Sprite beads and glows arising from the attachment instability in streamer channels
Abstract
The complex dynamics of a sprite discharge are not limited to the propagation of streamers. After the passage of a streamer head, the ionized channel established in its wake develops intricate luminous patterns that evolve on timescales from 1 up to 100 ms. To investigate these patterns, conventionally called beads and glows, we present high‐speed recordings of their onset and decay; our main observation here is that in many cases distant points within a channel decay at the same rate despite considerable differences in the underlying air density. We then show that the properties of beads and glows, including this synchronized decay, are explained by the tendency of electric current within a streamer channel to converge to an uniform value and by an attachment instability of electric discharges in air. However, we also discuss the uncertainty about the chemical reactions that affect the electron density during the sprite decay.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2016
- Source ID
- 10.1002/2015ja022234
Entities
People
- A. Luque
- H. C. Stenbaek‐nielsen
- M. G. Mcharg
- R. K. Haaland
Organizations
- Fort Lewis College
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía
- Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness
- United States Air Force Academy
- University of Alaska System