Resonant transformers

Resonant transformers



A resonant transformer uses the inductance of its primary winding in series with a capacitor to form a tuned resonant circuit. When the primary winding is driven at its resonant frequency, each pulse of current develops an oscillation in the secondary coil. Due to resonance, a very high voltage develops across the secondary, until it is limited by some process such as electrical breakdown. Resonant transformers such as the Tesla coil can generate very high voltages, able to provide much higher current than electrostatic machines such as the Van de Graaff generator.[27] Another application of the resonant transformer is to couple between stages of a superheterodyne receiver, where the selectivity of the receiver is provided by tuned transformers in the intermediate-frequency amplifiers.