ELECTRICAL STORMS IN TESLAS

COLORADO SPRINGS NOTES

(& THE TRANSMISSION OF ENERGY W/O WIRES)
by
J.M. Hardesty, K.L. Corum and J.F. Corum, Ph.D.
http://www.nedyn.com/rf_history.html

Tesla Science Center Conference
Long Island, NY Nov. 5, 2011
WHO WAS HE?
Dr. Nikola Tesla: Professional Credentials
Baccalaureate Degrees: Graz Polytechnic Institute (Math/Phys/ME)
Graduate Studies: Prague (Physics)
Honors & Degrees (13): Columbia, Yale, Vienna, Prague, Paris, Sophia, PAW (Berlin)
Vice-President IEEE, Life Fellow IEEE, Fellow AAAS, IEE (British), Am. Philo. Soc.,
Edison Medal, Elliott Cresson Medal,
Nominated for an Undivided Noble Prize in Physics (1937)
Inventions: (250+ US Patents)
1. Induction Motor
2. Polyphase Power Distribution System
3. High Frequency (RF) Generators
4. Tesla Coil
5. High Frequency Effects & Phenomena
6. Robotics
7. Digital Logic Gates (AND Circuit)
8. The Wireless RF System: Radio (System of 4 Tuned Circuits)
9. Voltage Magnification via Standing Waves
His great conception of the rotating magnetic field is one of the greatest feats of
imagination ever achieved by the human mind.
He solved the greatest problem in Electrical Engineering of his time.
The evolution of electric power from the discovery of Faraday to the installation of the
Tesla polyphase system is the most tremendous event in all engineering history.
Honored by: Kelvin, Helmholtz, Crookes, Dewer, Rayleigh, Bohr, Rutherford, Bragg,
Compton, Millikan, Einstein, Armstrong, De Forest, Kennelly, Appleton, Bush
Dr. Nikola Tesla (1856-1943)
Dr. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
As to the transmission of power through,
space, that is a matter which I considered
certain, absolutely certain, years ago.
(May 18, 1917)
Counsel
What was the distance of the receiver from the sending station
in the [1899] Colorado test? Could you give the number of
miles approximately?
Tesla
Oh, 10 miles or so.
(1916 Transcript, pp. 172-173)
Issues to be Resolved
Tesla divided his time among:
1. Receiver design/construction
2. High Voltage RF Transmitter design
3. Electrical Discharge Phenomena
4. Static/Storm/Cosmic signal reception

How did he get from these to convincing
himself of the practicality of efficient
(industrial) wireless power transmission?
NY World
March 8, 1896
Colorado Springs Lab from Pikes Peak
Prospect Lake
Prospect Lake
Experimental Station fully
developed.

Activity (power delivery)
one hundred thousand
horsepower.
Teslas Lab
(by moonlight)
Lightning at Colorado Springs
Colorado is a country famous for the natural displays of
electric force. Tesla, 1904
But the most curious feature is the appearance of fire balls.
Dec. 31, 1899
owing to the power of the streamers, the luminous portion of
the same becomes a veritable fire ball. Dec. 31, 1899

I never saw fire balls, but as compensation for my disappointment
I succeeded later in determining the mode of their formation and
producing them artificially. March 5, 1904
Owing to some interference of the oscillations, veritable balls
of fire are apt to leap out to a great distance Feb. 9, 1901

The streamers were very powerful
and the spots were about an inch or
more in diameter, actual fire balls.
Dec. 31, 1899
QRN 1

ATMOSPHERIC NOISE:

COSMIC STATIC

(THE ORIGINS OF RADIO ASTRONOMY)
1896-1897
1899
A highly sensitive, self-restorative device, controlling a
recording instrument, was included in the secondary circuit,
while the primary was connected to the ground and an
elevated terminal of adjustable capacity. The variations of
potential gave rise to electric surgings in the primary; these
generated secondary currents, which in turn affected the
sensitive device and recorder in proportion to their intensity.
The earth was found to be, literally, alive with electrical
vibrations, and soon I was deeply absorbed in the interesting
investigation. March 4, 1905

