Discharge at the microscale: Using optical tweezers to observe Muon-induced discharges of a levitated microparticle in air

preprint Discharge at the microscale: Using optical tweezers to observe Muon-induced discharges of a levitated microparticle in air draft Andrea Stöllner author 4bdcf7f6-eb97-11eb-a6c2-9981bbdc3bed0000-0002-0464-8440 Isaac C. D. Lenton author Caroline J Muller author f978ccb0-3f7f-11eb-b193-b0e2bd13182b0000-0001-5836-5350 Scott R Waitukaitis author 3A1FFC16-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0002-2299-3176 CaMu department ScWa department Tribocharge: a multi-scale approach to an enduring problem in physics project Organization of CLoUdS, and implications of Tropical cyclones and for the Energetics of the tropics, in current and waRming climate project Electrical discharge at the smallest possible length and charge scales is not well understood. Using optical tweezers, we investigate spontaneous discharges of a single micron-scale particle levitated in air. These ``microdischarges'' have a typical size of $\sim$40 $|e|$, but can be as small as a few $|e|$ and as large as several hundred. The absence of a well-defined trigger charge and the weak dependence on particle size suggest events are not classical gaseous breakdown. Instead, we show that microdischarge events arise from the rapid capture of ions left in the tracks of nearby passing ionizing radiation. Our results highlight the role of natural ionizing radiation in initiating micron-scale discharges and provide a platform for studying discharge physics in electrode-free environments and at the smallest scales. 2026 eng arXiv 2604.1604010.48550/arXiv.2604.16040 https://research-explorer.ista.ac.at/record/23033 Stöllner, Andrea, et al. “Discharge at the Microscale: Using Optical Tweezers to Observe Muon-Induced Discharges of a Levitated Microparticle in Air.” ArXiv, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2604.16040">10.48550/arXiv.2604.16040</a>. A. Stöllner, I.C.D. Lenton, C.J. Muller, S.R. Waitukaitis, ArXiv (n.d.). Stöllner, Andrea, Isaac C. D. Lenton, Caroline J Muller, and Scott R Waitukaitis. “Discharge at the Microscale: Using Optical Tweezers to Observe Muon-Induced Discharges of a Levitated Microparticle in Air.” ArXiv, n.d. <a href="https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2604.16040">https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2604.16040</a>. Stöllner A, Lenton ICD, Muller CJ, Waitukaitis SR. Discharge at the microscale: Using optical tweezers to observe Muon-induced discharges of a levitated microparticle in air. arXiv, <a href="https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2604.16040">10.48550/arXiv.2604.16040</a>. Stöllner, A., Lenton, I. C. D., Muller, C. J., & Waitukaitis, S. R. (n.d.). Discharge at the microscale: Using optical tweezers to observe Muon-induced discharges of a levitated microparticle in air. arXiv. <a href="https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2604.16040">https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2604.16040</a> A. Stöllner, I. C. D. Lenton, C. J. Muller, and S. R. Waitukaitis, “Discharge at the microscale: Using optical tweezers to observe Muon-induced discharges of a levitated microparticle in air,” arXiv. . Stöllner A, Lenton ICD, Muller CJ, Waitukaitis SR. Discharge at the microscale: Using optical tweezers to observe Muon-induced discharges of a levitated microparticle in air. arXiv. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2604.16040">10.48550/arXiv.2604.16040</a> 230382026-10-02T11:35:14Z2026-10-09T11:09:09Z