lichtenberg figure
Lichtenberg Figures, what are Lichtenberg Figures exactly?
Lichtenberg Figures in a nutshell are now purchasable ornaments that are set in acrylic plastic.
The manufacturer first irradiates the acrylic blocks with electrons, creating a thin layer of super charge within the acrylic of more than a million volts. In effect the acrylic blocks are acting like a condenser!
Upon leaving the area, the acrylic block is spiked with an electrode pressed into the edge penetrating the acrylic slightly before the charge leaks away naturally.
The result is a loud bang! as the charge leaves the acrylic block in a fraction of a second, and upon exiting the block, the electrical discharge within the acrylic block creates electrical pathways permanently etched into it, just like miniature lightening streaks. This is where the discharge has vaporised the acrylic inside the block, and the exit pathways are clearly visible!
A nice conversation piece and a great looking ornament!
The best way to display them is like I have on an LED illuminated base, and then the true glory of the Lichtenberg Figure really comes out all on its own!
Quoting below from Wikipedia
“Lichtenberg figures(Lichtenberg-Figuren, or “Lichtenberg Dust Figures”) are branching electric discharges that sometimes appear on the surface or the interior of insulating materials. They are named after the German physicist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, who originally discovered and studied them. When they were first discovered, it was thought that their characteristic shapes might help to reveal the nature of positive and negative electric “fluids”. In 1777, Lichtenberg built a large electrophorus to generate high voltage static electricity through induction. After discharging a high voltage point to the surface of an insulator, he recorded the resulting radial patterns in fixed dust. By then pressing blank sheets of paper onto these patterns, Lichtenberg was able to transfer and record these images, thereby discovering the basic principle of modern Xerography. This discovery was also the forerunner of modern day plasma physics. Although Lichtenberg only studied 2-dimensional (2D) figures, modern high voltage researchers study 2D and 3D figures (electrical trees) on, and within, insulating materials. Lichtenberg figures are now known to be examples of fractals”
This video goes quite slowly through the process, showing you in depth how they are made, and lasts for approx 8 minutes… there is no speech, just on-screen comments; and music, which I quite like! Enjoy it!
I will say more about these later, but for now, enjoy the pictures of my own Lichtenberg figure!
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- lichtenberg figure
