2" x 2" x 3/4" Beveled Lightning Lichtenberg Figure & Multicolor Lighted Base

Description

We captured a lightning bolt inside a 2 x2 x 3/4" beveled acrylic jewel!
The scientific name for our Captured Lightning sculptures is a Lichtenberg figure. These are sometimes called beam trees or electron trees. This specimen was created by charging the interior of the acrylic to almost 2 million volts, then suddenly discharging it. Lichtenberg Figures are named in honor of Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, the 18th century physicist who first discovered them. Lichtenberg originally used high voltage electrostatic discharges and finely powdered sulfur and lead oxide to create his 2-dimensional dust figures on the surface of a resin plate.
Using 21st century particle beam technology, we created this modern 3-dimensional version in the interior of an acrylic block by bombarding it with trillions of high-speed electrons using an electron accelerator. The accelerator
creates a beam of electrons that are traveling at up to 99.5% the speed of light.
The energetic beam of electrons are aimed towards the surface of an acrylic block. As the electrons slam into the acrylic, they easily pass through its surface. They slow down as they collide with acrylic molecules, finally coming to rest about half way through the block. The electrons form a cloud-like region of excess negative charge, called a space charge, inside the acrylic. Since acrylic is an excellent electrical insulator, the trapped electrons can't escape, and tremendous electrical stresses rapidly build as more electrons are forced into the acrylic by the beam.
In a process similar to natural lightning, the electrical stress finally overcomes the insulating strength of the acrylic, and the trapped electrons suddenly escape as a brilliant electrical spark. Usually, as in the photo below, we manually trigger the discharge by poking the charged specimen with a sharp metal point. Once the acrylic breaks down, a torrent of trapped charge quickly rushes out of the specimen as a miniature bolt of lightning, accompanied by a flash and a BANG. The process and underlying physics of how we make our Captured Lightning sculptures are more fully described in this
video
. A one-page explanation of how your sculpture was created will be shipped along with your sculpture. As with lightning, the branching, self-similar discharge can be described mathematically as a type of fractal.
Typical specimen being manually discharged. Internal charge layer is over 2 million volts
Although the "electrical storm" within the acrylic rages for less than 40 billionths of a second, the hot discharges create countless permanent microscopic fractures and tubes inside the acrylic, forming a permanent Lichtenberg Figure. Newer specimens may also have a golden tint, called solarization, left over from from the irradiation process. Although solarization fades with time or through the application of gentle heat, the Lichtenberg figure itself is permanent.
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. As with snowflakes, each Captured Lightning sculpture is unique! The lucky buyer will receive one sculpture of comparable quality as the one shown below, and a one-page explanation about how it was created.
Typical specimen in natural sunlight
Typical specimen illuminated by the battery-powered color changing light base (included)
Base uses three AAA batteries (not included) or a 120/240 volt AC power adapter with 2-pin North American power plug (included). Power adapters for UK, EC, or AU power can also be provided on request. The various colors from four LED's slowly cycle and repeat over 10 - 15 seconds. This base can also be powered from a USB port via supplied cable.
Our Captured Lightning sculptures are stunning, unique works of scientific art. Very few people have even seen a Lichtenberg figure, and far fewer have ever had the opportunity to own one as nice as this.
The internal figure glows brilliantly when illuminated from one or more edges by a bright light source or LED's. They make ideal gifts for those folks who "have everything" or for discriminating collectors of rare and beautiful objects.
Our team of experienced physicists are Lichtenberg figure experts. Stoneridge Engineering offers sculptures in sizes from affordable 2 x 2 x 3/4 inch blocks, gorgeous prisms, cylinders, and cubes with multiple discharge layers, to massive 15 x 20 x 2 inch museum quality specimens. See
About Me
for further information about other Captured Lightning sculptures, shrunken coins, and the mad scientist at Stoneridge Engineering. Also, please see our
other styles of beautiful Lichtenberg Figures and our amazing 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 amateur scientist, student, or collector on your gift list!
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