Researchers create extra-long electrical arcs using less energy
This photograph shows a 60-meter-long lightning-like electrical arc, created by researchers at the University of Canterbury, in New Zealand. Credit: Credit: Rowan Sinton, Ryan van Herel, Dr. Wade Enright, and Prof. Pat Bodger (researchers), Ryan van Herel and Dr. Stewart Hardie (photo).<br>
By jump-starting the arcs using exploding wires, as opposed to the traditional method of directly breaking down air, the researchers reduced the amount of voltage needed to create an arc of a given length by more than 95 percent. This photograph shows a 60-meter-long arc, thought to be the longest of its type ever created using this method.
The researchers hope that the new method could have wide applications, including inducing real lightning from thunderclouds and creating novel new electrical machines that contain plasma conductors and coils.
Article: “Generating Extra Long Arcs Using Exploding Wires” is accepted for publication in the Journal of Applied Physics.
Authors: Rowan Sinton (1), Ryan Van Herel (1), Wade Enright (1), and Pat Bodger (1).
(1) University of Canterbury, New Zealand
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