Radio Emission Reveals Inner Meter-Scale Structure of Negative Lightning Leader Steps

B. M. Hare; O. Scholten; J. Dwyer; U. Ebert; S. Nijdam; A. Bonardi; S. Buitink; A. Corstanje; H. Falcke; T. Huege; J. R. Horandel; G. K. Krampah; P. Mitra; K. Mulrey; B. Neijzen; A. Nelles; H. Pandya; J. P. Rachen; L. Rossetto; T. N. G. Trinh; S. ter Veen; T. Winchen

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.105101

Radio Emission Reveals Inner Meter-Scale Structure of Negative Lightning Leader Steps

B. M. Hare^*, O. Scholten, J. Dwyer, U. Ebert, S. Nijdam, A. Bonardi, S. Buitink, A. Corstanje, H. Falcke, T. Huege, J. R. Horandel, G. K. Krampah, P. Mitra, K. Mulrey, B. Neijzen, A. Nelles, H. Pandya, J. P. Rachen, L. Rossetto, T. N. G. TrinhS. ter Veen, T. Winchen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We use the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) to probe the dynamics of the stepping process of negatively charged plasma channels (negative leaders) in a lightning discharge. We observe that at each step of a leader, multiple pulses of vhf (30-80 MHz) radiation are emitted in short-duration bursts (<10 mu s). This is evidence for streamer formation during corona flashes that occur with each leader step, which has not been observed before in natural lightning and it could help explain x-ray emission from lightning leaders, as x rays from laboratory leaders tend to be associated with corona flashes. Surprisingly, we find that the stepping length is very similar to what was observed near the ground, however with a stepping time that is considerably larger, which as yet is not understood. These results will help to improve lightning propagation models, and eventually lightning protection models.

Original language	English
Article number	105101
Number of pages	5
Journal	Physical Review Letters
Volume	124
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.105101
Publication status	Published - 10-Mar-2020

Keywords

STREAMERS
INCEPTION

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10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.105101

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Radio Emission Reveals Inner Meter-Scale Structure of Negative Lightning Leader Steps
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Hare, B. M., Scholten, O., Dwyer, J., Ebert, U., Nijdam, S., Bonardi, A., Buitink, S., Corstanje, A., Falcke, H., Huege, T., Horandel, J. R., Krampah, G. K., Mitra, P., Mulrey, K., Neijzen, B., Nelles, A., Pandya, H., Rachen, J. P., Rossetto, L., ... Winchen, T. (2020). Radio Emission Reveals Inner Meter-Scale Structure of Negative Lightning Leader Steps. Physical Review Letters, 124(10), [105101]. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.105101

Hare, B. M. ; Scholten, O. ; Dwyer, J. ; Ebert, U. ; Nijdam, S. ; Bonardi, A. ; Buitink, S. ; Corstanje, A. ; Falcke, H. ; Huege, T. ; Horandel, J. R. ; Krampah, G. K. ; Mitra, P. ; Mulrey, K. ; Neijzen, B. ; Nelles, A. ; Pandya, H. ; Rachen, J. P. ; Rossetto, L. ; Trinh, T. N. G. ; ter Veen, S. ; Winchen, T. / Radio Emission Reveals Inner Meter-Scale Structure of Negative Lightning Leader Steps. In: Physical Review Letters. 2020 ; Vol. 124, No. 10.

@article{3fd7d8f0599e479ea48dea839a0ca453,

title = "Radio Emission Reveals Inner Meter-Scale Structure of Negative Lightning Leader Steps",

abstract = "We use the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) to probe the dynamics of the stepping process of negatively charged plasma channels (negative leaders) in a lightning discharge. We observe that at each step of a leader, multiple pulses of vhf (30-80 MHz) radiation are emitted in short-duration bursts (<10 mu s). This is evidence for streamer formation during corona flashes that occur with each leader step, which has not been observed before in natural lightning and it could help explain x-ray emission from lightning leaders, as x rays from laboratory leaders tend to be associated with corona flashes. Surprisingly, we find that the stepping length is very similar to what was observed near the ground, however with a stepping time that is considerably larger, which as yet is not understood. These results will help to improve lightning propagation models, and eventually lightning protection models.",

