An investigation of the generation and properties of laboratory-produced ball lightning

Abstract

The experiments revealed that ball lightning is a self-confining quasi-neutral in a whole plasma system that rotates around its axis. Ball lightning has a structure of a spherical electric domain, consisting of a kernel with excess negative charge and an external spherical layer with excess positive charge. The excess of charges of one sort and the lack of charges of the other sort in the kernel or in the external spherical layer significantly reduces the possibility of electron capture by means of an electric field, created by the nearest ions and leads to a drastic slowdown of recombination process. Direct proof has been obtained that inside of ball lightning – in an external spherical layer that rotates around the axis – there is a circular current of sub-relativistic particles. This current creates and maintains its own poloidal magnetic field of ball lightning, i.e. it carries out the function of magnetic dynamo. The kernel of ball lightning is situated in a region with minimum values of induction of the magnetic field. The inequality of positive and negative charges in elements of ball lightning also significantly reduces losses of the charged plasma on bremsstrahlung. Ball lightning generation occurs in a plasmic vortex. The ball lightning energy in the region of its generation significantly differs from the ball lightning energy, which is drifting in space. The axial component of kinetic energy of particles slightly exceeds 100 keV and the rotational component of the ions energy is a bit greater than 1 MeV. Ball lightning is ‘embedded’ in atmosphere autonomous accelerator of charged particles of a cyclotron type due to self-generation of strong crossed electric and magnetic fields. A discussion of the conditions of stability and long-term existence of ball lightning is given.

Ball Lightning as Source of High-Energy Particles When It Enters a Dense Medium

“…The phenomenon of anomalous passing the radiation through solid body targets is also observed in laser physic-a fluxes of fast particles (including relativistic protons, electrons, and positrons) and a magnetic field from the back side of the target were registered in a number of experiments at intense interaction of laser radiation with the target [20] [21]. The phenomenon of the anomalous ball lightning penetration or super-passability was detected in the experiments [14] [22] is in some sense similar to the known phenomenon of helium super-fluidity, as noted in [10]. But in this case entirely different physical processes occur.…”

“…This model also contradicts the high-energy ball lightning model [4] [6] [17] [18]. It should be noted that in a number of experiments carried out in [10] [14] [18] with a laboratory produced ball lightning the holes in glass were not observed.…”

“…Kapitsa believed that "ball lightning is a small window into other world" [2]. It should be noted that ball lightning has the same ideal spherical form and the same structure as emitting stars [9] [10].…”

“…Le Sage [12]. The ball lightning has also significant rotational moment that it receives during its origin in crossed electric and magnetic fields [10].…”

An early record of ball lightning: Oliva (Spain), 1619

“…Any model of BL (electrostatic, electrochemical, charged aerosols and fractals, nuclear, plasma, etc. ; for reviews see Donoso et al, 2006;Oreshko, 2015) must predict all the reported characteristics of BL. Moreover, any experiment to generate BL must fully replicate its properties (for reviews see Bychkova et al, 2016;Stephan et al, 2016;Wu, 2016).…”