1  Abstract

Professor James Clerk Maxwell, "father" of the fundamental Maxwell Equations, describes one electric phenomenon at the beginning of his "Elementary Treatise on Electricity" [MAXWELL1888]: Small shreds of paper are attracted by a stick of sealing-wax, after it is rubbed on woollen cloth or flannel. This and many other electric phenomena incited and incites scientists to do research on things, most people hardly recognise and nobody knows what you could use them for. The results (not all) of these research projects led to today's sophisticated technology which still moves on.

This thesis treats another electrical phenomenon: Arcing on a Jacob's Ladder. A high voltage generator to feed a Jacob’s Ladder is designed, simulated and built.

The project “Electrodynamic Sculpture” is designated to produce artistic objects to demonstrate high voltage phenomena. This thesis treats the design and assembly of a dc-source for a Jacob’s Ladder.

Theory about dc-arcing and voltage multiplying is presented. The electronic design is documented and simulation and measurement results are compared.

The high dc voltage is generated by a voltage multiplier combined with ultrafast switching power electronic.

This page is part of a Frameset: Electrodynamic Sculpture: A Thesis by Rafael Bräg.