SA54A-01 INVITED
Atmospheric dusty plasma creation by ground air ionization
The problems of the climate change and confirmation of the cosmic rays effects on the global cloud coverage attracted more attention to the processes of air ionization by energetic particles. But still the role of the ground radioactivity in the Global Electric Circuit remains underestimated. Our studies show that within the areas of increased radon emanation the essential modification of the atmospheric boundary layer takes place, especially of atmospheric electricity. Ions produced by radon ionization grow up to aerosol size due to water molecules attachment to ions. The ion concentration reaches the levels of order 105 - 106 cm-3 and we can speak on the atmospheric dusty plasma. Due to ion clusters low mobility the conductivity of the boundary layer drops what leads to sharp growth of the vertical electric field gradient. Additional electric field generation process takes place due to convective flow generated by the latent heat release in the process of water condensation on ions. Different kind of electromagnetic emissions can be expected which are characteristic to such kind of plasma. The rotational dipole frequencies are of order 100-200 MHz, and the local plasma frequency is of order of few mHz. The pulsed emission can be generated due to formation of electric cusps and electric reconnection. The model of atmospheric dusty plasma has experimental confirmation in the form of increased aerosol concentration measured by Aeronet network under increased levels of ionization, and in the data of electromagnetic monitoring both in the VHF and ELF bands.
SA54A-02 INVITED
Laboratory Experiments of Helicity or Vortex Generation in an Electric Quadrupole: Simulation of Tonadoes with and without Lightning
Laboratory Experiments of Helicity or Vortex Generation in an Electric Quadrupole: Simulation of Tornadoes with and without Lightning H. Kikuchi Institute for Environmental Electromagnetics 3-8-18, Komagome, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170, Japan e-mail: hkikuchi@mars.dti.ne.jp Abstract Usually the source-origins of helicity or vortex generation have been considered to be thermohydrodynamic in the hydrodynamic (HD) regime and/or magnetohydrodynamic in the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) regime. It has been shown, however, by the present author that an electric quadrupole is also capable for helicity or vortex generation and a new electric helic- ity defined as hE= v·E (v: flow velocity; E: electric field) has been introduced. Accordingly, we have now three kinds of helicity, namely fluid, magnetic, and electric helicity. In many cases of atmospheric and space electricity phenomena in nature, electric helicity or vortex generation of electric origin is involved as typically seen in tornadic thunderstorms. Conventional theory of tornadoes, however, space- charge and electric fields have never been considered properly so far, surprisingly in spite of their effects of significance, because of no theorv for such cases, although those effects have been recognized implicitly by field experiments. This paper fills up these demands by newly introducing the concept of 'Electric Helicity' based on 'Electrohydrodynamics' (EHD) established and developed over the last more than two decades and such a whole theory is applied to tornadioes with and without lightning. Further, experimental evidence of this theory is presented for the first time by using a 'universal electric-cusp type plasma reactor' designed more than a decade ago [1]. This device is composed of two positive and negative electrodes of lead spheres 1.5 cm in diameter suspended 2~5 cm above a copper plane on which a semispherical lead 1.25 cm in diameter or its modified object is placed. A whole setup is arranged in a wooden box whose back and both sides are covered by black papers to prevent scattered and reflected light while its front side is open. We are particularly focusing on 'significance of electric quadrupole(s) in helicity and vortex generation',taking photos of wind flows with the use of a bunch of incense sticks burned and placed on the semispherical lead at the cusp center in the reactor. With increasing both electrode voltages from zero to a certain kV, ascending straight wind flows turn to be cyclonic separately toward the both electrodes. As soon as electric discharge from both electrodes to object starts at a certain breakdown voltage, typically 20~30 kV, wind flows suddenly turn to be violent and wind flows toward negative electrode are still cyclonic but wind flows toward positive electrode become anticyclonic. These results are shown by a number of photos taken and provide at the same time 'laboratory simulation of tonadoes with and without lightning'. [1] Kikuchi, H. Electrohydrodynamics in Dusty and Dirty Plasmas, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht/The Netherlands, 2001, pp.93-94.
SA54A-03 INVITED
Giant Dipole Moments of Submicron Ice Crystallites Nucleated on Dust Particles Cause Polarization Catastrophe, Sprites
Supersaturation of water vapor in the atmosphere is known to be low, limited to just a few percent, because the nucleation processes of water aggregates and ice crystallites are heterogeneous. Nucleation is on dust particles, known as aerosol particles. Ice nuclei are often sub-micron SiO2 particles. The ice crystallite formed on such a nucleus is different from bulk ice, which has a hindered ferroelectric transition at 78 K, according to Hentschel's calculation and to other, Japanese studies. At this transition temperature the free energy difference between the ordered and disordered states is zero, DF=0. However, the thin ice layer deposited on the nucleus has a preferential direction, the radial direction, roughly perpendicular to the surface. This spoils in the crystallite the isotropy characterizing bulk ice. Therefore, in the free energy difference DF=DU- TDS, between the entropy difference DS that tries to lower the transition temperature, and the internal energy difference DU, the entropy term looses much of its importance. Therefore, the ferroelectric transition temperature of a sub-micron, heterogeneously nucleated, ice crystallite will be much higher, close to the melting temperature of bulk ice. For temperatures below 253 K this could remain valid even for slightly larger crystallites, almost up to 10 microns. The present paper is focused on this collective ordering effect. The ferroelectric transition is never observed in bulk ice, because the activation energy needed to achieve ferroelectric ordering is prohibitive, and causes the transition time to be infinite. On the other hand, at the much higher temperature estimated for the small, defect ridden, ice crystallites, the transition time is finite and the crystallites grow from the beginning with a ferroelectric saturation polarization. This causes each crystallite to have a giant dipole moment, and causes the whole cloud of crystallites to lapse into a Clausius-Mossotti type polarization catastrophe or self-alignment transition that lowers the free energy of the cloud. The criterion for this to happen is satisfied by almost all clouds, but the polarization is continuously compensated by masking charges. Finally, when the PC breaks down, lightning, sprites, elves, blue jets, P-H pulses result from the masking charges of cumulo-nimbus clouds.
