Re: Is it possible for a lightning bolt to exsist inside a vacuum , i.e. space

Date: Wed Feb 27 13:53:14 2008
Posted By: Bart Hogan, Faculty, Computer, Math and Physical Sciences, University of Maryland, Institution for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics
Area of science: Engineering
ID: 1204073069.Eg

Message:


Yes.
Lightning is an electrical discharge, or arc, traveling between points that
are charged to different potentials (voltages). This would typically be
between the sky (clouds) and the earth.
Electric arcs can occur in a vacuum, so there is no limitation there.
The question is how to generate the high electric fields, then how to
discharge them and finally, how to take advantage of this for use as a
means of propulsion?

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