Once in the atmosphere, the charged particles interact with gas particles, including nitrogen and oxygen, which triggers bursts of light. (newatlas.com)
The high voltage is delivered only in very short bursts, using just enough energy to accelerate the tiny electrons without heating up the heavy gas particles pulses; thus, plasma is generated. (sciencedaily.com)
Aline Vidotto and her team at the University of St. Andrews in the United Kingdom theorized that the out - of - sync dimming could be explained by a shock wave in the stellar wind, the stream of charged gas particles flowing off the star and immersing the planet. (sciencemag.org)