On the possible origin of chaotic pulse trains in lightning flashes

In this study, electromagnetic field radiation bursts known as chaotic pulse trains (CPTs) and regular pulse trains (RPTs) generated by lightning flashes were analyzed. Through a numerical analysis it was found that a typical CPT could be generated by superimposing several RPTs onto each other. It i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Atmosphere
Main Author: Ismail M.M.; Rahman M.; Cooray V.; Fernando M.; Hettiarachchi P.; Johari D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2017
Online Access:https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85013498912&doi=10.3390%2fatmos8020029&partnerID=40&md5=29f0c14140ff3f113dc279aeb4dafb6c
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Summary:In this study, electromagnetic field radiation bursts known as chaotic pulse trains (CPTs) and regular pulse trains (RPTs) generated by lightning flashes were analyzed. Through a numerical analysis it was found that a typical CPT could be generated by superimposing several RPTs onto each other. It is suggested that the chaotic pulse trains are created by a superposition of several regular pulse trains. Since regular pulse trains are probably created by dart or dart-stepped leaders or K-changes inside the cloud, chaotic pulse trains are caused by the superposition of electric fields caused by more than one of these leaders or K-changes propagating simultaneously. The hypothesis is supported by the fact that one can find regular pulse trains either in the beginning, middle or later stages of chaotic pulse trains. © 2017 by the author.
ISSN:20734433
DOI:10.3390/atmos8020029