Light, radiofrequency emission and ionization effects associated with rock fracture

Abstract

A series of experiments has been carried out over the last few years to study light, plasma and radiofrequency (RF) emission during the catastrophic collapse of rocks under stress. The amount of light emission recorded photographically during tests performed both in air at NTP and in vacuo was very similar. A Langmuir probe detected the presence of ions produced during collapse. We suggest that light is emitted both from the region of collapse and from incandescent dust streamers emanating from this region, and that in the presence of specific atmospheres dust and plasma can excite typical spectral lines of the constituent gases.