Triggering and guiding of an upward positive leader from a ground rod with an ultrashort laser pulse. I. Experimental results

Using a plasma channel produced by an ultrashort laser pulse, we have studied the laser triggering and guiding of a positive leader from the tip of a 2-m vertical rod standing on the bottom plane of a 7-m plane-plane gap. The purpose of this setup was to reproduce in the laboratory the electric field conditions leading to the onset of a positive upward leader from a ground rod as a downward negative leader is approaching during a thunderstorm, in order to demonstrate the working principle of a possible future laser lightning rod. The leader triggering properties of the laser-created plasma channel have been studied as a function of the synchronization of the laser pulse with the voltage impulse applied to the gap. We show that the laser pulse reduces the inception voltage of the leader compared to its normal value and that the laser plasma channel guides the propagation of the upward leader at a velocity ten times higher than that of an ordinary leader, with a significantly lower charge per unit length. We show that laser guiding of the leader significantly reduces the breakdown voltage of the gap and that the effect of the laser channel at the end of a lightning rod can be compared quite favorably with the effect of an additional metal rod of the same length.     

Mechanism for propagation of a positive leader

A model of leader breakdown in air is considered. The channel is formed due to heating of the streamer trace in the field of the streamer zone. A previous model of a streamer is generalized with allowance for recombination of charged particles. A mathematical model of heating of the streamer trace is developed. It is demonstrated that, at a given potential, the ignition of the channel is provided by streamers that possess a certain charge and the corresponding propagation velocity. This velocity determines the propagation velocity of a steady leader. The dependence of the leader velocity on the cloud potential is found. The results obtained are compared with the data from in-situ observations and laboratory studies.     

Theoretical model for the effect of dust grains on self‐filamentation of a gaussian electromagnetic beam in a fully ionized plasma

A theoretical model for the effect of dust grains on the self‐filamentation of a Gaussian electromagnetic beam propagating in a fully ionized plasma has been developed by employing the energy balance of the plasma constituents, perturbed electron and ion concentrations, and temperature. In this model, neutral atom ionization, re‐integration and accumulation of electrons and ions, photoelectric emission of electrons from the surface of dust grains, as well as elastic and charging collisions have also been considered. The effective dielectric constant in the presence of dust grains has been constructed. The effect of temporal growth of dust grains on various plasma parameters for different values of the dust density has been explored. The variation of the beam width with the normalized channel of propagation has been observed for distinct dust densities and dust charge states. It is observed that the non‐linearity induced by the effective dielectric constant in the presence of dust grains increases the self‐filamentation of the beam, thus enhancing the effective critical power with the dust density. Some of the outcomes of our approach are in line with experimental observations. These outcomes may be useful for explaining space and laboratory plasma experiments as well as for future studies in complex plasmas.     

Oscillations of a three-component assembly with or without magnetic field

The plasma is taken to be composed of singly ionized molecules, free electrons and neutral molecules, each of the component being described by the hydromagnetic equations, modified to take into account the displacement current, existence of free charge in the medium, and the modified current equation without involving the scalar conductivity. The basic equations are linearized and only small amplitude waves are considered. In the absence of any external magnetic field, the transverse and longitudinal modes of oscillation separate out. In the transverse part a coupled plasma oscillation occurs which could be propagated only above a certain critical frequency and in the longitudinal part one extraordinary mode of propagation occurs having a forbidden range of frequencies. When there is an external applied magnetic field, ordinary and extraordinary waves are propagated along the direction of the magnetic field, whereas only ordinary waves are propagated transverse to the magnetic field. The critical frequencies above which these waves are propagated are evaluated and, the possible explanation of this medium like behaviour could be the implicit assumption of conductivity being not a scalar.     

Observations and modeling of lightning leaders

The development of atmospheric lightning is initiated by a ‘leader’ phase during which ionized channels appear in virgin air. The use of rapid cameras, the measure of fields and currents associated with the discharge allow one to compare the propagation of laboratory leaders with those of natural or artificially triggered lightning. The corresponding physical processes can be analyzed with the help of models developed for laboratory leaders provided that the non linear effects due to the intense current circulation leading to lightning leader thermalization are taken into account. A self-coherent simulation of triggered lightning leaders for both polarities is presented is this paper. Furthermore, these models make it possible to define the ‘stabilization field’ concept, equal to the minimum ambient field allowing the stable progress of a leader from a ground structure, expressed as a height and curvature function of this structure. This concept can be validated through triggered lightning tests. Finally, the stabilization field analysis is completed by a simplified analytical model based upon an electrostatic approach of propagation equilibrium. To cite this article: P. Lalande et al., C. R. Physique 3 (2002) 1375–1392.     

