Abstract

We report results of time resolved spectra of lightning simulation in air by laser-induced plasma (LIP).¹ The measured electron temperatures varied from (1.7 ± 0.1)10⁴ K at 600 ns to (1.2 ± 0.1)10⁴ K at 4 μs after the ignition of the plasma. Electron densities in the plasma varied from (7.0 ± 1.4)10¹⁷/cm³ to (9.0 ± 1.8)10¹⁶/cm³ for the above times. We also report, we believe for the first time, a comparison of state variables for LIP and natural lightning. We find that immediately following the ignition both natural lightning² and LIP reach temperatures >30,000 K and relax to ambient pressure with different rates. They appear to approach the 2000-4000 K temperature range, which is important in chemical synthesis, in an asymptotically similar fashion.

© 1991 Optical Society of America