一次对地转移电荷极性两次反转的人工引发雷电特征及反转机制分析

利用闪电甚高频干涉仪动态成像结果,并结合通道底部电流、电场和光学观测资料对一次罕见的、对地转移电荷极性反转两次的双极性人工引发雷电放电特征进行了详细研究,首次观测到直接导致极性反转的云内击穿放电过程,探讨了对地转移电荷极性两次反转的物理机理.结果发现,此次闪电无回击过程、初始连续电流阶段对地转移电荷极性经历了负-正-负的两次反转,转移电荷量分别约–40.0 C,+13.3 C和–1.0 C.负极性初始连续电流衰减过程中,一支击穿空气的负先导起始于已电离的正先导分支通道上并形成悬浮通道,水平发展28.816 ms后,接地主通道上发生负极性击穿连接到了悬浮通道末端正电荷聚集处或双向发展的悬浮通道的正极性端,随后对地转移电荷极性快速反转为正.负先导熄灭后,对地转移电荷极性缓慢反转为负.击穿空气的负先导连接到接地主通道和持续发展的正先导是此次双极性闪电对地转移电荷极性发生两次反转的重要原因.而负先导的起始,与正先导多分支同时发展引起的先导通道和环境电势分布差异密切相关.     

闪电物理

闪电物理研究的重点是地闪的研究，地闪的物理过程包括云中起闪过程，闪电传播过程及接地过程，在较大范围的云中强电场区内，两雨滴掠过碰撞形成的细丝顶端产生的电晕或冰类痧汽凝结物表面的电晕可能触发闪电；闪电在空气中的传输过程就是先导从电晕向电弧的转化过程；闪电落地过程的核心是上迎先导的形成及与下行先导的连接，闪电物理研究的重点在闪电落地过程，并应与雷电防护研究结合起来进行。     

人工引发闪电上行负先导的发展传输特征

在地面大气电场为正极性的条件下,成功实现12次人工引发闪电,对其放电特征、初始阶段上行负先导的传输特征与机理进行了研究.引发闪电时地面大气电场强度均值约5 kV/m,最高超过13 kV/m.除一次个例的放电发生了正、极性反转并产生多次负回击以外,其他11次引发闪电均未产生继后回击过程,闪电放电电流总体上在几百安培量级.引发闪电起始后,其向上传输的负梯级先导平均二维速度为1.85 × 10~5 m/s,获得132次梯级的长度范围为0.8—8.7 m,平均3.9 m.先导起始阶段的电流和电磁场呈现显著的脉冲特征,其脉冲间隔、电流峰值、转移电荷量、半峰值宽度、电流上升时间T~(10%—90%)平均值分别为17.9 μs,81 A,364 μC,3.1 μs和0.9 μs,单次梯级的等效线电荷密度为118.5 μC/m.先导通道的分叉一般伴随梯级过程发生,存在两种方式:1)先导头部前方成簇的空间茎/空间先导在同一梯级周期内先后与先导头部发生连接,对应的电流脉冲表现为多峰结构,峰值点时间间隔约2—3 μs,最长6—7 μs;2)曾熄灭的空间茎/空间先导重燃后侧向连接至先导通道.     

基于VHF辐射源短基线定位系统对闪电放电过程的研究

利用闪电VHF辐射源短基线定位系统2009年东北大兴安岭地区的观测资料,对正、负地闪和云闪放电过程中的VHF辐射源进行了定位研究.根据闪电VHF辐射源的二维位置(方位角和仰角)随时间的演变特征,结合同步观测的快、慢电场变化资料分析发现,持续时间较长的地闪预击穿过程在云中的放电通道呈双层结构,预击穿过程结束阶段的云内放电表现为反冲流光,预击穿过程的平均速度在10⁴m/s量级.预击穿过程为梯级先导的发展提供了必要的条件,梯级先导从预击穿起始位置开始并向下发展,产生较强的辐射,平均速度在10⁵m/s量级.K过程主要是流光沿之前已电离通道的传输.正、负地闪回击阶段前后的放电特征有明显不同,正地闪回击之后,连续电流期间的较长时间的云内放电产生较强的VHF辐射.对闪电在125---200MHz频段范围的VHF辐射频谱特征的统计分析发现,辐射能量呈现出幅值随频率增加而减小的趋势,在通带范围上基本遵循f^-2.9的衰减率递减.     