From classical mobility to hopping conductivity: charge hopping in an ultracold gas

Studies of charge mobilities in an ultracold gas are reported. Calculations for the Na + Na+ system have been carried out as a function of temperature T and densities, and the conductivity of the ultracold charged gas is obtained. The total charge mobility exhibits a sharp increase as T is lowered, indicating a transition from an almost insulating to a conducting system at few microK. It is shown that the nature of the charge mobility changes with temperature: at high T, the charges are transported by massive centers (i.e., the ions), and at low T, by electrons jumping from neighboring atoms onto the positive ions (the positive holes exhibit hopping conductivity). An experiment is proposed to detect this effect.     

Influence of negative leader propagation on the triggering and guiding of high voltage discharges by laser filaments

The triggering and guiding of negative discharges using filaments induced by a femtosecond-terawatt laser pulse have been studied in sphere-plane gaps up to 4.5 meters. Fast-frame camera pictures allow the evaluation of the influence of the negative leader propagation on the triggering and guiding process. We show that the plasma channel can either trigger a space-leader discharge or act as a guiding path for the negative leader head. For the latter case the results suggest a linear dependence of the guided lengths up to 2.4 m, while the formation of a space-leader reduces this guided length by up to 50%. This effect is explained by the limited plasma lifetime of the filament that is measured to be about 1 μs.     

不同成分等离子体鞘层的玻姆判据

在一维平板鞘层中采用流体模型分别研究了不同成分无碰撞等离子体鞘层的玻姆判据.通过拟牛顿法数值模拟了含有电子、离子、负离子以及二次电子的等离子体鞘层玻姆判据.结果表明二次电子发射增加了鞘层离子马赫数的临界值,且器壁发射二次电子温度越高,离子马赫数临界值越小.负离子使离子马赫数临界值减小.而在含有二次电子和负离子的等离子体鞘层中,当负离子较少时,二次电子发射对离子马赫数临界值影响较大;当负离子增加时,离子马赫数的临界值则主要受负离子的影响. 关键词： 鞘层 等离子体 玻姆判据     

Theoretical analysis for transmission of Gaussian and sine time irradiance of electromagnetic beam in collisional dusty plasmas

A theoretical model of propagation of Gaussian and Sine time irradiance of an electromagnetic beam in collisional dusty plasma has been done in the present analysis. It contains equilibrium of dust charge, particle density, and energy of plasma ingredients having charge neutrality. Ionization of neutral particles, recombination of free electrons with ions, adsorption and emission of electrons from dust grain surface, and binary collisions between plasma components are also considered in this treatment. Time varying behaviour of modified electron temperature and collision frequency has been illustrated numerically as a function of dust densities. Also, the comparative analyses of variation of beam waist parameter with the dimensionless length of transmission for both the Gaussian and Sine time irradiance are involved in this model as a function of distinguishable time width, collision frequencies, and dust densities under the condition that the size of dust nebulous is greater than the electrons mean free path for the adsorption on the dust grain surface. The observed results are significant for the applications in industry and astrophysics.     

空调箱箱体结露模型分析

空调箱箱体内外壁面结露问题对箱体传热及性能起着重要影响。由空调箱箱体自身特点,建立箱体传热过程数学模型,通过求解得到箱体内外壁面结露公式,可以快速判断箱体内外壁面是否有结露情况,并经过实验验证,证明建立数学模型的可靠性。最后,分析影响壁面结露的影响因素:箱体厚度、导热系数、气体流速、环境温度等,给出设计建议。     

依据光谱研究闪电放电通道的半径及能量传输特性

利用无狭缝摄谱仪获得的云对地闪电回击过程的光谱, 结合同步辐射电场变化资料, 计算了闪电放电通道的温度、线电荷密度、通道的初始半径和扩张后的半径以及回击通道单位长度储存的能量. 结果与文献报道的其他方法得到的结果符合很好. 这些物理量的相关性分析表明: 电弧通道的初始半径主要取决于回击电流的持续时间; 通道温度越高, 半径越大; 通道初始半径、单位长度储存的能量与光谱总强度正相关, 通道单位长度储存的能量与初始半径的平方成正比. 关键词： 闪电放电通道 半径 能量 光谱总强度     

