Making "Captured Lightning" (Multi-million volt Lichtenberg Figures)

This video describes how we create "Captured Lightning" (Lichtenberg Figure) sculptures. It was assembled from video clips that were captured over several years of production. In order to make Captured Lightning, our team of experienced "Spark Whisperers" uses a 5 million electron volt (MeV) particle accelerator to inject hundreds of trillions of electrons deep inside pieces of clear plastic (polymethylmethacrylate, or PMMA). The electrons come to rest about 1/4" to 1/2" below the irradiated surface, forming a cloud-like layer of negative charge, called a space charge. Since PMMA is an excellent electrical insulator, the intensely charged layer is temporarily trapped inside the specimen, similar to the way charge becomes temporarily trapped within clouds in a thunderstorm before a lightning strike.

Fully charged specimens are then carefully discharged by tapping the surface using a metal point. This creates a weakened pathway that allows the trapped electrons to suddenly escape. As they surge out, they form a highly-branched network of high-current, lightning-like electrical discharges. The white-hot discharges create countless branching chains of microscopic fractures and tubes within the PMMA, leaving behind a permanent "fossil" of the paths that were originally taken by the discharges. The scientific name for these patterns is Lichtenberg Figures. They are sometimes called "Beam Trees" or electrical trees - we call them Captured Lightning sculptures.

Unlike laser art, the branching fractal discharge patterns are unique for each sculpture. They are also incredibly detailed - the finest tips are thought to extend down to the molecular level. As with snowflakes, every sculpture is truly a unique work of scientific art, individually sculpted in billionths of a second by an unstoppable torrent of raging electrons.

Our sculptures combine high-energy physics with art. You can learn more about the history and physics of Lichtenberg figures or purchase one of your own at our web site:

http://www.capturedlightning.com/frames/interesting.html
http://www.capturedlightning.com/frames/interesting3.html
http://www.capturedlightning.com/frames/lichtenbergs.html

We live our mottos:
"Physics is fun!!"
"Stoneridge Engineering - Wreaking Havoc with Electrons for Over 40 Years!"

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• Bert Hickman
• sparks
• Electron Beam
• Electron Trees
• Frozen Lightning
• Fractal
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[onabodelugo]

Hi Bert. Has your facility other uses than creating your figures? Can we know the brand/model of your installed accel? Could activation in the irradiation room be a problem?

Beautiful work!

[BertHickman]

@onabodelugo This facility is typically used for irradiating polymers to change/improve their material properties. Called crosslinking, the process improves the high temperature performance and electrical properties of various plastic products such as polyethylene tubing and high voltage wire insulation, The facility can also be used to sterilize medical gear, since the electron beam kills bacteria and viruses.

[TheAdmiston]

but these sculptures not be loaded?again???

[BertHickman]

@TheAdmiston A previously discharged specimen can be irradiated again, but the results are usually disappointing. The specimen develops new, densely chaotic discharges - sort of like tangled cotton candy, and may also get a bit charred along the larger discharge paths.

[DrunkOnThePopesBlood]

@BertHickman Would love to see some of these 'disappointing' specimens!

[TheSpikeystuff]

very interesting thanks

[BertHickman]

@denelson83 Hehe... we'll have to try this sometime... :^)

[BertHickman]

@onabodelugo We do not own the accelerator. We rent "beam time" on this machine by the hour. The accelerator is a 150 kW, 5 million electron volt (MeV) machine called a Dynamitron. It is capable of delivering a beam of up to 5 MeV at 30 mA of beam current across a 4 foot scanned region.

Being in the same room would be lethal due to high energy X-radiation, so pieces are transported in/out via chain-driven carts. We then discharge them in an area that's shielded from the radiation.

[denelson83]

@aaron2414 Or maybe being bombarded by a Tesla coil? :o)

[electrotherapy]

Bert, I look at mine daily. They are treasures!