The Incandescent W Experiment
Observed electrical waveforms:
In our version of the Incandescent W experiment, we are using an "overhung" heavy-duty Variac and a full-wave silicon-diode bridge to produce a 0-240VDC supply. At present we have no filter capacitors in this power supply. The cell is a 250 ml beaker with a 1 cm2 Pt mesh anode and a 1/16" dia W welding rod cathode. Only about 1 cm of the W rod is exposed to the electrolyte…the rest is sheathed in thick Teflon tubing.
This shot shows the voltage (top) and current (bottom) traces when the cell is relatively cold. Note the RMS values displayed on the right.
This shot shows the voltage (top) and current when the cell is hot but the voltage is below the sparking threshold.
Now the voltage has been raised to the point where the cathode is surrounded by dancing purple sparks. It appears that the sparks are occurring each cycle during the period of peak voltage.
Now we are in "incandescent mode". The cell is rumbling loudly and emitting a bright white light. This is only a typical set of traces. The current trace is highly erratic.
Comments?