Re: High tension power lines

[don@radpro.uchicago.edu]

I agree with Mr. de Castro.  The mean free path of a neutral in air
at ordinary T & P is quite small- of the order of a micron, I believe
(haven't yet checked it out).  Even a field of a million volts per
meter would only accelerate e- to a few volts before a collision.
(A million volts per meter is one volt per micron.)  Since lightning
gives off light, this is plausible.  

Note, however, an article titled "New Class of Lightning found Found
High above Clouds", New York Times, Tuesday, January 17, 1994 p. B7 ff,
menmtions gamma ray bursts coming from these recently discovered forms
of lightning.  The lightning forms mention are "red sprites"-ephemeral
globules that float as high as 60 miles above the clouds-and "blue jets'-
somewhat longer lasting jets that extent upward as high as 20 miles.
The Times says: "The flashes appear to produce strange emanations that
are just starting to be understood.  Orbiting satellites have detected
gamma-ray bursts of extraordinary intensity coming from thunderheads 
and the red flashes have been linked to powerful bursts of radio waves"

Apologies for any missspellings.

Don