光谱法研究闪电回击放电通道的电阻及电流的热效应

闪电放电通道的电阻及电流产生的热效应对雷电灾害研究以及防护设计都具有重要意义,放电通道的热力学特性与其等离子体辐射光谱密切相关。利用无狭缝摄谱仪获得的两次云对地多回击闪电放电的等离子体辐射光谱,依据谱线波长、强度等信息,结合同步地面电场变化资料,应用空气等离子体传输理论,计算了闪电回击放电通道的电导率、峰值电流、核心通道半径,进而得到了闪电回击等离子体通道单位长度的电阻、峰值电流时的热功率及在回击初始前5 μs内通道储存的热能。并与常规金属导体进行比较,分析了闪电回击放电在峰值电流时等离子体通道的热功率与电阻、电流平方之间的相关性关系。结果表明：利用光谱研究得到的闪电放电通道的电阻为0.04～8.41 Ω·m-1、峰值电流时的热功率为0.88×108～2.20×108 W·m-1、回击初始前5 μs内通道储存的热能为1.47×102～3.66×102 J·m-1,以上结果与文献报道的利用其他方法得到的结果相比,在合理的范围内;与常规金属导体相比,闪电回击放电等离子体通道在峰值电流时的热功率与电阻成正比,但与电流的平方呈指数减小的关系;由于闪电等离子体通道的电阻与温度的3/2次方成反比,通常回击放电通道中峰值电流越大,通道温度越高,而电阻会迅速降低,因此热功率也会急剧减小。此结论进一步验证了采用欧姆加热方法加热等离子体的致命缺点。     

Shielding failure rate calculation by means of downward and upward lightning leader movement models: Effect of environmental conditions

In this paper the effects of environmental conditions on shielding failure rate (SFR) of transmission lines are investigated. The study utilizes a previously published work in which leader progression model for lightning upward and downward leaders are used to calculate the SFR. Taking into account the effects of reduced air density and humidity on the parameters of upward leader model and wind pressure on the movement of lightning leaders and wires, SFR and maximum lightning stroke current causing shielding failure are computed. The electric field in all simulations is calculated by means of charge simulation method. The results of simulation show that the effects of relative air density and height of installation are quite higher than that of the wind pressure and humidity while the humidity has the lowest impact on the SFR of investigated transmission line.     

雷云电场作用下长地线表面正极性辉光电晕放电的仿真研究

在雷云电场的缓慢作用下, 一种无流注的正极性辉光电晕在接地物体表面起始, 向周围空间注入大量正极性空间电荷, 从而改变雷电先导对雷击目的物的选择. 本文对雷云电场作用下起始于长地线表面的正极性辉光电晕放电进行了仿真研究; 考虑了正极性离子与其他离子的附着与碰撞作用, 建立了一种精确的二维正极性辉光电晕模型; 并通过在实验室内开展高压电晕放电试验, 测量了不同背景电场下的电晕电流; 与本文所建模型的仿真结果进行对比, 对模型的正确性进行了验证. 基于上述模型, 对正极性辉光电晕在雷云感应作用下的起始发展过程与电晕特性进行了仿真模拟, 得到了该电晕的电晕电流、正离子密度分布规律以及正离子迁移规律. 发现在雷云电场作用下, 电晕放电产生的正离子在迁移初期于垂直于地线的平面内基本呈圆对称状均匀分布, 但随着离子逐渐远离地线其分布不再均匀, 呈拉长的椭圆形分布, 多数离子最终分布于地线上方区域并逐渐向雷云方向迁移; 由于正离子在地线上方迁移区聚集形成的正空间电荷背景对行进电子束具有衰减和消耗作用, 抑制了电子崩的形成, 并降低了电子崩转化为流注的概率, 阻止了新的电子崩对流注的不断注入, 同时正空间电荷背景使气体的碰撞面增大, 增加了与电子的复合概率, 引起大量电子的消耗, 最终抑制了电子崩的形成与流注的发展, 地线表面的上行先导得到抑制.     

一次空中触发闪电通道光谱分析

利用无狭缝光谱仪获得了一次空中触发闪电过程中400～660 nm的发射光谱,对空中触发闪电小回击和上行正先导通道的发射光谱进行了分析,讨论了人工触发闪电导线通道与空气通道光谱的差异,发现导线段通道光谱持续了约140 ms,而空气段通道仅持续了0.167 ms;结合Fe,N,O等元素的电离能、激发能,给出了导线通道亮度强、持续时间长的原因。在电流强度相同的情况下,人工触发闪电通道的导线段有更多的粒子被激发,能产生更多的光谱辐射,导线段通道的亮度远强于空气段,导线段通道的光谱强度也远强于空气段;在随后的等离子体通道消散阶段导线段闪电通道的复合反应持续时间也更长。通过对小回击以及上行正先导导线通道上部、下部空气段光谱结构以及通道温度等参数与广东地区自然闪电特征谱线及温度等参数的比较,发现小回击通道光谱主要由NⅡ离子低激发态之间的跃迁组成,具有NⅡ 444.7 nm,NⅡ 517.9 nm,NⅡ 616.8 nm等广东地区一般强度自然闪电的特征谱线。上行正先导下部空气段通道具有高激发能的谱线开始消失,出现了H_α,H_β,OⅠ 615.8 nm等激发能较低的谱线,具有闪电回击后期的光谱结构。小回击通道以及上行正先导通道下部空气段温度分别为21 000和20 000 K,通道温度低于自然闪电温度。     

