strange behaviour of RF high voltage?

Question

with only one pole of a high voltage source when the source is not grounded in any way and their is no leakage path?

Is there an electric field gradient created through air anyway? I suppose there must be but how does the current find its way back?

I found this out when playing with a high frequency cold cathode tube inverter, you can draw sparks from one side against metal objects even when the other side is not connected to anything.

Cheers

sorry, first part was 'why can you light a flourescent tube...', changed the subject of the question.

Answer 1

Although there may be no observable leakage path for DC or low frequency AC, at RF it radiates. Yes, it is certainly possible to light fluorescent tubes by RF, without any connection.

I've read of people living in high-rise bldgs in NYC in the beam path of broadcast antennas (radio or tv stations) and they did not have to pay anything to the electric company to light their apartments! Just use fluorescent tubes.

(To be able to sleep, they had to put the tubes in the closet! Makes you wonder what all that RF might have been doing to the family jewels and their precious essence!)

22 NOV 06, 0415 hrs, GMT.