SA54A-04
Sputtering of Dust Grains: Experiment and Modeling
The dust grain sputtering is an important process in the space but it cannot be studied in situ. For this reason, we have simulated the sputtering of dust grains of various materials under bombardment of different ions with various energies up to 10 keV in laboratory conditions. We have found that the sputtering yield can be probably enhanced by the presence of a high electric field at the grain surface. Moreover, we have prepared a simple sputtering model that fits well the results of our experiment and applied on space environment. From a comparison of the model and experiment it follows that (1) the shape of grains exposed to a collimated ion beam evolves from sphere to ellipsoid and this change may influence the sputtering yield; (2) the consideration based on the mean abundance of heavy ions in the solar wind leads to a conclusion that these minor species can considerably contribute to the sputtering rate.
SA54A-05
Modification of Spherical Dust Grain Structure: Laboratory Simulation
Sputtering of astrophysical grain material is often discussed process leading to grain erosion or destruction. The compositional change resulting from implantation of energetic ions into the grain material influences not only the sputtering rate but it changes electrical properties of the dust grains. Consequently, the grain charge and its dynamics in space electric and magnetic fields can be modified. In this contribution, we compare the results of a study of surface structure and its change due to surface modification by high-energy ion (Ar, He) beams on different samples. For these experiments, we have chosen a micron-sized spheres as well as planar films and/or monocrystal of gold. A choice of this material follows from the fact that the composition of dust grains in the space is rather complicated and basic material constants of space relevant materials are unknown, thus Au samples seem to be suitable for our preliminary study. To detail investigations of surface properties, both the method of stored single grain influenced by the ion beams and the techniques of the scanning electron microscopy were applied. In-situ Auger analysis is used to observe changes in surface composition, especially the Ar implantation. As a result, the sputtering yields and precise spectra of secondary electrons in a wide energy range on samples are discussed.
SA54A-06
Ball Lightning With Spiking and Cold Emission in the Maser-Caviton Interaction
The nonlinear system of maser and cold plasma caviton can sustain spiking oscillations around the stationary
state. This is shown here in the linearized limit of small oscillations. The role of ionization and cold emission
effects is considered, and the case of large spiking amplitudes is discussed qualitatively on this basis.
This calculation allows us to predict the frequency of the often observed humming of ball lightning.
Furthermore, four basic experiments are suggested, that should be performed in order to verify and further
develop the present Maser-Soliton theory of ball lightning: comparative atmospheric absorption spectroscopy in
thunderstorm conditions, electric field pulse experiment, wind tunnel experiment and laboratory ball lightning
generation experiment.
The latter experiment suggested is based on a 10-20KW Klystron amplifier with negative feedback, trying to
simulate the behavior of the atmospheric maser. The klystron is connected through a directional coupler to a
tuned resonator that serves as discharge chamber. From there, a wave guide completes the loop. An optical
feedback strengthens the natural tendency of the klystron to spike almost instantaneously when the load
decreases. The discharge sought is a glow at atmospheric pressure, at much lower temperature than the lowest
temperature arch discharge ever obtained so far at normal pressure.
At these low temperatures there are no electrons that could sustain the discharge. However, right when the
discharge is dying, a powerful klystron spike is automatically caused by the sudden decrease of the load. This
extracts electrons through cold (Fowler) emission, and rekindles the discharge. However, like in the case of the
atmospheric maser, the presence of the large spike automatically stops the klystron power. The optical feedback
is responsible in part for the fast reaction. Then the spiking cycle repeats itself.
Our Maser-Soliton BL theory allows for the first time not only to understand the natural phenomenon, but also
to emulate it in the laboratory. This represents a new type of discharge.
http:www.umsl.edu/~handel
SA54A-07
Origin, Emission, and Propagation of P-H Pulses
Origin, Emission, and Propagation of P-H Pulses H. Kikuchi Institute for Environmental Electromagnetics 3-8-18, Komagome, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170, Japan e-mail: hkikuchi@mars.dti.ne.jp Abstract According to Pulinets, characters of P-H pulses is following. The registered emission has not continuous but pulsed character and has very wide frequency spectrum from kHz to more than hundred MHz. These two facts imply that should be the electric discharge-like emission similar to thunderstorm flashes emission. The emission is connected in some way with seismic activity and the emission intensity increases 12-24 hour before the seismic shock. Another intriguing factor is that emission is registered at large distances up to 500 km (some witness claim up to 1500 km). Taking into account that emission is registered at VHF band also, the source of emission cannot be situated on the ground. This paper puts forwards a model of P-H pulses generation based on ¡¥dust dynamics¡¦. Rotating ions ascending, for instance erupped metalic ions in the earth's crust into the atmosphere incorporating aerosols might be captured by diffuse dust layers which may exist below or beyond the electric mirror point produced by quadrupole-like thunder- cloud configurations or even form a portion of dust layers and could be a source-origin of P-H pulses that might be emitted by local electric discharges within diffuse dust layers somewhat similar to thundercloud discharges, though emission frequencies and characters are quite different, namely P-H pulses are over a wide range of frequencies, say from kHz to more than hundred MHz with pulsed character in contrast to lightning emission with more continuous character whose frequencies are 1 to 10 kHz. Such diffuse dust layers could be formed over a wide range of height in the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and the thermosphere. Propagation distance of P-H pulses are very large up to 500ƒî1500 km.