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

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)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Physical Review Letters American Physical Society

Book Volume: 124

Journal Issue: 10

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.105101

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.

Authors with CRIS profile

Anna Nelles Professur für Experimentelle Astroteilchenphysik, insbesondere Radionachweis von Neutrinos

Involved external institutions

Radboud University Nijmegen NL Netherlands (NL) Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) BE Belgium (BE) University of Groningen / Rijksuniversiteit Groningen NL Netherlands (NL) Can Tho University / Trường Đại học Cần Thơ VN Viet Nam (VN) Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy NL Netherlands (NL) University of New Hampshire US United States (USA) (US) Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) NL Netherlands (NL) Eindhoven University of Technology / Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (TU/e) NL Netherlands (NL)

How to cite

APA:

Hare, B.M., Scholten, O., Dwyer, J., Ebert, U., Nijdam, S., Bonardi, A.,... Winchen, T. (2020). Radio Emission Reveals Inner Meter-Scale Structure of Negative Lightning Leader Steps. Physical Review Letters, 124(10). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.105101

MLA:

Hare, B. M., et al. "Radio Emission Reveals Inner Meter-Scale Structure of Negative Lightning Leader Steps." Physical Review Letters 124.10 (2020).

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