Allan's Lifter Page
An untethered lifter could be powered by microwaves focused by a parabolic reflector.
In this photo you can see a similar device.
It isn't actually the voltage which causes ionisation in lifters, it's the high electric field strength.
Ionisation always occurs in pairs, a positive (a cation) and a negative (an anion) regardless of the polarity of the wire. They are always formed in pairs, and always the same number of positive as negative ions.
In the case of a thin wire or sharp pin charged positive, a pair of ions are created close to it (where the field strength is the highest) the negative ion of this pair is attracted to the wire and ceases to exist. The positive ion is repelled from the positive wire and toward anything negative. Which - in the case of a lifter - is the foil 'skirt'.
Regarding powering a lifter with high frequency AC...
The results of my experiments with a 30kHz AC signal (directly from the flyback) resulted in a (very) small amount of thrust when the lifter which had only one electrode!
It had one corona wire - driven by the flyback transformer - and one collector (skirt) which was made of PLASTIC.
Most of the ions recombined in close proximity to the collector however, some ions (both polarities) headed for the plastic skirt where they recombined. Movement from ions to the plastic skirt resulted in a small amount of thrust.
If testing this configuration, put the plastic skirt VERY close to the corona wire.
Ion-wind powered pinwheel.
Ion wind emitted from the sharp points blows the pinwheel around (if the bearing is free enough).
It uses only the sharp points at the tips of the blades. The blades themselves become field-shaping electrodes for the direction of the corona discharge.
It will work but with not enough thrust to blow a lifter into the air.
(OK... with enough voltage it probably would.)
Having a dual power supply, I've done lots of experiments like this. The terms Top and Bottom mentioned below refer to the corona wire and foil respectively.
Using a normal lifter and a bi-polar power supply, here's what would happen if.....
Top (wire)= +50KV
Bottom = GND
Result = A normal lifter configuration
Top = +50KV
Bottom = +50KV
Result = Zero thrust (actually, a slightly negative thrust)
Top = +50KV
Bottom = +20KV
Result = Similar thrust to a lifter powered with [Top = +30KV; Bottom = GND]
Top = GND
Bottom = -50KV
Result = Similar thrust to a lifter powered with [Top = +50KV; Bottom = GND]
Top = +50
Bottom = -50KV
Result = Similar thrust to a lifter powered with [Top = +100KV; Bottom = GND]
Top = -50KV
Bottom = -50KV
Result = Zero thrust (actually, a slightly negative thrust)
An excellent website describing ions is http://www.ce-mag.com/archive/1999/mayjune/mrstatic.html
An image from patient 3018394.
