Ball lightning and a plasma model of its formation

Abstract

Abstract:

According to the observation and study of the literature on the ball lightning, the observational characteristics of ball lightning are summarized. Then the theoretical and experimental research status on the ball lightning are introduced, and the model of ball lightning structure is briefly epitomized. Based on linear lightning of the cloud versus earth, a kind of plasma model formed ball lightning is introduced. According to the model, the plasma channel of line lightning collapses into a small region in specific environmental condition, so as to form a ball lightning. The research direction of ball lightning in the future is summed up in the final part of this paper.

Key words: Ball lightning, Plasma, Linear lightning

摘要：

根据已有文献描述的对球形闪电的观测和研究结果，总结了球形闪电的观测特征，介绍了目前对球形闪电的实验研究和理论研究现状，对球形闪电的结构模型进行了简单概括。还基于云对地的线状闪电，详述了一种形成球形闪电的等离子体模型。在该模型下，在某特定环境下线状闪电等离子体通道的一个区域坍塌成小的区域，形成球形闪电。指出了未来对球形闪电的研究方向。

关键词: 球形闪电, 等离子体, 线状闪电

CLC Number:

P401

DU Gai-hong, TIAN Yang-meng, WANG Cai-xia, CHEN Ying-cong, JIANG Feng. Ball lightning and a plasma model of its formation[J]. NUCLEAR FUSION AND PLASMA PHYSICS, 2015, 35(1): 92-96.

杜改红，田杨萌，王彩霞，陈颖聪，姜峰. 球形闪电及其形成的一种等离子体模型[J]. 核聚变与等离子体物理, 2015, 35(1): 92-96.

References

[1] Bychkov V L. Ball lightning as a polymer formation [J].J. Met., 1993, 18(179): 149.
[2] McNall J R Jr. Preliminary report on ball lightning [R].USA: Oak Ridge Natl Lab, ORNL-3938, UC-34-Pjys,1966.
[3] Rayle W D. Ball lightning characteristics[R].Washington, DC: NASA Tech. Note, NASA-TN-D-3188,National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1966.
[4] Amirov A K, Bychkov V L, Strizhev A Yu. Principles of creating and processing data banks: meteorological applications-illustrated with regard to ball-lightning data processing [J]. J. Met., 1995, 20(197): 85.
[5] Yehuda Meir, Eli Jerby, Zahava Barkay, et al.Observations of ball-lightning-like plasmoids ejected from silicon by localized microwaves[J]. Materials, 2013,6: 4011.
[6] Menéndez J A, Juárez-Pérez E J, Ruisánchez E, at al.Ball lightning plasma and plasma arc formation during the microwave heating of carbons [J]. Carbon, 2011,49(1): 346.
[7] Caroline J V, Wurden, Glen A Wurden. Free-floating atmospheric pressure ball plasmas [J]. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 2011, 39(11): 2078.
[8] Jonathan D Hill, Martin A Uman, Michael Stapleton, etal. Attempts to create ball lightning with triggered lightning [J]. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 2010, 72: 913.
[9] Silberg P A. On the formation of ball lightning [J]. Il Nuovo Cimento, 1981, 4C(2): 221.
[10] Endean V G. Development of the radiation bubble model of ball lightning [J]. J. Met., 1997, 22(217): 98.
[11] LI Zi Cheng, YANG Guo Hua. Formation mechanism and characteristics research of ball lightning based on vortex model [J]. Commun. Theor. Phys., 2011, 55(5):888.
[12] Lowke J J. A theory of ball lightning as an electric discharge [J]. J. Phys. D Appl. Phys., 1996, 29(5): 237.
[13] Turner D J. The structure and stability of ball lightning[J]. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. Lond. Series. A, 1994,347(1682): 83.
[14] Dauvillier A. Foudre globulaire et reactions thermonucléaires[J]. C R Hebd Séances Acad Sci., 1957,245: 2155.
[15] Yasui K. Plasma fireballs fed by microwaves [J]. Phys.Lett. A, 1993, 173(6): 451.
[16] Philip Cohen. Ball lightning experiments produce UFOs[Z]. Nando News, May 26, 1999.
[17] Jianyong Cen, Ping Yuan, Simin Xue. Observation of the optical and spectral characteristics of ball lightning
[J].Phys. Rev. Lett., 2014, 112: 035001.
[18] 阎爱玲, 吴东平, 周教生, 等. 球形闪电的形成及运行机理初探[J]. 甘肃科学学报, 2007, 19(3): 51.
[19] Turner D J. Ball lightning and other meteorological phenomena[J]. Phys. Rep-Review Section of Phys.Letters, 1998, 293(1): 2.
[20] SILBERG P A. a note on the formation of the fireball plasma[J]. J. Appl. Phys., 1978, 49(3): 1110.
[21] TESLA N. Electr Experimenter [Z]. 1916, 3: 615.
[22] Rrakov VA, Uman M A. Lightning, physics and effects[M]. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003.419−420.