Shock Waves from Lightning & Diameter of the Expanding Return Stroke Channel

Abstract

It has been shown that the shock-front of the shock wave from return stroke lightning drags the plasma material in the radial direction. Thus, the time profile of the shock front position gives the variation of diameter of the expanding return stroke channel with time. The value of the ratio of the shock pressure to the ambient pressure and radius of the expanding return stroke channel has been computed. The results are in close agreement with the values reported earlier by others.