Captured Lightning: 2.2 million volt Lichtenberg Figure
The interior of an 18″ square x 1″ piece of Plexiglass was charged to 2.2 million volts (MV) using a 5 MV particle accelerator. A layer of excess electrons become trapped deep inside, When discharged, the excess charge escaped with a bright flash and a loud bang. The hot, lightning-like discharge created thousands of microscopic fractures inside the acrylic, resulting in a branching “Captured Lightning” sculpture (or Lichtenberg Figure).
Video captured and prepared by Terry Blake, and specimen owned and discharged by Jeff Larson.
April 9th, 2007 at 2:57 am
I have 1 of the same things at home only mine was created with an extremely
high powered partial laser at N.I.H. back in 89 but the effect is the same