Ball lightning as a physical phenomenon

Hill, E. L.

doi:10.1029/jz065i007p01947

Cited by 27 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…According to Schonland [1964] ball lightning occurs more often on high mountains than in the lowlands. Detailed references to the literature are given in articles by Hill [1960] and Silberg [1961]. The variety of the observations suggests that there may be several types of ball lightning.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

A theory of ball lightning

Uman¹,

Helstrom²

1966

J. Geophys. Res.

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A mathematical theory of ball lightning is presented. Ball lightning is considered to be an externally powered dc phenomenon that results from the funneling of cloud‐to‐ground current through a region of high temperature and high electrical conductivity. An approximate solution of the equations of current conservation and energy conservation with proper boundary conditions yields a luminous region of air. The predicted ball lightning diameters are in good agreement with observation for reasonable values of current, current density, electric field, and electrical conductivity inside and outside the ball. The luminosity, energy content, formation, locale, motion, and observed modes of disappearance of ball lightning are discussed. An explanation for the phenomenon of bead lightning is advanced.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

A theory of ball lightning

Uman¹,

Helstrom²

1966

J. Geophys. Res.

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“…The gas into. which the return stroke advances is thus a molecular plasma in which elec.trons can readily be detached from the negative ions Hill [1960]. Under these circumstances the development of the channel behind the tip of the return stroke can be expected to be the result of an electrical ionizing wave and not the result of a ,strong mechanica'l shock wave.…”

Section: Occurring Ligpitningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pressure pulse from a lightning stroke

Hill¹,

Robb²

1968

J. Geophys. Res.

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Measurements of pressure pulses from triggered lightning strokes show that they are not the result of strong mechanical shock waves of the type postulated by Abramson et al. as the explanation of channel growth in spark breakdown. Physical arguments, which are applicable also to natural lightning strokes, indicate that the rate of thermal heating in the channel is too slow to allow the development of the required strong ionizing shock front.

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“…Kapitsa [1955] suggests that BL is a spherical plasma generated at interference maxima of an external EM field. Hill [1960] proposes that BL is a region containing positively and negatively charged particles of dust and other materials. Si!berg [1962] suggests that BL emitted occasionally from high-current arcs of batterybank switches on submarines is a plasmoid of ionized air.…”

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confidence: 99%

The physical nature of ball lightning

Muldrew¹

1990

Geophysical Research Letters

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Ball lightning (BL) is mathematically modelled assuming a solid, positively charged core exists at its center. The large amount of energy occasionally associated with BL is mainly due to the electrostatic (ES) energy of the charge on the core. The upper energy limit is determined by the size and strength of the core and this energy can be orders of magnitude greater than the energy which can be confined by atmospheric pressure alone. A pure electron layer and a plasma layer surround the core. The charge of the electron layer is equal in magnitude to that of the core. An electromagnetic (EM) field is completely trapped by the electron and plasma layers. The electron temperature is sufficiently high that absorption by electron‐ion collisions is small, enabling the ball to have a lifetime of seconds or more. The ponderomotive force (radiation pressure) of the trapped EM field balances the ES force of the electrons toward the core plus the force of atmospheric pressure. The generation mechanism is not considered.

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Ball lightning as a physical phenomenon

Cited by 27 publications

References 8 publications

A theory of ball lightning

A theory of ball lightning

Pressure pulse from a lightning stroke

The physical nature of ball lightning

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