Lichtenberg figures — Teylers Museum

Lichtenberg figures

pre 1862

In 1777 the German scientist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg was polishing an electrophorus coated with pitch – an early kind of capacitor. The dust falling on the metal plates with which he was experimenting, formed remarkable patterns. Because of the sticky pitch he could take them over onto a piece of paper. Thus Lichtenberg accidentally discovered the principle of xerography. Nowadays the working of any photocopier is based on this technique.

This set of twelve plates comes from V.S.M. van der Willigen, who experimented with these fascinating figures around 1860. Then he was professor in Deventer, but in 1864 he was appointed conservator of Teylers Instrument Hall.

Administration name

Fysisch Kabinet

Title

Lichtenberg figures

Translated title

Lichtenberg figures

Creator

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Dating

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Measurements

[{'notes': u'', 'part': 'toren', 'type': u'', 'value': '370', 'unit': u''}, {'notes': u'', 'part': 'voet', 'type': u'', 'value': '225', 'unit': u''}, {'notes': u'', 'part': 'voet', 'type': u'', 'value': '178', 'unit': u''}, {'notes': u'', 'part': 'platen', 'type': u'', 'value': '152', 'unit': u''}, {'notes': u'', 'part': 'platen', 'type': u'', 'value': '152', 'unit': u''}, {'notes': u'', 'part': 'toren', 'type': u'', 'value': '3.33', 'unit': u''}, {'notes': u'', 'part': 'platen', 'type': u'', 'value': '236', 'unit': u''}]

Reproduction reference

[{'reference': '..\\images\\Fysisch\\Gekoppelde afbeeldingen\\FK 0479.jpg'}]

Order image