Karl G. Jansky (1931)
1. Local thunderstorms
2. Distant thunderstorms
3. A steady hiss, the origin
of which is not known
Three kinds of Static:
An Epic in the History of Science . . .
Jansky Data: Feb. 24, 1932
Peaks (indicated by black arrows) occurring every 20
minutes as the antenna swept through the plane of
our galaxy. Note that the direction of each peak shifted
from nearly south (S) to southwest (SW) in about 2
hours. These peaks gave the first indication of radio
waves originating from beyond the Earth.
John D. Kraus
(W8JK)
Spectral Distribution of E-Field Noise
WINDOWS:
IONOSPHERIC TRANSPARENCY
WINDOWS:
IONOSPHERIC TRANSPARENCY
Grote Reber
(W9GFZ)
VHF/UHF Cosmic Static
LF/MF
OSU Radio Observatory (1952)
Ohio State Sky Map (250 Mhz)
Jodrell Bank - 1957
Even now, at times,
I can vividly recall the
incident, and see my
apparatus as though it
were actually before me.
My first observations
positively terrified me,
as there was present in
them something
mysterious, not to say
supernatural, and I was
alone in my laboratory at
night.
. . .

4 6 6 1 ---
. . . my ear barely caught signals coming in regular succession
NAA CUTLER, MAINE 24 kHz
Static NAA Envelope Detector

NAA Tesla Receiver
Are they dots? Or, are they dashes?

4 6 6 1

---- ------ ------ . ----....
. ..

1 2 3 . . . . ---
I caught signals which I interpreted as meaning 1-2-3
PATHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
Sketches of Mars (1883 and 1897)
Lowell Observatory
"Even these star-gazers stonisht are... and curse their lying bookes.
Edmund Spenser, Faerie Queene, Bk. 7, Canto 7
Joseph Weber (U of Md) Percival Lowell (Flagstaff)
Oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths.
Banquo (Macbeth, Act I Sc.3)
Signals that came in distinct
separated pulses and followed
Venus across the sky. - Kraus

Donato Creti Prof. John Kraus (1956)
Jupiter Donato Creti Venus
QRN - 2

ATMOSPHERIC NOISE:

LIGHTNING
REPLICATING

TESLAS OBSERVATION

OF GLOBAL

STATIONARY WAVES


(See: Aug. 4, 1899 and Sept. 9-10, 1899)
Experimental Station in
another phase of
development. Discovery
of Stationary Waves
made July 3, 1899.
Teslas Lab
(from West side)
Basic Coherer Receiver
The Coherer
Application of Condenser Method
Teslas June 1899 Coherer RCVR
The Four Modes of Coherer Operation
1. Branley Resistance collapses when input
signal exceeds i-v knee
2. Lodge restorer (tapper)
3. Bose anticipates point-contact diode

4. Tesla (a) Condenser Method of magnifying
effects (insert break + Tesla coil)
(b) Self-Exciting Method:
(locally generated RF injection + FB)
Teslas Notes: September 1899
Nickel chip coherer
Time Base
1897/1898: #609,251
Tesla (March 5, 1904)

In the latter part of the month [June] I noticed several times
that my instruments were affected stronger by discharges
taking place at great distances than by those near by.

One night, as I was walking home, meditating over these
experiences, I was suddenly staggered by a thought.

It was on the third of July the date I shall never
forget. A dense mass of strongly charged clouds gathered
in the west, and towards the evening a violent storm broke
loose which, after spending much of its fury in the
mountains, was driven away with great velocity over the
plains.
Heavy and long persisting arcs formed almost in regular
time intervals. . . The apparatus indications became fainter
and fainter with the increasing distance of the storm, until
they ceased altogether. . . Surely enough, in a little while the
indications again began, grew stronger and stronger and,
after passing through a maximum, gradually decreased and
ceased once more. Many times, in regularly recurring
intervals, the same actions were repeated until the storm
had retreated to a distance of about three hundred
kilometers. Nor did these strange actions stop then, but
continued to manifest themselves with undiminished
force. Subsequently, similar observations were also made
by my assistant, Fritz Lowenstein. No doubt, whatever
remained: I was observing stationary waves.
As the source of disturbances moved away the receiving
circuit came successively upon their nodes and loops.