一次人工触发闪电上行正先导的传输特征

利用山东一次人工触发闪电的高速摄像和30 m, 60 m和480 m的同步电场测量, 清晰显示了人工触发闪电上行正先导的传输特征.上行正先导头部光强相对较强, 二维发展速度变化波动较大并呈现明显不规则性,表明上行正先导发展具有明显的梯级特征. 在先导开始阶段从340 m到705 m高度之间上行正先导平均发展速度为9.8×10⁴ m/s,起始速度是 3.8×10⁴ m/s,局部速度总体上随高度呈现增加趋势.电场变化在近距离产生有规律的梯级状 变化,记录到的28个梯级相邻梯级间隔变化从14 μs 到 39 μs,几何平均值为25.1 μs. 估计的先导梯级长度分布在0.9 m到3.7 m,几何平均值为1.7 m.先导电场变化由慢的正向梯级状变化和 脉冲变化组成,结合光学和电场变化测量结果,得出正先导头部通道发生弯曲可使其电场变化的梯级特征减弱 或消失;正负先导梯级形成机制可能类似,均由其先导头部前端的双向流光发展而来.     

飑线系统中的闪电辐射源分布特征及云内电荷结构讨论

本文利用SAFIR3000闪电定位资料和多普勒天气雷达资 料分析了2010年6月13日发生于北京的飑线 系统中的闪电活动特征并讨论了电荷结构, 发现闪电都集中分布在飑线的前部线状强回波区域内, 仅在消散阶段在层云降水回波内发生的闪电数目明显增加. 通过闪电分布与降水的关系研究发现, 总闪电与对流降水整体相关系数达到了0.82, 云闪与对流降水的整体相关系数为0.76, 表明闪电的发生与雷暴云内动力和微物理过程密切相关. 基于闪电的辐射源分布特征, 讨论了飑线内电荷分布特征. 研究结果表明在飑线成熟阶段, 闪电辐射源密度的分布呈现出双层结构的分布特征, 下部的闪电辐射源中心位于4 km高度处, 上部的辐射源中心位于11 km高度处, 根据闪电双向先导的传输方式, 闪电辐射源密度高值区对应于负先导在正电荷区的传播, 飑线对流云区内总体呈现出中间为负电荷区, 上部和下部分别为正电荷区的三极性的电荷结构：上部正电荷区位于10–12 km高度处, 中部负电荷区位于8–10 km高度处, 下部正电荷区位于4–7 km高度处. 关键词： 飑线 闪电辐射源 电荷结构 SAFIR3000     

氢原子传输及负氢离子产生全三维数值模拟研究

理论分析了负氢离子源中中性粒子传输特性及引出电极表面产生负氢离子(H^-)的物理过程, 研究了引出孔传输率对氢原子传输的影响,深入剖析了氢原子与不同属性导体壁碰撞以及碰撞后反射的物理情景.基于CHIPIC软件平台,成功研制了全三维 Particle-in-cell with Monte Carlo Collision 氢原子传输及负氢离子产生物理过程的模拟算法,并采用JAEA 10A负氢离子源进行模拟验证.模拟达到稳态后,氢原子平均能量约为0.57 eV, 且H原子呈现+Y漂移,当非均匀氢原子束轰击引出壁时,导致产生的负氢离子空间分布不均匀. 这些模拟结果都与文献符合,验证了算法的可靠性.     

环形腔光纤激光器中光谱边带不对称性特性研究

理论分析了环形腔锁模光纤激光器中光谱边带不对称性产生的物理机制,实验中搭建了环形腔被动锁模光纤激光器平台,通过调节偏振控制器,在L波段获得了明显不对称的边带光谱。实验结果表明,光谱不对称性主要存在两方面的明显特点:1)强度不对称性,最明显时正二级的强度比负二级的强度高14.28dBm;2)数量不对称性,最明显时正级数量要比负级数量多5个。通过对光谱边带不对称性物理机制的分析对如何消除边带效应以获得理想的孤子脉冲具有重要的指导意义。     

基于正交传播算子的闪电宽带甚高频辐射源定位方法研究

闪电甚高频辐射源定位技术为闪电放电特征及其物理机制的研究提供了重要手段.基于空间谱估计理论,可将正交传播算子方法应用于闪电放电通道时空演变过程的成像.该方法将阵列数据协方差矩阵进行线性分解形成正交传播算子,然后以子空间的正交性构造空间谱,通过空间谱搜索实现辐射源定位.针对闪电宽带甚高频信号,采用非相干子空间处理方法将带宽内的有效频点进行平均,减小噪声干扰.利用数值仿真分析了该方法的定位性能,验证该方法定位弱辐射源的有效性,并与时间反转技术进行了对比.针对人工触发闪电过程的定位结果表明该方法可以较高的时空分辨率清晰地描绘出闪电通道的基本结构及放电通道的发展过程,并且其对双源同窗事件的定位能力优于时间反转方法.该方法对提高宽带甚高频阵列在闪电弱辐射源定位、闪电起始机制的研究中的应用价值具有重要意义.     

