Well done Aaron(your gas pressure analogy)! That makes sense to me. Just go from there thinking geometry and movement.

Let us discuss the transformer role in these circuits, look at how a transformer is constructed, its geometry, note the inductance of a transformer and the resonant transformer.

Anyone sees the resemblance between Gray-Meyer circuits(cap-inductor-diode)?

How about seeing the concentric cylinders as a form of transformer(inductor)?

How about trying to pick up radiant charge by an inverted cap(diel-cond-diel)? We generate by a normal cap. maybe we should use with an inverted cap(ie for transmutation purposes?)

PS: Variocouplers
Variocouplers are rf transformers with 2 windings and variable coupling between the windings. They were standard equipment in 1920s radio sets.

Pancake coil variocouplers were common in 1920s radios for variable rf coupling. The 2 planar coils were arranged to swing away from each other and for the angle between them to increase to 90 degrees, thus giving wide variation in coupling. No core was used. These were mostly used to control reaction. The pancake structure was a means to minimize stray capacitance.

In another design of variocoupler, 2 coils were wound on a 2 circular bands, and housed one inside the other, with provision for rotating the inner coil. Coupling varies as one coil is rotated between 0 and 90 degrees from the other. These had higher stray capacitance than the pancake type.