Plasma Characteristic of Lightning Discharge Channel

The plasma characteristics of a lightning discharge channel are reviewed.The spectrum of the natural lightning is investigated by employing the slit-less spectrograph.It is found that the spectrum characteristics are closely related to the intensity of the lightning discharge.The lines in the lightning spectrum are classified into essential lines and characteristic lines,according to the characteristics of lightning spectra with different intensities.The characteristics of the lightning channel and the radiation of the lighting plasma are analyzed in the visible and infrared regions.It is shown that,the visible spectrum of lightning is determined by the radiation generated from the early stage to the development of lightning,while the near-infrared spectrum is determined by the radiation generated after current of lightning reaches the peak.The channel temperature and the electron density are calculated using the information obtained from the lightning spectrum.Both the temperature and the density decrease with the increasing length of lightning channel.Moreover,X-rays and neutrons are produced in the process of lighting mainly due to the pinch effects.

The plasma characteristics of a lightning discharge channel are reviewed. The spectrum of the natural lightning is investigated by employing the slit-less spectrograph. It is found that the spectrum characteristics are closely related to the intensity of the lightning discharge The lines in the lightning specmam are classified into essential lines and characteristic lines, according to the characteristics of lightning spectra with different intensities. The characteristics of the lightning channel and the radiation of the lighting plasma are analyzed in the visible and infrared regions. It is shown that, the visible spectrum of lightning is determined by the radiation generated from the early stage to the development of lightning, while the near-infrared spectrum is determined by the radiation generated after current of lightning reaches the peak. The channel temperature and the electron density are calculated using the information obtained from the lightning spectrum. Both the temperature and the density decrease with the increasing length of lighming channel. Moreover, X-rays and neutrons are produced in the process of lighting mainly due to the pinch effects.