Detecting the absorption of a laser beam by air can be challenging since air is generally transparent to most laser wavelengths. However, certain conditions and techniques can help identify if a laser is absorbed or scattered by air. Here are a few methods you can consider:

Beam visibility: If the laser beam is visible along its entire path, it suggests that the laser is scattering off particles in the air. This scattering phenomenon is known as Rayleigh scattering and occurs more prominently for shorter wavelengths, such as blue or green lasers.

Beam attenuation: If the laser beam appears dimmer or weaker as it propagates through the air, it could indicate absorption by airborne particles or molecules. This effect becomes more pronounced with longer wavelengths, such as infrared lasers. Comparing the intensity of the laser beam at different distances can provide insights into potential absorption.

Beam divergence: If the laser beam rapidly expands or diverges over a short distance, it may suggest scattering or absorption. This occurs when the laser energy is transferred to the air, causing a decrease in the beam's intensity and coherence.

Detection equipment: Specialized equipment like LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) systems or laser absorption spectrometers can detect the absorption of laser light by atmospheric gases. These instruments utilize sophisticated techniques to measure the absorption and scattering characteristics of laser beams at specific wavelengths.

Environmental conditions: Certain atmospheric conditions can affect laser absorption, such as high humidity, fog, or airborne pollutants. In these situations, the laser beam may be scattered or absorbed to a greater extent, resulting in reduced visibility or power.

It's important to note that determining laser absorption by air requires careful analysis and often requires specialized equipment or knowledge. If you're working with lasers and need accurate measurements or assessments, it's recommended to consult experts or refer to scientific literature and research in the field.

You may experience some spark on the primary if the cell get charged

I think is a good idea to test the bifilar coil but you may experience some sparks at very high voltage applied

I got it to spark even without being bifilar so is in my concern aways

I just got my replacement 4.6" MnZn PC40 ferrite toroid. I'm finalizing my transformer design now, I'm going to maximize mutual inductance between primary and secondary, thereby maximizing the re-routing of their forces with the positive feedback loop. I'm also bifilar winding the chokes on the same core, I have worked out how to rephase them all to work in harmony...

Only thing I'm still deciding is whether to wrap the primary+secondary bifilar, or wrap the primary on top of the secondary. Basically bifilar would increase mutual induction, but primary on top of secondary would allow higher step-up with larger diameter primary wound on top of smaller diameter secondary.

From the history of LEDs....regarding Red
The cheapest, and most abundant of Stan's time (not a whole lot changed, they just got brighter and more durable/weatherproof)

"The first commercially usable LEDs were developed in the 1960’s by combining three primary elements: gallium, arsenic and phosphorus (GaAsP) to obtain a 655nm red light source."

655nm....1nm off from Hydrogen's lowest energy emission/absorbtion spectrum🤔

P.S. 410nm is 0.1nm off from Hydrogen's most energetic emission/absorbtion spectrum....656nm can push the electron up 1 energy level, 410.1nm can push it up 4 energy levels. 🤓

That's correct. Nice info on the old LEDs. So, wouldn't you assume something much faster would raise the energy levels even higher? such as UV in the deep C region <100nm would instantaneously ionize the H+ atom causing the electron loss.

For example I have two toroids

One I wind the primary and secondary

Than put the other close to it and wind the chokes on both

Add a capacitor after the diode between the chokes

I think very few turns would be needed in that case but must work on low voltage high current input

Hope you get the idea

I don’t think bifilar is a good idea if a minimum voltage is to be maintained across the cell that is not proportional to the chokes difference only

At least some 5kv isolation would be desired and probably encapsulement or oil fill or water fill haha

I remember a picture of Stan holding a very huge toroidal coil seem to be air core

From this perspective the secondary of the Vic serves just to maintain polarization and cause a minimum to zero current flow during pulse on I believe just to be able to maintain the polarization of the electrodes than

The chokes will pick this current and energy of the core and discharge thru the capacitance to the cell

Having a difference in the chokes length will cause a voltage across the cell balancing it to the diffence of radius of the electrodes may maximize the voltage output since less current wil flow there

Is possible that this capacitance can be a plate inside the cell

The design of it will tell how much voltage will be there for a given charge

The thing is that in this manner pulling electrons from both electrodes is the only physical manner of disturbing the dielectric in the way Stan discribed and cause a voltage field without amp flowing

How much is needed to break the water?

How is it different than applying 40kv with a thin flyback?

Hell a lot

First that the chokes size and mass will tell how many charges will be momentarily displaced from the electrodes

Long story short

The thicker the wire the more charges available

The longer the wire the smaller is the electric field

I believe something like 1kv per turn may be achievable maybe more