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Title: Note on lightning temperature

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4932003· OSTI ID:22486500
 [1]
  1. Department of General and Applied Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, 141700 Moscow Region (Russian Federation)

In this paper, some features of the dynamics of a lightning channel that emerges after the leader-streamer process, are theoretically studied. It is shown that the dynamic pinch effect in the channel becomes possible if a discharge current before the main (quasi-steady) stage of a lightning discharge increases rapidly. The ensuing magnetic compression of the channel increases plasma temperature to several million degrees leading to a soft x-ray flash within the highly ionized plasma. The relation between the plasma temperature and the channel radius during the main stage of a lightning discharge is derived.

OSTI ID:
22486500
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 22, Issue 10; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English