Lightning on Ice
Here's what Todd Johnson has been busy with lately: making Lichtenberg figures. This involves a weekend trip to an electron linear accelerator somewhere in Ohio to assist the folks from Stoneridge Engineering.
On the latest trip, Todd chilled acrylic slabs to dry-ice temperature before exposing them to the beam. This greatly inhibits the escape of trapped electrons, which allowed him to bring them back home, still chilled. He could wait for a moment of his choosing to release the electrons and make the frozen lightning.
So last week he zapped his slabs in several local places.
The Fermilab Visual Media Services folks videotaped one of his demonstrations, and offered it on Youtube. Take a look.
On the latest trip, Todd chilled acrylic slabs to dry-ice temperature before exposing them to the beam. This greatly inhibits the escape of trapped electrons, which allowed him to bring them back home, still chilled. He could wait for a moment of his choosing to release the electrons and make the frozen lightning.
So last week he zapped his slabs in several local places.
The Fermilab Visual Media Services folks videotaped one of his demonstrations, and offered it on Youtube. Take a look.
Click to view