A model for streamer propagation

A model is presented to describe the propagation of positive corona streamers in the low field region of a non-uniform field gap in atmospheric air. It has been assumed that the growth is a property solely of the streamer tip, uninfluenced by the channel conductivity. Calculations from the model indicate that the criterion for propagation of a streamer in zero external field is that the number of ions in the tip be 10⁸ and the radius about 3×10^?3 cm. It is proposed that the streamer ceases to propagate as a result of the loss of energy of the tip due to the formation of ion pairs in the channel. The results of previous experimental observations of streamers are compared with calculations derived from the model, and a prediction from the model of the lifetime of streamers after voltage removal is discussed.     

Electronic and ionic conductivity in CaTiO3

The present work describes the electrical conductivity of undoped CaTiO₃ in terms of the electrical conductivity components corresponding to electrons, electron holes and ionic charge carriers in the temperature range 973 K — 1323 K and under controlled oxygen partial pressure (10 Pa — 72 kPa). These data are considered in terms of the transference numbers of the respective charge carriers. It appears that the ionic conductivity component assumes maximum at the n-p transition when the ionic transfer number reaches 50% of the total conductivity value at 1323 K. The present study also includes the determination of the activation energy of the conductivity component related to ions (162.1 kJ/mol), electrons (134.2 kJ/mol) and electron holes (86.2 kJ/mol). The data obtained in this work indicate that undoped CaTiO₃ exhibits a substantial level of ionic conduction that cannot be ignored in a quantitative analysis of electrical conductivity data.     

Mixed ionic and electronic conductivity study of charge transfer complexes of some substituted pyridines with iodine monochloride (ICl) by AC impedance spectroscopy

Mixed ionic and electronic conductivity of three solid charge transfer (CT) complexes of pyridine, 4-methylpyridine (γ-picoline) and 3,5-dimethylpyridine (3,5-lutidine) with ICl (iodine monochloride) are reported. Electrical parameters of the prepared complexes in the pellet form are evaluated at various temperatures and at wide frequency range by employing AC complex impedance spectroscopic technique. Suitable equivalent circuits for the Nyquist plots, which provide the most realistic model of the electrical properties of the CT complexes, have been suggested. Both transport number measurements and impedance spectra reveal that the conduction in γ-picoline-ICl complex is mainly due to ions, in 3,5-dimethylpyridine-ICl complex, it is due to both ions and electrons and in pyridine-ICl complex, it is predominantly due to electrons. The a.c. conductivity measurements of the CT complexes have been carried out in the frequency range of 10–10⁵ Hz within the temperature range of 303–353 K. The variation of a.c. conductivity with frequency follows the Jonscher’s universal power law. The temperature dependence of electrical conductivity suggests the semiconducting behaviour of the materials.     

Steady-state leader breakdown. Nitrogen atmosphere

Physical arguments about the possible mechanism of formation of a leader channel are presented. A mathematical model describing steady-state leader breakdown is constructed. An algorithm for determining the propagation velocity, dimensions, and electric field in the streamer zone is developed. A numerical simulation of the channel formation stage in the plasma of a streamer zone a nitrogen atmosphere is performed. The dependence of the leader velocity on the potential is obtained. The tentative model proposed here can be used to describe the leader breakdown of a long gap at high positive potentials. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 68, 37–44 (June 1998)     

Thermoelectric power of mixed electronic-ionic conductors III. Case of calcium titanate

The primary purpose of the present work is the determination of the thermopower component related to electronic charge carriers for undoped calcium titanate. The second purpose of this work is establishment of the relationship between this thermopower component and the electronic component of electrical conductivity. An essential part of the present study includes the determination of the thermopower components corresponding to different charge carriers (electrons, electron holes and ions). The determination procedures are based on the following three models:

Symmetrical model. This model assumes consistency between thermopower and electrical conuctivity in terms of the n-p transition (this model assumes that minimum of electrical conductivity corresponds to the electronic component of the thermopower equal zero). It was shown that this model does not apply for CaTiO₃.

The Heikes model. This model is based on Heikes formula and also hopping mechanism of the transport of electrons. It was shown that thermopower of CaTiO₃ cannot be described by this model and, consequently, thermopower vs. electrical conductivity cannot be considered within the Jonker formalism.

General model. This model is based on a general thermopower equation for mixed conductors without any simplifying assumptions. Application of this model indicates that the electronic component of thermopower is not consistent with the minimum of electrical conductivity.