4 x 6 x 1/2 Vertical Lightning Tree Sculpture - Tesla

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Beautiful 4" x 6" x 1/2" "Captured Lightning" Electron Tree Sculpture The branching pattern inside this acrylic sculpture is called a Lichtenberg Figure or Electron Tree. It was created by forcing up to 2 million volts of electricity through the acrylic. The lightning-like sparks left a permanent record of their passage, creating a "Captured Lightning" figure in a process similar to the way fulgurites are sometimes captured within sandy soil during a lightning strike. Holding one of our Captured Lightning specimens is about as close as you can come to holding a lightning bolt in your hand. Lichtenberg Figures are named in honor of Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, the 18th century physicist who first discovered them. Lichtenberg originally used high voltage discharges from electrostatic machines and finely powdered sulfur and lead oxide to create 2-D figures on the surface of insulating materials. This modern 3-D specimen was created by bombarding acrylic with high-speed electrons using a high voltage linear accelerator (LINAC). The LINAC generates a beam of electrons that have been accelerated to as much as 99.5% the speed of light. When these relativistic electrons slam into the acrylic, they easily penetrate the surface, finally coming to rest about half way through the acrylic. This causes a flat "cloud" layer of excess negative charge, called a space charge, to form in the center of the acrylic panel. Since acrylic is an excellent electrical insulator, the injected electrons become temporarily trapped, and a tremendous electrical charge rapidly builds as the beam continues to inject additional electrons. The potential of the space charge region may grow to 2 million volts or more. Eventually, in a process quite similar to natural lightning, the huge electrical stress overcomes the insulating strength of the acrylic. It suddenly breaks down, rapidly releasing the trapped charge. Sometimes, as shown in the picture below, breakdown may be manually stimulated by poking the charged acrylic with a sharp object. The trapped electrons suddenly rush out in a powerful surge of electricity carrying hundreds, or even thousands, of amps of current. The high-current surge creates a brilliant miniature lightning bolt inside the acrylic, accompanied by a powerful bang. And, as with lightning, the branching, self-similar discharge can be described mathematically as a type of fractal. The interior is charged to about 1.5 million volts before being manually discharged Although the electrical storm rages within the acrylic for only 50 billionths of a second, the discharges create thousands of permanent microscopic fractures in the acrylic, forming a beautifully preserved Lichtenberg Figure inside the acrylic. As with snowflakes, every Lichtenberg Figure is unique. Newer figures may retain an amber color on the side hit by the electron beam. Called solarization, the color usually fades with time, while the Lichtenberg Figure remains as a permanent feature within the acrylic. The lucky buyer will receive a figure of similar quality as the one pictured below and a one-page explanation about how it was created. Note that the discharge exit point may not always be located in the middle edge of the specimen. Similar specimen illuminated by sunlight with black velvet backgroundSimilar specimen illuminated by our LM2750 rosewood light base NOTE: Light base is NOT included, but we can provide at additional cost is a short video clip of a very large (18" x 18" x 1") Lichtenberg Figure actually being discharged: We are offering a limited number of these rare specimens until we run out of stock. Our Captured Lightning sculptures combine high technology with great beauty. They are stunning and rare objects of scientific art... and they are only available from us. Very few people have actually seen a Lichtenberg Figure, and far fewer are privileged to own a specimen as nice as this. As can be seen in the above image, the sculture literally glows when illuminated on an edge by a bright light sou... read more

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