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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
07:51
Method for Recording Broadband High Resolution Emission Spectra of Laboratory Lightning Arcs
Published on: August 27, 2019
[The electrical conductivity of triggered lightning channel]
Hua-ming Zhang1, Ping Yuan, Mao-gen Su
1College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
Guang Pu Xue Yu Guang Pu Fen Xi = Guang Pu
|March 1, 2008
Summary
Researchers analyzed artificial triggered lightning spectra, observing new spectral lines and calculating electrical conductivity for the first time. This study reveals lightning channels are good conductors, with electrons as the primary current carriers.
Area of Science:
- Plasma physics
- Atmospheric electricity
- Spectroscopy
Context:
- Artificial triggered lightning offers a controlled environment to study natural phenomena.
- Previous studies on natural lightning spectra lacked specific details on certain elemental lines.
- Optical multi-channel analyzer (OMA) was used for spectral acquisition in the Shandong region.
Purpose:
- To analyze the spectral characteristics of artificial triggered lightning return strokes.
- To determine the electronic temperature and electron density of the lightning channel plasma.
- To calculate and discuss the electrical conductivity of the lightning channel for the first time.
Summary:
- Spectra of artificial triggered lightning revealed additional ArI 602.5 nm and ArII 666.5 nm lines compared to natural lightning.
- Using local thermodynamic equilibrium and Stark broadening, electronic temperatures and densities were determined.
- Electrical conductivity was calculated for the first time, showing lightning channels are good conductors with electrons as the main charge carriers.
Impact:
- Provides the first calculation of lightning channel electrical conductivity.
- Establishes a relationship between electrical conductivity and return stroke current.
- Offers reference data for future research on lightning current computation.
- Compares artificial triggered lightning characteristics (higher brightness, lower current) with natural lightning.
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