Ball lightning with the nonrelativistic electrons of the core

Abstract

The lifetimes, volume densities of energy, electron and ion densities and other parameters of ball lightning cores with the nonrelativistic electrons are estimated. The model according to which the motion of the electrons of the ball lightning core is the superposition of the oscillatory motion and the thermal motion in the directions perpendicular to those of the oscillations is proposed. Some problems related to isolation of the ball lightning core from the atmosphere and the transfer of the atmospheric pressure on it are considered.

Possible scenarios for the initial acceleration of electrons of the core of ball lightning

“…According to Imyanitov (1988), ‘even outside the thunderclouds, in the clouds ball lightning are one hundred times more frequent than near the ground’. Although the conclusion about the quantitative correctness of this statement will be possible only after special studies, it should be noted that it corresponds to the assumptions about the favourableness of high altitudes for both the formation of ball lightning and the realization of relatively long (Shmatov 2015 b ). Note also that the formation of ball lightning due to the supply of additional positive charge in the region of propagation of the positive leader seems to occur only at sufficiently large altitudes.…”

“…Let us assume that ball lightning is spherical, the initial value of the ball lightning core radius is about 3–10 cm (Singer 1971, 1977; Stakhanov 1996; Grigor’ev 2006), the initial electron density in the ball lightning core is about (Shmatov 2015 b ) and the volume of the empty region that may arise around the centre of the core (Shmatov 2003) is negligible. According to the last assumption, .…”

“…The author has proposed a ball lightning model according to which the motion of the electrons in the ball lightning core is the superposition of oscillatory motion and thermal motion in directions perpendicular to those of the oscillations (Shmatov 2015 b ). This model results from the development of the model taking into account only the oscillatory motion of the electrons (Shmatov 2001, 2003, 2004 a , b , 2006).…”

“…This model results from the development of the model taking into account only the oscillatory motion of the electrons (Shmatov 2001, 2003, 2004 a , b , 2006). At an atmospheric pressure of about Pa, the lifetime of the ball lightning core is of the order of 1 s when the initial value of the maximum electron kinetic energy , corresponding to oscillatory motion, is several tens of kiloelectronvolts (Shmatov 2015 b ). An increase in and a decrease in increase (Shmatov 2004 b , 2006, 2015 b ).…”

“…At an atmospheric pressure of about Pa, the lifetime of the ball lightning core is of the order of 1 s when the initial value of the maximum electron kinetic energy , corresponding to oscillatory motion, is several tens of kiloelectronvolts (Shmatov 2015 b ). An increase in and a decrease in increase (Shmatov 2004 b , 2006, 2015 b ). The formation of ball lightning requires the initial acceleration of electrons to kinetic energies of about or higher, because the subsequent stages of the formation will be accompanied by losses of energy ( will be about if these losses are sufficiently small).…”