Christofilos effect

The Christofilos Effect refers to the entrapment of charged particles along magnetic lines of force that was first predicted in 1957 by Nicholas Christofilos. He sent his calculations to scientists engaged in related research, with little attention being paid to them. When other scientists produced the same results Christofilos achieved recognition and was welcomed into the University of California.

Working at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, Christofilos proposed nuclear detonations to test his prediction. This was achieved in 1958 in Project Argus, when American scientists tested the Christofilos effect by detonating atomic bombs at a height of three hundred miles.

The bombs released charged particles which behaved exactly as Christofilos had predicted, being trapped along the lines of force. Those that managed to get far enough within the atmosphere to the north and south set up a small magnetic storm.

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