4" x 4" x 3/4" Captured Lightning Edge Lichtenberg Figure Beam Tree Sculpture

Description

Beautiful 4 Inch Square "Captured Lightning"
(Lichtenberg Figure) Sculpture. Lighted base not included.
The branching pattern inside this 4" x 4" x 3/4" specimen is a "Captured Lightning" sculpture. These are technically known as Lichtenberg Figures, but are also called Beam Trees or Electron Trees. The lightning-like discharge was permanently captured inside the acrylic as a using a process similar to the way glassy fulgurites are formed within sandy soil by a lightning strike. Lichtenberg Figures are named in honor of Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, the 18th century physicist who first discovered them. Dr. Lichtenberg originally used high voltage discharges from electrostatic machines and finely powdered sulfur and lead oxide to create 2-dimensional dust figures on the surface of resin plates. Our modern 3-dimensional versions were created by bombarding polished specimens of clear acrylic with trillions of high-speed electrons using a high voltage particle accelerator.
The accelerator generated a beam of electrons that were accelerated to 99.5% the speed of light.
When these energetic electrons slammed into the acrylic, they easily penetrated its surface, finally coming to rest about half way through. This created a "cloud" of excess negative charge, called a space charge, to form deep inside the acrylic, similar to the way charge collects within thunderclouds. Since acrylic is an excellent electrical insulator, the injected electrons became temporarily trapped, and a tremendous electrical charge rapidly built up as the beam continued to inject billions of new electrons.
The potential of the charged region in this sculpture grew to over two million volts.
Eventually, in a process quite similar to natural lightning, the huge electrical stress overcame the insulating strength of the acrylic, and it suddenly broke down, rapidly releasing the trapped charge. In other cases (as shown in the picture below), breakdown was manually triggered by poking the charged acrylic with a sharp metal point. The trapped electrons suddenly rush out in a powerful surge of electricity carrying hundreds, or even thousands, of amperes. The high-current surge creates a brilliant miniature lightning bolt inside the acrylic, accompanied by a powerful BANG. A one-page explanation of how your sculpture was created will be shipped along with your sculpture. As with lightning and other high voltage discharges, the branching, self-similar shape of the discharge can be described mathematically as a type of fractal.
Although the internal "electrical storm" lasts for less than 100 billionths of a second, its passage creates thousands of permanent microscopic fractures in the acrylic, forming a beautifully preserved Captured Lightning sculpture deep within the acrylic. As with snowflakes, every sculpture is unique. New specimens may still retain an amber color from the irradiation process. Called solarization, this usually fades with time or through the application of gentle heat. Other specimens may show light fogging from the high-energy irradiation process. Both phenomena are normal and may vary between specimens.
The internal chains of microscopic fractures act as tiny mirrors, brilliantly reflecting any light that is injected from the bottom or along an edge. The sculpture is best viewed against a dark background. Shining light from behind (such as light through a window) can actually detract from the sculpture’s detail and overall appearance. Every Captured Lightning sculpture is unique. The lucky buyer will receive a sculpture of comparable quality as the one shown below, and a one-page explanation about what it is and how it was created.
Actual length and width will vary slightly (+/- 1/16"), and actual thickness will range between 0.660 - 0.710".
Custom walnut LED light base pictured above is NOT included with this eBay item. If you want to purchase
a sculpture and a lighted base, please see ebay item
Item 162474911672
instead.
Lichtenberg Figures combine high technology and beauty - they are stunning and unique specimens of scientific art.
Very few people have actually seen a Lichtenberg Figure, and far fewer are privileged to own a specimen as nice as this. The internal Lichtenberg Figures literally glow when illuminated along the edge by a bright light or LED's as the internal fractures sparkle from reflected light. Our team of experienced engineers and physicists are Lichtenberg Figure experts. Stoneridge Engineering offers Lichtenberg Figures that range in size from affordable 2 x 2 x 3/4 inch squares, gorgeous prisms, spheres,  and cubes with multi-layer discharges, to huge 15 x 20 x 2 Inch museum specimens.
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About Me
for further information about our unique products and the mad scientists at Stoneridge Engineering. Also, please see our
other unique items such as electromagnetically shrunken coins.
"A physical experiment which makes a bang is always worth more than a quiet one. Therefore a man cannot strongly enough ask of Heaven: if it wants to let him discover something, may it be something that makes a bang. It will resound into eternity." G. C. Lichtenberg 1742-1799
PLEASE NOTE:  Items being shipped to countries outside the US may be subject to additional charges (Customs Fees, VAT, or In-Country Mail Service Handling fees). Payment of these fees are the sole responsibility of the buyer.
An ideal item for that scientist or collector on your gift list!
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