Observations of Passing Lightning Storms
May 29, 1994
TESLAS OBSERVATIONS
The frequency should be smaller than
20 thousand per second . . .
The wave-train should continue for 1/12
th

or 0.08484 seconds, which is the time
taken in passing to and returning from the
region diametrically opposite the pole
over the earths surface . . .
The efficiency of transmission can be as
high as 96% or 97% . . .

RECENT EXPERIMENTAL
RESULTS

(1) Measured Data: Thornton, NH May 29, 1994
Interpretation
The outgoing and returning currents
clash and form nodes and loops
( Tesla, January 1905)
Interpretation
The outgoing and returning currents
clash and form nodes and loops
A spherical
transmission line:
Interpretation
The outgoing and returning currents
clash and form nodes and loops
No doubt, whatever, remained. I was observing stationary waves. -Tesla
Tesla -
Fowler
Memo

(7/16/25)
But Wait Theres More
The outgoing and returning currents clash and form nodes and loops
. . . To traverse the entire distance of about twenty-five thousand
miles, equal to the circumference of the globe, the current requires a
certain time interval, which I have approximately ascertained.
(Tesla, January 1905)
What was that
propagation time?
(2) Propagation Time: Set-Up
Plymouth, NH June 27, 2005
Propagation Time: Measurement
(3) Propagation Loss: Echo Amplitude Observation
Propagation Loss (to Antipode & Back)
1 10 100 1
.
10
3
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Frequency (kHz)
d
B
Propagation Efficiency vs. Frequency
SUMMARY
1.

2.

3.

4.
Conclusion: We think we are seeing
what Tesla said he saw.
% 7 . 3 % 100
08484 . 0
08484 . 0 088 . 0
=

=
t
q
% 3 . 1 % 100
714 . 0
705 . 0 714 . 0
=

=
A
q
Moving Loops & Nodes Are Observed
Knee Frequency (Stay below 25 kHz)
THE NEXT ISSUE . . .



HOW DO YOU EXCITE THIS
WAVE?
It is now certain that they can be produced with an oscillator.
(This is of immense importance.) Nikola Tesla, July 4, 1899

ANALYSIS

OF

BASE-DRIVEN

HELICAL OSCILLATORS

Tesla Coil: A Distributed Resonator
100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
1
.
10
5
5
.
10
4
0
5
.
10
4
1
.
10
5
Z
in
f ( )
0
f 10
3

BC: Anisotropic Sheath

Soln: Surface Wave Modes
5 . 0
5 . 2
20 1
1
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
o
f
D
s
D
V

|
|
.
|

\
|
~
D
n
V
Z
g
f
c
358 . 0
60

V
max
~ S V
min
Helical Resonator

Physical Measurements
D = 8.25 ft
H = 106 inches
S = 1 inch
N = 106 Turns
#6 copper wire
f
o
= 94 kHz (122 kHz w/o C
T
)
L = 0.020 henries
C
T
= 92 pF

Theoretically Predicted
V
f
= 0.0042
Z
o
= 6380 ohms
= 71 degrees
l = 0.0263 Nepers
Z
base
= 160 ohms
V
base
= 250 kV
V
top
= 9.5 MV

Nov. 1, 1899
Resonance: Lumped and Distributed
In examining the
photographs of his
experimental station
it is apparent to
experts that Tesla
did not employ
apparatus essential
to the launching of
such waves.

I conceived the idea of
producing such waves in
the earth by artificial
means . . . #787,412
Lectures at Columbia & Philadelphia
Seibts Experiment
Plate XXVI, CSN, pp. 351-357
Experiment to illustrate the
transmission of electrical
energy through the earth
without wire. Lower end
connected to ground.
(June 1900; Fig. 4, pp. 186, 206)
That little lamp is nothing
spectacular but this is a
great experiment, marking
an epoch in the art.
(Tesla to Counsel, 1916, p. 96.)
EM Wave Propagation (RF)
Dr. Franklin

AU GENIE DE FRANKLIN
(To the Genius of Franklin )

(Engraving by Jean-Honor
Fragonard)
(1778)

