Ball Lightning and Self-Containing Electromagnetic Fields

Abstract

A model for ball lightning is developed in which most of its energy is accounted for by a toroidal magnetic field. The poloidal motion of its electrons, which maintains the magnetic field, is stabilized by a seaparation of charges which produces the required electric field. Loss of electrons and ions by recombination is made up by an interaction of the magnetic field with the current which replaces the lost charges. Order of magnitude computations are made for three phenomena reported in the literature: (1) a large ball lightning, (2) a plasmoid observed in a submarine, and (3) a granule on the surface of the sun. The principal justification for this model is its mechanism for extended lifetimes.