Can Electrical Discharge Be Used for Efficient Propulsion in Space?

[Kalrag]

Lately I have had an idea for a propulsion system. It would use rapid high voltage electrical discharges to create thrust. Now if it was strong enough and made correctly could this be an efficient form of thrust? Would it work?

 

[JaredJames]

You want to shoot lightning out of the back of a vehicle in an attempt to produce thrust?

Efficient in this sense means getting as much movement per unit of energy as possible. The amount of energy required to produce a bolt of lightning is 'a tad high' and would produce no motion of the vehicle - extremely inefficient.

What you are discussing is something along the lines of an ion drive: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion_thruster

These produce very little in the way of thrust.

Other forms: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrically_powered_ spacecraft _propulsion

Note they are all only useful in space and then only for prolonged periods.