Eripuit Coelo Fulmen Sceptrumque
Tyrannis

He snatched lightning from the sky
and the scepter from the tyrant
Turgot


Sommerfeld/Zenneck Surface Waves
(Formal Maxwell Solution: 1907/09)
Tesla (1916):
Note, for instance, the
mathematical treatise of
Sommerfeld, who shows
that my theory is correct,
that I was right in my
explanations of the
phenomena, and that the
profession was
completely mislead.
1923
Pathological: Weyl, Norton, Burrows
Hermann Kenneth A. Charles R.
Weyl Norton Burrows
FCC

Ground Wave

Propagation

(K.A. Norton)
Distinction Between the Zenneck Surface Wave and
the Norton Ground Wave (Radiation)
1
.
10
3
0.01 0.1 1 10
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
N r
km
( )
S r
km
( )
r
km
Burrows Seneca Lake Experiments
Burrows Seneca Lake Experiments
THEORETICAL PREDICTIONS
BURROWS MEASURED DATA
Hertzian Dipole Radiating Over a Lossy
Earth or Sea: Some Early and Late 20
th

Century Controversies
by Prof. R.E. Collin (CWRU)
There is no sign error in the
1909 Sommerfeld solution.
(April 2004)
Tesla
Some day I am going to
America and harness
Niagara Falls . . .
(ONeill, p. 24: 30 years earlier)


UNSOLVED MYSTERIES

C(h) Mystery
Brushless DC
Parametric Regeneration
Power Systems
Wireless Power
TESLAS STATIC FILTER
Filter Tuning via Coupling: k
Dr. Nikola Tesla (July 10, 1856 - January 7, 1943)
Some experimenters
who have gone after me
have found a difficulty.

They say, No we
cannot [replicate it].

. . . Well, it is not my
fault. I never had the
slightest difficulty
Anyone who has no
more than my skill can
do it.
NIKOLA TESLA

Richard Feynman

Power networks
of the future may
have little
resemblance to
those of today.
It would seem as though the Creator, Himself, had electrically
designed the planet just for [this] purpose
Nikola Tesla, 1905
See the excitement coming . . .
SUMMARY
PLANETARY
VLF + HF SIGNALS
(Tesla-Reber-Kraus)
RADIO ASTRONOMY
Cosmic Static
(Tesla-Jansky-Reber)
QRN: ATMOSPHERICS
STATICS
(Tesla-Jansky)
EXPERIMENT
(Burrows)
WEYL(1918)
NORTON CORRECTION (1935)
(RADIATION + GROUND WAVE)
GLOBAL
WIRELESS POWER
(WARDENCLYFFE)
1. STANDING WAVES
2. TIME DELAY
3. ATTENUATION
SOMMERFELD (1909)
(RADIATION + GROUND WAVE)
+
(ZENNECK SURFACE WAVE)
- THEORY -
(1907/1909)
(WAVE EQUATION +
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS)
WAVE PROPAGATION:
- EXPERIMENTS -
(1899)
QRN: ATMOSPHERICS
LIGHTNING STORMS
(Tesla)
RECEIVERS -
BASE-FED
RESONATORS
BALL LIGHTNING
FIREBALLS
?
(The Magnifying Transmitter)
TRANSMITTERS
Damped Wave
CW
COLORADO SPRINGS
LAB - 1899
PIKES PEAK
Autoharp Experiment
(March 1896)
Great Pyramid
De Fonvielle, Thunder and Lightning, 1886:

Werner Siemens was surprised by a storm
whilest upon the highest platform of the
pyramid at Giseh. He noticed that a flow of
hissing charge escaped from his finger
whenever he extended it toward the
heavens, which caused his Arab guides no
little astonishment. The celebrated physicist,
taking hold of a gourd, which had a metallic
button, amused himself by drawing a few
sparks from it. This spectacle was more than
his guides could bear. (How could they
remain in the service of an enchanter who
could play with thunder and draw lightning
from his pockets?) In spite of everything
Siemens could say, the Bedouins took to
their heels, descended with dangerous
rapidity, and shortly disappeared into the
desert without claiming their pay.