Electrohydrodynamic Alignment of Atmospheric Water Droplets A Revised Physical Mechanism for Wilhelm Reich’s Cloudbuster

This study presents a classical electrohydrodynamic mechanism that explains atmospheric phenomena historically associated with Wilhelm Reich's "Cloudbuster," without reliance on the unverified concept of "orgone energy." Through quantum simulations and field experiments, we demonstrate that intense electric field gradients (∇E > 10⁹ V/m²) at conductive tips induce two distinct operational regimes:o Dispersion Mode (Relative Humidity < 70%): Dipole alignment reduces Mie scattering by up to 85%, increasing horizontal visibility from 0.5 km to 4.8 km along the field axis. This effect stems from reduced scattering cross-sections (σ_scat/σ_₀ ≈ e^(-2.3|α-α₀|)).o Coalescence Mode (Relative Humidity > 85%): Electric field-induced deformation (H-O-H bond angle reduced to 100° at 0.35 MV/m) lowers surface tension by 18%, overcoming coalescence energy barriers (ΔG_align≈ 0.82ΔG_random) to enable spontaneous growth of 50–100 nm droplets.The transition between regimes occurs near 80% RH, where alignment energy (E_align) approximates thermal fluctuations (≈ k_BT). This dual-mode system eliminates field reversal requirements and enables targeted applications including:1. Airport fog dispersal2. Precipitation enhancement in arid regions3. Hail suppression through ice nucleation inhibitionThe mechanism’s efficacy depends on ambient humidity and field geometry, requiring RH thresholds for regime transitions. Our findings bridge historical observations with modern electrohydrodynamics, providing a quantitative framework for atmospheric modulation with measurable parameters and scalable implementations.