Ball lightning

Stenhoff, Mark

doi:10.1038/260596a0

Cited by 18 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…This inference is in agreement with the type of breaking of the glass from the window A. Similar damages to the analyzed mesh were reported for the fabric investigated by Stenhoff [1,23], where BL has interrupted without charring the synthetic fabric of a dress, though shrivelled fibers were observed.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Analysis of Mechanical Traces Left Probably by Ball Lightning

Polak¹

2021

Adv. Sci. Technol. Res. J.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Analysis of Mechanical Traces Left Probably by Ball Lightning

Polak¹

2021

Adv. Sci. Technol. Res. J.

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“…However, Stenhoff 4 noticed that some superficial burns are difficult to explain. In the Smethwick event 4 54 , the female witness did not get an electric shock but felt a burning heat all over. Wooding 55 estimated that she received 250J whole-body ionizing radiation, which can be due to the electrons from the stepped leader and also be responsible for the redness on her hand and legs.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relativistic-microwave theory of ball lightning

2016

Sci Rep

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Ball lightning, a fireball sometimes observed during lightnings, has remained unexplained. Here we present a comprehensive theory for the phenomenon: At the tip of a lightning stroke reaching the ground, a relativistic electron bunch can be produced, which in turn excites intense microwave radiation. The latter ionizes the local air and the radiation pressure evacuates the resulting plasma, forming a spherical plasma bubble that stably traps the radiation. This mechanism is verified by particle simulations. The many known properties of ball lightning, such as the occurrence site, relation to the lightning channels, appearance in aircraft, its shape, size, sound, spark, spectrum, motion, as well as the resulting injuries and damages, are also explained. Our theory suggests that ball lighting can be created in the laboratory or triggered during thunderstorms. Our results should be useful for lightning protection and aviation safety, as well as stimulate research interest in the relativistic regime of microwave physics.

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“…This happened during a violent thunderstorm, but she had never heard about BL. She did thus "automatically" brush off the intruder, but there appeared redness and swelling on her hand and her gold wedding ring was "burning" into the finger [48]. It is better not to touch BL, which is attracted by metals and does rapidly heat it.…”

Section: Interaction Of Bl With Electric Conductorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Explanation of Ball Lightning by Plasma Oscillations

Meessen

2023

JMP

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Ball Lightning (BL) is a "plasma bubble" that has very remarkable properties. Its membrane contains a higher density of charged particles than the ambient medium. They are held together by mutually attracting surface charges, generated by collective oscillations of all unbound electrons inside the membrane. Energy losses by collisions and emission of radiation, as well as losses of charged particles by recombination, are compensated by extracting other ones from atmospheric air. Since that occurs in a special rhythmic way, this leads to "parametric amplification" of the oscillations of all unbound electrons in the plasma membrane. Moreover, BL is attracted by higher concentrations of charged particles in atmospheric air. Too much of them leads to explosion and too few to extinction of visible BL. Since the electric charge of BL is oscillating, it is also attracted by metals, water and glass. It can then heat, melt and vaporize these materials without stored energy. BL is even able to pass through window panes in 3 different ways, but that can also be explained.

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Ball lightning

Cited by 18 publications

References 0 publications

Analysis of Mechanical Traces Left Probably by Ball Lightning

Analysis of Mechanical Traces Left Probably by Ball Lightning

Relativistic-microwave theory of ball lightning

Explanation of Ball Lightning by Plasma Oscillations

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