A model for ball lightning

Dijkhuis, G. C.

doi:10.1038/284150a0

Cited by 33 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…To describe the long lifetime of a natural plasmoid, Dijkhuis (1980) suggested that BL is a spherical vortex composed of a dense superconducting plasma. Recently Zelikin (2008) revisited the idea that the plasma superconductivity may be implemented in BL.…”

Section: Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effective attraction between oscillating electrons in a plasmoid via acoustic wave exchange

Dvornikov

2011

Proc. R. Soc. A.

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We consider the effective interaction between electrons owing to the exchange of virtual acoustic waves in a low-temperature plasma. Electrons are supposed to participate in rapid radial oscillations, forming a spherically symmetric plasma structure. We show that under certain conditions, this effective interaction can result in the attraction between oscillating electrons and can be important for the dynamics of a plasmoid. Some possible applications of the obtained results to the theory of natural long-lived plasma structures are also discussed.

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Section: Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effective attraction between oscillating electrons in a plasmoid via acoustic wave exchange

Dvornikov

2011

Proc. R. Soc. A.

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“…Thus the lifetime of such an object will be extremely short. It was suggested that under certain conditions plasma can reveal superconducting properties [30]. This mechanism could prevent the energy losses and thus the recombination, providing the long lifetime of a low energy plasmoid.…”

Section: Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Axially and spherically symmetric solitons in warm plasma

Dvornikov¹

2011

J. Plasma Phys.

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We study the existence of stable axially and spherically symmetric plasma structures on the basis of the new nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) accounting for nonlocal electron nonlinearities. The numerical solutions of NLSE having the form of spatial solitions are obtained and their stability is analyzed. We discuss the possible application of the obtained results to the theoretical description of natural plasmoids in the atmosphere.

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“…Previous theories of ball lightning have assigned a very wide range of energy sources and structures for this phenomenon. Examples of proposed energy sources are microwave radiation from thunderclouds [ Kapitza , 1969], nuclear energy [ Altschuler et al , 1970], atmospheric masers [ Handel and Leitner , 1994], antimatter [ Ashby and Whitehead , 1971], dark matter [ Rabinowitz , 2001], oxidizing aerosols [ Aleksandrov et al , 1982] and confined electromagnetic energy in a “plasmoid” [ Finkelstein and Rubinstein , 1964; Endean , 1976; Dijkhuis , 1980].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Birth of ball lightning

et al. 2012

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[1] Many observations of ball lightning report a ball of light, about 10 cm in diameter, moving at about walking speed, lasting up to 20 s and frequently existing inside of houses and even aeroplanes. The present paper reports detailed observations of the initiation or birth of ball lightning. In two cases, navigation crew of aircraft saw ball lightning form at the windscreen inside the cockpit of their planes. In the first case, the ball lightning occurred during a thunderstorm, with much lightning activity outside of the plane. In the second case, large "horns" of electrical corona were seen outside of the plane at the surface of the radome, just prior to the formation of the ball lightning. A third case reports ball lightning formed inside of a house, during a thunderstorm, at a closed glass window. It is proposed, based on two-dimensional calculations of electron and ion transport, that ball lightning in these cases is driven and formed by atmospheric ions impinging and collecting on the insulating surface of the glass or Perspex windows. This surface charge can produce electric fields inside of the cockpit or room sufficient to sustain an electric discharge. Charges of opposite sign to those outside of the window accumulate on the inside surface of the glass, leaving a ball of net charge moving inside of the cockpit or room to produce a pulsed discharge on a microsecond time scale.

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A model for ball lightning

Cited by 33 publications

References 8 publications

Effective attraction between oscillating electrons in a plasmoid via acoustic wave exchange

Effective attraction between oscillating electrons in a plasmoid via acoustic wave exchange

Axially and spherically symmetric solitons in warm plasma

Birth of ball lightning

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