Lichtenberg figure
Lichtenberg Figure
Lichtenberg Figure (/ˈlɪktənbɜːrɡ/; from the German: Lichtenberg-Figuren), is a term used in the field of medicine and physics to describe the branching electric discharges that are sometimes produced on the surface or the interior of insulating materials.
Etymology
The term "Lichtenberg Figure" is named after the German physicist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, who originally discovered and studied them. When Lichtenberg made his discovery, he was experimenting with static electricity and noticed the patterns that were formed when dust settled on the surface of an insulator that had been charged and then discharged.
Description
Lichtenberg Figures are often associated with the progressive deterioration of high voltage components and equipment. The figures are the result of electrical discharges on or within layers of insulating materials. Lichtenberg Figures can also appear on the skin of lightning strike victims. These are sometimes called "lightning flowers" or "lightning trees".
Related Terms
- Electrical discharge: The process of releasing and transmitting electricity.
- Insulating material: A material that can resist the flow of electrical current.
- Lightning strike: A natural phenomenon of an electric discharge between the atmosphere and an earth-bound object.
- Georg Christoph Lichtenberg: A German physicist who discovered Lichtenberg Figures.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Lichtenberg figure
- Wikipedia's article - Lichtenberg figure
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