The Plasma Nature of Lightning Channels and the Resulting Nonlinear Resistance.
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| Title: | The Plasma Nature of Lightning Channels and the Resulting Nonlinear Resistance. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | da Silva, C. L.1 caitano.dasilva@nmt.edu, Sonnenfeld, R. G.1, Edens, H. E.1, Krehbiel, P. R.1, Quick, M. G.2, Koshak, W. J.3 |
| Source: | Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres. 8/27/2019, Vol. 124 Issue 16, p9442-9463. 22p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Electricity, Lightning, Nonlinear control theory, Geological modeling, Manuscript collections |
| Abstract: | Lightning channels are made of plasma. As a consequence, the driving electrical current changes the channel's resistance in a nonlinear fashion. The resistance has an intricate dependence on the history of Joule heating and various cooling processes, as well as on the various kinetic processes that dictate the population balance of electrons within the channel. Such dependence cannot be captured by an analytic function, as often attempted. In this paper, we introduce a minimal numerical model that can qualitatively capture the temporal dynamics of the key plasma properties of a lightning channel, including its electric field, temperature, plasma density, radius, and the resulting nonlinear resistance. Through a series of novel parameterizations, we introduce six zero‐dimensional equations that can capture both nonequilibrium/low‐temperature and local thermodynamic equilibrium/high‐temperature plasma regimes. In this manuscript, we go to great lengths to validate the model, showing that it can reproduce the finite time scale of streamer‐to‐leader transition, replicate the negative differential resistance behavior of steady‐state plasma arcs, and properly describe the temporal evolution of temperature in a return stroke channel. Finally, the model is applied to the simulation of optical emissions from rocket‐triggered lightning strikes, explaining the measured delay between the rise of current and visible light, as well as reproducing the direct relationship between peak current and peak radiated power and between charge transferred to ground and total radiated energy. Plain Language Summary: A number of unsolved puzzles in lightning physics are rooted in the plasma nature of lightning channels. One such example is why do negative cloud‐to‐ground lightning flashes transfer charge to ground in a series of multiple strikes that reuse the same channel, while positive flashes mostly have a single stroke? In this paper we introduce a computer simulation tool to capture the plasma nature of lightning and model its properties. One of the key results presented here is the model's ability to explain the experimentally derived relationship between optical and electrical properties in triggered lightning flashes. Key Points: A novel physics‐based yet computationally efficient model of the lightning channel nonlinear resistance is introducedThe model reproduces the finite time scale of streamer‐to‐leader transition and the steady‐state negative differential resistanceThe model captures the experimentally inferred direct relationship between electrical and optical properties of rocket‐triggered lightning [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
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| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: 8gh DbLabel: GreenFILE An: 138939828 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: The Plasma Nature of Lightning Channels and the Resulting Nonlinear Resistance. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22da Silva%2C+C%2E+L%2E%22">da Silva, C. L.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> caitano.dasilva@nmt.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sonnenfeld%2C+R%2E+G%2E%22">Sonnenfeld, R. G.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Edens%2C+H%2E+E%2E%22">Edens, H. E.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Krehbiel%2C+P%2E+R%2E%22">Krehbiel, P. R.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Quick%2C+M%2E+G%2E%22">Quick, M. G.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Koshak%2C+W%2E+J%2E%22">Koshak, W. J.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Geophysical+Research%2E+Atmospheres%22">Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres</searchLink>. 8/27/2019, Vol. 124 Issue 16, p9442-9463. 22p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electricity%22">Electricity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Lightning%22">Lightning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nonlinear+control+theory%22">Nonlinear control theory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Geological+modeling%22">Geological modeling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Manuscript+collections%22">Manuscript collections</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Lightning channels are made of plasma. As a consequence, the driving electrical current changes the channel's resistance in a nonlinear fashion. The resistance has an intricate dependence on the history of Joule heating and various cooling processes, as well as on the various kinetic processes that dictate the population balance of electrons within the channel. Such dependence cannot be captured by an analytic function, as often attempted. In this paper, we introduce a minimal numerical model that can qualitatively capture the temporal dynamics of the key plasma properties of a lightning channel, including its electric field, temperature, plasma density, radius, and the resulting nonlinear resistance. Through a series of novel parameterizations, we introduce six zero‐dimensional equations that can capture both nonequilibrium/low‐temperature and local thermodynamic equilibrium/high‐temperature plasma regimes. In this manuscript, we go to great lengths to validate the model, showing that it can reproduce the finite time scale of streamer‐to‐leader transition, replicate the negative differential resistance behavior of steady‐state plasma arcs, and properly describe the temporal evolution of temperature in a return stroke channel. Finally, the model is applied to the simulation of optical emissions from rocket‐triggered lightning strikes, explaining the measured delay between the rise of current and visible light, as well as reproducing the direct relationship between peak current and peak radiated power and between charge transferred to ground and total radiated energy. Plain Language Summary: A number of unsolved puzzles in lightning physics are rooted in the plasma nature of lightning channels. One such example is why do negative cloud‐to‐ground lightning flashes transfer charge to ground in a series of multiple strikes that reuse the same channel, while positive flashes mostly have a single stroke? In this paper we introduce a computer simulation tool to capture the plasma nature of lightning and model its properties. One of the key results presented here is the model's ability to explain the experimentally derived relationship between optical and electrical properties in triggered lightning flashes. Key Points: A novel physics‐based yet computationally efficient model of the lightning channel nonlinear resistance is introducedThe model reproduces the finite time scale of streamer‐to‐leader transition and the steady‐state negative differential resistanceThe model captures the experimentally inferred direct relationship between electrical and optical properties of rocket‐triggered lightning [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1029/2019JD030693 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 22 StartPage: 9442 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Electricity Type: general – SubjectFull: Lightning Type: general – SubjectFull: Nonlinear control theory Type: general – SubjectFull: Geological modeling Type: general – SubjectFull: Manuscript collections Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: The Plasma Nature of Lightning Channels and the Resulting Nonlinear Resistance. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: da Silva, C. L. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Sonnenfeld, R. G. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Edens, H. E. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Krehbiel, P. R. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Quick, M. G. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Koshak, W. J. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 27 M: 08 Text: 8/27/2019 Type: published Y: 2019 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 2169897X Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 124 – Type: issue Value: 16 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
