EDIT: And I'm sure you all are aware of the REAL and EXTREME DANGER of artificial MAGNETIC FIELDS.
****This is why the Egyptian Hieroglyphs depicted the operators of their devices clad in metal. They shielded their vital organs and had other metal to effectively act as a Faraday Cage.****
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