Captured Lightning sculptures are branching patterns of internal fractures that have been permanently captured deep inside blocks of clear acrylic. Technically known as Lichtenberg Figures, they were created by carefully discharging millions of volts of electrical charge using a high-energy particle accelerator.
In this end view (below) you can see the point where the particles entered the acrylic and began to spread out towards the edges to escape.
You can also see why these are sometimes called electron trees.
What we're seeing here, of course, are fractals. Fractals are defined as, 'a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be split into parts, each of which is (at least approximately) a reduced-size copy of the whole.' The way that a tree grows upwards and outwards is fractal; a branch divides and then sub-divides and further sub-divides until it reaches its smallest point at the tip of a twig. A river delta does the same. So, when viewed from a distance they have similar forms.
You'll also see similar fractal forms in the circulatory system as blood vessels divide and get ever smaller. You see it too in forked lightning, which is why Lichtenberg Figures are known as 'captured lightning'.Here's the superb example they have on display in the foyer of the NPL (where I got mine) and a video showing how they are made.
It's another curiosity that I feel I am very lucky to own.
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