A new model of charge transfer during ice–ice collisions

We present a new model of charge transfer between two particles of ice that collide and then rebound. We calculate the charge distribution near the surface of an ice particle both in equilibrium and during growth or sublimation. Using simplified but plausible geometrical descriptions of the colliding surfaces we calculate the mass that is melted by the excess pressure at the point of contact, and we assume that electric charge is transferred from the sharper to the flatter particle with the melted material. Our predictions are in semiquantitative agreement with charge transfer measurements from several laboratories. To cite this article: M. Baker, J. Nelson, C. R. Physique 3 (2002) 1293–1303.