In this experiment, a simple lifter element has its top wire made out of fine Nichrome wire - the one usually used for electrical heaters. The aim of the experiment is to check for increase thrust of the lifter when the wire is heated.
The high voltage power supply was set just enough for the lifter to 'float' with its heater wire cold. The hv cathode is connected to the wire and anode to the foil. A low voltage 12v supply is also connected across the corona/heater wire. When this 12 V supply is switched on, temperature rises, and a boost is given to the lifter's thrust. When switched off, the lifter returns slowly to its normal thrust, as the temperature of the wire goes back to ambient value.
This experiment shows that it is possible to increase the thrust for a lifter by just increasing the temperature of the wire. In a way it works very similar to a heated cathode within a vacuum tube. The hotter the wire, the more ions are generated, the higher the current and the higher the thrust.
Conclusions
