Wave Profile and Current Limits for Lightning Return Stroke

Abstract

The propagation characteristics of breakdown waves propagating in the opposite direction of the electric field force on electrons and with a significant current behind the wave front have been studied. Breakdown waves for which the net electric field force on electrons is in the opposite direction of the wave propagation are referred to as anti-force waves (lightning return strokes); however, the electron gas temperature, and therefore the electron gas partial pressure, is assumed to be large enough to provide the driving force, causing the wave to propagate down the tube with observed velocities. Breakdown waves, for which the electric field force on electrons is in the same direction of the wave propagation, are referred to as pro-force waves. Waves propagating in the opposite direction of the electric field force on electrons will possess variance in structure from those moving in the same direction as the direction of the electric field force on electrons. Anti-force waves seem to be slightly faster than the pro-force waves, which agree fairly well with the experimental results.