High voltages for particle acceleration from thunderstorms: A. Brasch and F. Lange

An early experiment of two German physicists, A. Brasch and F. Lange (1930), who conceived the idea of harnessing the huge potential differences between charged clouds of thunderstorms and the earth, is briefly described. Voltage pulses of 8 to 15 MV amplitude were observed. Difficulties existed in bringing this potential down to the earth surface, and no discharge tube for the acceleration of particle beams that could withstand such voltages existed at the time. The project was discontinued when a fatal accident claimed the life of a coworker of Brasch and Lange.<
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