闪电的人工触发和研究

介绍了人工引发闪电技术的发展历史和原理,以及近几年来我们利用这一技术在闪电物理研究方面取得进展。给出了人工引发闪电民流和高速摄像同步测量结果,并分析了各电流分量及其涉及的物理过程。在对比人工引发闪电与自然闪电异同的基础上,批出它的各方面都与从高建筑物始发的上行雷电十分相似。人工引发闪电在研究雷击机理、雷击效应、雷电防护以及电波传播、植物诱变育种等方面也具有广泛的应用前景。     

Impulse breakdown characteristics of the plane-to-plane electrode system with a needle-shaped protrusion in SF6

This paper presents the impulse pre-breakdown and breakdown characteristics of the plane-to-plane electrode system with a needle-shaped protrusion in SF₆ gas. The breakdown voltage–time (V–t) characteristics and the breakdown voltage–gas pressure (V–p) characteristics of a highly non-uniform SF₆ gas gap under positive and negative lightning impulse voltages are investigated in the pressure range between 0.1 and 0.5 MPa. The pre-breakdown developments are examined by the corona current and light emission measurements with high time resolution. As a result, the dielectric strengths versus time-to-breakdown of SF₆ gas gap under positive lightning impulse voltages were nearly independent of the gas pressure. The first streamer corona was initiated at the tip of the needle electrode, and the streamer corona pulses developed with a stepwise propagation. The discharge paths were zigzag, and the branches of the discharge channel for positive polarity were created. On the other hand, the leader channel in the negative polarity was thicker and brighter than that in the positive polarity.     

On peculiarities of the method for determining the probability of lightning striking terrestrial explosive objects

We have described a new probabilistic method for calculating and assessing lightning striking terrestrial explosive objects using a combined criterion for the emergence of upward streamer and leader discharges from the elements of the object being protected and lightning rods taking into account the probabilistic nature of the avalanche–streamer and streamer–leader transitions, the trajectories of a downward stepped lightning leader and lightning current. It has been shown that the disregard of possible formation of uncompleted streamer discharges from the elements of the object in the electric field of a downward lightning leader, which can ignite explosive emission, decreases the rated probability of the object being damaged by a lightning stroke by several times.     

Technique for calculating the vulnerability of explosive surface objects by lightning

A probabilistic technique for estimating the vulnerability of explosive surface objects by lightning has been proposed. It uses a combined criterion for initiation of upward streamer and leader discharges form the elements of the object and lightning diverters. This criterion takes into account the probabilistic nature of avalanche–streamer and streamer–leader transitions and also the trajectories of the lightning’s downward stepped leader and lightning current. It has been shown that, if the formation of the downward leader of incomplete streamer discharges from the elements of the object in an electric field is neglected (these discharges may set fire on explosive emissions), the probability of lightning-induced failure of the object is underestimated by several times compared with the calculated value.     

Recoil leader formation and development

The existing interpretation in the lightning literature, based on field measurements, defines recoil leaders as negative leaders. However recoil leaders are floating conductors, and, based on this physical assumption, they should be defined as bipolar and bidirectional leaders. This physics-based assumption has never previously been verified experimentally. Such verification, reported in this paper, has been obtained from observations of branched upward positive leaders from a tall tower using a high-speed video system synchronized with electric and magnetic field change and luminosity measurements on the ground. The analysis of these observations clearly reveals the nature of recoil and dart leaders as bidirectional and bipolar electrodeless discharges that develop from a small region along a path of the decayed channels of a previous positive leader, or a positively charged return stroke of negative CG flashes.     

The striking distance of lightning flashes and the early streamer emission (ESE) hypothesis

The attachment of a lightning flash to a lightning conductor (or to any other structure) takes place through a connecting leader that rises from the structure towards the descending stepped leader of a lightning flash. The spatial separation between the tip of the stepped leader and the lightning conductor (or the grounded structure) at the initiation of the connecting leader is known as the striking distance. In this paper the striking distance of stepped leaders is derived as a function of conductor height, conductor radii and the prospective return stroke current. Based on these results the validity of the early streamer emission (ESE) hypothesis is discussed. According to the ESE hypothesis, the striking distance of a lightning conductor can be increased by the artificial initiation of streamers from a lightning conductor. The results cast doubt on the validity of the ESE hypothesis. This in turn calls for more experimental data and field validations before using the ESE hypothesis in standard lightning protection practice.     

Electron band structure detection by high-order optical harmonic generation in solids

As the threshold field strength for the breakdown in air significantly exceeds the maximum measured thundercloud strength 3 kV/cm/atm, the problem of lightning initiation remains unclear. According to the popular idea, lightning can be initiated from streamer discharges developed in the enhanced electric field in a vicinity of hydrometeors. To test the idea, we carry out numerical simulations of positive streamer development around charged water drops at air pressure typical at thundercloud altitudes and at different background fields, drop sizes and charges. With real drop sizes and charges, the electric field required for the streamer formation is stronger than the measured fields; therefore, second mechanism is required to amplify the local field.     

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.     

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.