Two Hu Ndred Years of Lichtenberg Figures

Lichtenberg discovered dust figure phenomena of electrical discharges in 1777. His discovery came to the notice of many scientists because it was considered that the figures should show the motion of the electric fluid. Photographic Lichtenberg figures were obtained in the middle of the nineteenth century. Both of these figures, usually called "Lichtenberg figures", have been utilized in the study of electrical discharges. There are many figures, other than Lichtenberg figures, that give a pattern indication of the influence ~r result of a discharge.The era of modern studies of Lichtenberg figures and creepage discharges was opened by Toepler late in the nineteenth century. Some useful figures, such as liquid-crystal Lichtenberg figures and figures by the liquid-development method, have been introduced recently.