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My understanding is as follows: The capacitor charges until the voltage reaches the breakdown voltage of the air gap. Then, the capacitor discharges through the resistor, the current jumps across the air gap switch, and then across the underwater gap (after bubbles are formed and an electrode avalanche occurs). I am using unfiltered tap water in this application. I am interested in knowing how the current behaves in the circuit in general, and across the spark gaps in particular. Once the capacitor voltage reaches the breakdown voltage, do the two spark gaps simply act as two more resistors, limiting the current throughout the entire circuit? Or is the current through the spark gaps different than that through the resistor? Using high-speed camerawork, I have noticed a millisecond-scale period of bubble formation and movement across the underwater gap before the underwater discharge occurs. Does the capacitor "wait" to discharge until the gap is prepared for breakdown? Or do the bubble phenomena occur after capacitor discharge, when the current has already reached the electrode surface? I wish I knew more about electricity. I only hope my questions make enough sense that someone can help me. Thanks for your time!
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