Method for Recording Broadband High Resolution Emission Spectra of Laboratory Lightning Arcs

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Spectroscopy
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• Natural lightning is destructive and difficult to study due to its unpredictable nature.
• Traditional spectroscopic methods for lightning analysis were limited by field event randomness.
• Advancements in laboratory lightning test facilities enable reproducible studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply a spectroscopic system for analyzing reproducible laboratory lightning arcs.
• To identify chemical elements interacting with lightning discharges.
• To establish a foundation for improved lightning diagnostics and understanding.

Main Methods:

• Generated a 100 kA peak, 100 µs duration lightning arc across tungsten electrodes in a controlled lab setting.
• Utilized a digital camera-based spectroscopic system to capture emission spectra.
• Averaged, stitched, and corrected multiple spectra for high-resolution analysis (450-890 nm).

Main Results:

• Successfully obtained a composite emission spectrum of the laboratory lightning arc.
• Identified characteristic spectral peaks corresponding to specific chemical element interactions.
• Validated the findings by comparing spectral data to established databases.

Conclusions:

• The spectroscopic system effectively identifies chemical elements in reproducible lightning arcs.
• This technique offers a reliable method for studying electrical discharges.
• The approach is applicable to various light-emitting electrical events, including partial discharges and sparking.