2" x 2" x 3/4" Captured Lightning Edge Lichtenberg Figure Beam Tree Sculpture For Sale

Miniature "lightning bolt" Captured Lightning sculpture
Actual size is approximately 2" x 2" x 3/4"

The scientific name for our Captured Lightning sculpture is a Lichtenberg figure (sometimes called a beam tree or an electron tree). This specimen was created by charging the inside of the block to almost 2 million volts, then suddenly discharging it. Lichtenberg Figures are named in honor of Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, the 18th century physicist who first discovered them. Lichtenberg originally used high voltage electrostatic discharges and finely powdered sulfur and lead oxide to create his 2-dimensional "dust figures".

Using 21st century particle beam technology, we created this modern 3-dimensional version by bombarding acrylic with trillions of high-speed electrons using a particle accelerator. The accelerator creates a beam ofelectrons that have been accelerated to 99.5% the speed of light. The energetic beam of electrons are aimed towards the flat surface of an acrylic block. As they slam into the acrylic, they penetrate the surface, slowing down as they collide with the acrylic molecules, finally coming to rest about half way through the block. With continued irradiation, a huge number of electrons accumulate, forming a cloud-like region of excess negative charge (called a space charge) inside the acrylic. Since acrylic is an excellent electrical insulator, the electrons can't escape, and tremendous electrical stresses rapidly build as trillions of electrons are added.

In a process similar to natural lightning, the electrical stress finally overcomes the insulating strength of the acrylic, and the trapped electrons suddenly escape as a brilliant electrical spark. Usually, as in the photo below, we manually trigger the discharge by poking the charged acrylic with a sharp metal point. Once the acrylic breaks down, a torrent of trapped charge quickly rushes as a miniature bolt of lightning, accompanied by a flash and a BANG. A one-page explanation of how your sculpture was created will be shipped along with your sculpture. As with lightning, the branching, self-similar discharge can be described mathematically as a type of fractal.

Typical sculpture being manually discharged. Internal charge layer is over 2 million volts

Although the actual "electrical storm" within the acrylic rages for less than 40 billionths of a second, the hot discharges cause thousands of permanent microscopic fractures and tubes in the acrylic, forming a permanent Lichtenberg Figure inside the block. Newer specimens may also have a temporary golden tint, called solarization, from the irradiation process. Although the solarization fades with time, or through the application of gentle heat, the Lichtenberg Figure itself is permanent.

The internal chains of microscopic fractures act as tinymirrors, brilliantly reflecting any light that is injected from the bottom oralong an edge. The sculpture is best viewed against a dark background. Shininglight from behind (such as light through a window) can actually detract from the sculpture’sdetail and overall appearance. Every CapturedLightning sculpture is unique. The lucky buyer will receive a sculptureof comparable quality as the one shown below, and a one-page explanationabout what it is and how it was created.

As with snowflakes, each Captured Lightning sculpture is unique! The lucky buyer will receive one sculpture of comparable quality as the one shown below, and a one-page explanation about how it was created.

Typical specimen illuminated from below by a multicolor LED light base (NOT included).