Gradually continuing the theme of Magic Lanterns. Previous item is here.
An 1897 book on induction coils and related devices includes several weird Magic Lantern displays. I’m going to show them from the front, since Poser doesn’t project properly. The devices are fairly accurate but my animations are crude. This week is too hot for quality work.
Each tube has at least two electrodes, tied to the positive and negative sides of a Wimshurst high-voltage static generator. Happystar is cranking the Wimshurst while Polistra manages the display. The bulbs are mostly filled with various gases, not a full vacuum.
This one comes close to the idea of a CRT. The top and right pointy electrodes are both positive, and the concave left electrode is negative. At fairly high vacuum the remaining air ionizes in a lens-like way, pulled by the vector sum of the two positive electrodes but not aiming toward them. Instead it hits the glass like a CRT screen.
The same tube with more air shows the predictable pair of ionization paths.
Several of the experimenters found moving ‘striations’ in the gas between the electrodes. My animation is way too solid, but does show the striations moving.
Gassiot’s Cascade was famous. The negative electrode was connected to a silvered beaker, and the result supposedly resembled auroral stripes. Here’s a modern reconstruction by some retro-tech types. Again my version is way too solid.
Trying to project the Cascade shows how Poser misses the colors.
Finally, there were many fanciful exhibits of the glassblower’s art. The second one looks Kleinish. Would it transfer the electron beam into an inverted universe?
This version by Plucker shows how the striations don’t necessarily move in a straight line but follow the same gas, as lightning does.
Polistra's Mill 