Bert Hickman

This two-layer 3D Captured Lightning sculpture was created by using a pair of lead masks to selectively irradiate regions within this 8" x 8" x 1.5" specimen of Plexiglas. The specimen was irradiated on two sides by passing it through a powerful beam of electrons in two operations. The unmasked regions became injected with huge numbers of excess electrons, similar to the way clouds build up electrical charge during a thunderstorm. After irradiation, the excess charges were suddenly released, creating millions of electrical discharges (sparks) within the material. These caused permanent microscopic fractures and tubes inside the acrylic along the paths taken by the discharges. When illuminated, these behave like microscopic mirrors. The branched patterns are self-similar at various scales - they exhibit fractal characteristics. The discharge patterns are technically known as Lichtenberg Figures. See much more about these fascinating objects of scientific art at www.capturedlightning.com Show less