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STUDY AND RESEARCH AT THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE 123
transients including lightning phenomena, high voltage production
and transmission, electrical engineering problems involving the use
of vacuum tubes, and problems relating to the generation and distribution
of electrical power for lighting and industrial purposes.
Students desiring to become research men, college teachers or
professional experts in electrical engineering may continue their work
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
This graduate work in electrical engineering also greatly strengthens
the undergraduate courses by bringing students who feel the
five and four-year courses are best adapted to their needs in close
touch with research men and problems, and provides special work
for undergraduate students wishing to do a limited amount of
research.
Of the several electrical engineering laboratories at the California
Institute, the High-Potential Research Laboratory is the most outstanding.
This building and the million-volt transformer were provided
by the Southern California Edison Company, Ltd. The millionvolt
transformer, which was designed by Professor R. W. Sorensen,
has a normal rating of 1,000 kilovolt amperes but is capable of
supplying several times the rated load at the above potential, with one
end of the winding grounded. A 2,000,000 volt surge generator
supplemented by cathode-ray oscillographs and other apparatus used
in the study of electric surges (artificial lightning) and its effect upon
electrical apparatus provides ample facility for the study of high
voltage transients. This laboratory is used both for the pursuit of
special scientific problems connected with the structure of matter
and the nature of radiation, and for the conduct of the pressing
engineering problems having to do with the improvement in the art
of transmission at high potentials. It also provides opportunities for
instruction in this field, such as are not at present easily obtainable
by students of science and engineering. The other facilities include
well-equipped laboratories for undergraduate, graduate, and special
research work in dynamo-electric machinery and electronics. Also,
research rooms are available for graduate students working on special
problems.