keywords = "STREAMERS, INCEPTION",

author = "Hare, {B. M.} and O. Scholten and J. Dwyer and U. Ebert and S. Nijdam and A. Bonardi and S. Buitink and A. Corstanje and H. Falcke and T. Huege and Horandel, {J. R.} and Krampah, {G. K.} and P. Mitra and K. Mulrey and B. Neijzen and A. Nelles and H. Pandya and Rachen, {J. P.} and L. Rossetto and Trinh, {T. N. G.} and {ter Veen}, S. and T. Winchen",

year = "2020",

month = mar,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.105101",

language = "English",

volume = "124",

journal = "Physical Review Letters",

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Hare, BM , Scholten, O, Dwyer, J, Ebert, U, Nijdam, S, Bonardi, A, Buitink, S, Corstanje, A, Falcke, H, Huege, T, Horandel, JR, Krampah, GK, Mitra, P, Mulrey, K, Neijzen, B, Nelles, A, Pandya, H, Rachen, JP, Rossetto, L, Trinh, TNG, ter Veen, S & Winchen, T 2020, 'Radio Emission Reveals Inner Meter-Scale Structure of Negative Lightning Leader Steps', Physical Review Letters, vol. 124, no. 10, 105101. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.105101

Radio Emission Reveals Inner Meter-Scale Structure of Negative Lightning Leader Steps. / Hare, B. M.; Scholten, O.; Dwyer, J.; Ebert, U.; Nijdam, S.; Bonardi, A.; Buitink, S.; Corstanje, A.; Falcke, H.; Huege, T.; Horandel, J. R.; Krampah, G. K.; Mitra, P.; Mulrey, K.; Neijzen, B.; Nelles, A.; Pandya, H.; Rachen, J. P.; Rossetto, L.; Trinh, T. N. G.; ter Veen, S.; Winchen, T.

In: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 124, No. 10, 105101, 10.03.2020.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Radio Emission Reveals Inner Meter-Scale Structure of Negative Lightning Leader Steps

AU - Hare, B. M.

AU - Scholten, O.

AU - Dwyer, J.

AU - Ebert, U.

AU - Nijdam, S.

AU - Bonardi, A.

AU - Buitink, S.

AU - Corstanje, A.

AU - Falcke, H.

AU - Huege, T.

AU - Horandel, J. R.

AU - Krampah, G. K.

AU - Mitra, P.

AU - Mulrey, K.

AU - Neijzen, B.

AU - Nelles, A.

AU - Pandya, H.

AU - Rachen, J. P.

AU - Rossetto, L.

AU - Trinh, T. N. G.

AU - ter Veen, S.

AU - Winchen, T.

PY - 2020/3/10

Y1 - 2020/3/10

N2 - We use the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) to probe the dynamics of the stepping process of negatively charged plasma channels (negative leaders) in a lightning discharge. We observe that at each step of a leader, multiple pulses of vhf (30-80 MHz) radiation are emitted in short-duration bursts (<10 mu s). This is evidence for streamer formation during corona flashes that occur with each leader step, which has not been observed before in natural lightning and it could help explain x-ray emission from lightning leaders, as x rays from laboratory leaders tend to be associated with corona flashes. Surprisingly, we find that the stepping length is very similar to what was observed near the ground, however with a stepping time that is considerably larger, which as yet is not understood. These results will help to improve lightning propagation models, and eventually lightning protection models.

AB - We use the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) to probe the dynamics of the stepping process of negatively charged plasma channels (negative leaders) in a lightning discharge. We observe that at each step of a leader, multiple pulses of vhf (30-80 MHz) radiation are emitted in short-duration bursts (<10 mu s). This is evidence for streamer formation during corona flashes that occur with each leader step, which has not been observed before in natural lightning and it could help explain x-ray emission from lightning leaders, as x rays from laboratory leaders tend to be associated with corona flashes. Surprisingly, we find that the stepping length is very similar to what was observed near the ground, however with a stepping time that is considerably larger, which as yet is not understood. These results will help to improve lightning propagation models, and eventually lightning protection models.

KW - STREAMERS

KW - INCEPTION

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.105101

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.105101

M3 - Article

VL - 124

JO - Physical Review Letters

JF - Physical Review Letters

SN - 0031-9007

IS - 10

M1 - 105101

ER -