The physical nature of ball lightning

Muldrew, D. B.

doi:10.1029/gl017i012p02277

Cited by 15 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 10 publications

(2 reference statements)

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“…Indeed, it has been suggested that a BL can serve as a natural electromagnetic cavity (Kapitsa 1955;Watson 1960;Tonks 1960;Silberg 1961;Dawson & Jones 1969;Jennison 1973;Endean 1976;Muldrew 1990;Zheng 1990;Wessel-Berg 2003). The lowest eigenmode of such a cavity has frequency…”

Section: Frequency Rangementioning

confidence: 99%

“…BLs are believed by many authors, although not unanimously (Smirnov 1993), to be accompanied by RF activity in just the frequency range where perytons are observed. Indeed, it has been suggested that a BL can serve as a natural electromagnetic cavity (Kapitsa 1955;Watson 1960;Tonks 1960;Silberg 1961;Dawson & Jones 1969;Jennison 1973;Endean 1976;Muldrew 1990;Zheng 1990;Wessel-Berg 2003). The lowest eigenmode of such a cavity has frequency 2 f c ∼ c/D, (1) where D is the BL diameter, and c is the speed of light.…”

Section: Frequency Rangementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Let us now discuss whether our model of perytons can explain how the RF energy is produced or confined long enough within the BL cavity. The existing RF models of BL (Kapitsa 1955;Watson 1960;Tonks 1960;Silberg 1961;Dawson & Jones 1969;Jennison 1973;Endean 1976;Muldrew 1990;Zheng 1990;Wessel-Berg 2003) are too sketchy to answer this question, so it may be premature to speculate on specifics. On the other hand, there is a growing experimental and theoretical evidence that most of the BL energy may be accumulated in a non-RF form, namely, in the form of internal molecular excitations or chemical energy (Paiva et al 2007;Dikhtyar & Jerby 2006;Alexeff et al 2004;Bychkov 2002;Abrahamson & Dinniss 2000;Brandenburg & Kline 1998;Zhil'tsov et al 1995;Golka 1994;Ohtsuki & Ofuruton 1991).…”

Section: Rf Emission Mechanismmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Are Perytons Signatures of Ball Lightning?

Dodin

Fisch

2014

ApJ

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The enigmatic downchirped signals, called "perytons," that are detected by radio telescopes in the GHz frequency range may be produced by an atmospheric phenomenon known as ball lightning (BL). If BLs act as nonstationary radio frequency cavities, their characteristic emission frequencies and evolution timescales are consistent with peryton observations, and so are general patterns in which BLs are known to occur. Based on this evidence, testable predictions are made that can confirm or rule out a causal connection between perytons and BLs. In either case, how perytons are searched for in observational data may warrant reconsideration because existing procedures may be discarding events that have the same nature as known perytons.

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Section: Frequency Rangementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Frequency Rangementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Rf Emission Mechanismmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Are Perytons Signatures of Ball Lightning?

Dodin

Fisch

2014

ApJ

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“…They suggest that for a BL with typical size and temperature (2000-2500 K) the multiplication of electrons by atomic collisions should be sufficient to sustain the plasma at realistic electric fields. Muldrew, [15], considers a mathematical model of BL assuming that a solid, positively charged core exists at its center. The large amount of energy occasionally associated with BL is mainly due to the electrostatic energy of the charge on the core.…”

Section: Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ball lightning observation: an objective video-camera analysis report

Sello,

Viviani,

Paganini

2011

Preprint

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In this paper we describe a video-camera recording of a (probable) ball lightning event and both the related image and signal analyses for its photometric and dynamical characterization. The results strongly support the BL nature of the recorded luminous ball object and allow the researchers to have an objective and unique video document of a possible BL event for further analyses. Some general evaluations of the obtained results considering the proposed ball lightning models conclude the paper.

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“…In a mathematical description of this model given by Muldrew (1990), referred to as Paper 1 below, both a first-order theory and second-order theory are presented. In the first order theory it is assumed that the electron density is zero for a < r < b where r is distance measured from the center of the ball (see Fig.…”

Section: Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solid charged-core model of ball lightning

Muldrew¹

2010

Ann. Geophys.

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Abstract. In this study, ball lightning (BL) is assumed to have a solid, positively-charged core. According to this underlying assumption, the core is surrounded by a thin electron layer with a charge nearly equal in magnitude to that of the core. A vacuum exists between the core and the electron layer containing an intense electromagnetic (EM) field which is reflected and guided by the electron layer. The microwave EM field applies a ponderomotive force (radiation pressure) to the electrons preventing them from falling into the core. The energetic electrons ionize the air next to the electron layer forming a neutral plasma layer. The electricfield distributions and their associated frequencies in the ball are determined by applying boundary conditions to a differential equation given by Stratton (1941). It is then shown that the electron and plasma layers are sufficiently thick and dense to completely trap and guide the EM field. This model of BL is exceptional in that it can explain all or nearly all of the peculiar characteristics of BL. The ES energy associated with the core charge can be extremely large which can explain the observations that occasionally BL contains enormous energy. The mass of the core prevents the BL from rising like a helium-filled balloon -a problem with most plasma and burning-gas models. The positively charged core keeps the negatively charged electron layer from diffusing away, i.e. it holds the ball together; other models do not have a mechanism to do this. The high electrical charges on the core and in the electron layer explains why some people have been electrocuted by BL. Experiments indicate that BL radiates microwaves upon exploding and this is consistent with the model. The fact that this novel model of BL can explain these and other observations is strong evidence that the model should be taken seriously.

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The physical nature of ball lightning

Cited by 15 publications

References 10 publications

Are Perytons Signatures of Ball Lightning?

Are Perytons Signatures of Ball Lightning?

Ball lightning observation: an objective video-camera analysis report

Solid charged-core model of ball lightning

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