The scientists Alexander Gurevich and Anatoly Karashtin found new experimental confirmation of the theory that the cause of lightning is cosmic rays – high-energy charged particles from outer space. The article appeared in the scientific journal Physical Review Letters.
The process of a lightning discharge is quite complex and it is not known what causes lightning itself. It is believed that the occurrence of a discharge between clouds and the ground, you must have a large potential difference. When this is achieved, breakdown occurs. In reality, however, observed in the clouds potentials on the order of less than needed for the breakdown.