journal article·2022-03-29Open access

Ball Lightning as Plasma Vortexes: A Reinforcement of the Conjecture

Daniele Funaro

Applied Sciences· Volume 12· Issue 7

Abstract

The idea that ball lightning is a plasma manifestation has been put forth by many authors. One of the major drawbacks of this approach concerns the stability of these structures. After showing the theoretical existence of pure rotating electromagnetic waves in equilibrium, we argue that these can reasonably provide a robust stabilizing scaffolding for the development of ball lightning phenomena.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Lightning and Electromagnetic Phenomena · Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics · Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy

References (40)

Show source-provided references
1. Stenhoff, M. (1999). Ball Lightning: An Unsolved Problem in Atmospheric Physics, Kluwer Academic.
2. Ball lightning—The scientific effort10.1098/rsta.2001.0916 ↗
3. The fragmented science of ball lightning (with comment)10.1098/rsta.2001.0921 ↗
4. Rakov, V.A., and Uman, M.A. (2003). Lightning: Physics and Effects, Cambridge Univ. Press.10.1017/CBO9781107340886 ↗
5. A unified theory of ball lightning and unexplained atmospheric lights
6. Bychkov, V.L., Golubkov, G.V., and Nikitin, A.I. (2014). The Atmosphere and Ionosphere, Elementary Processes, Monitoring and Ball Lightning, Springer.10.1007/978-3-319-05239-7 ↗
7. Observation of the optical and spectral characteristics of ball lightning10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001 ↗
8. A general theory for ball lightning structure and light output10.1088/1361-6463/aaaf8d ↗
9. Boerner, H. (2019). Ball Lightning—A Popular Guide to a Longstanding Mystery in Atmospheric Electricity, Springer Nature.10.1007/978-3-030-20783-0 ↗
10. Advances in ball lightning research10.1016/j.jastp.2019.105115 ↗
11. Multiple ball lightning event at Neuruppin
12. Analysis of the unique case of ball lightning observation in Mitino, the northwest district of Moscow10.1016/j.jastp.2018.07.001 ↗
13. Long-living plasmoids from an atmospheric water discharge10.1088/0963-0252/17/2/024014 ↗
14. Generation of confined plasma balls propagating along discharge channels: A comparison with ball lightning10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.013266 ↗
15. Attempts to create ball lightning with triggered lightning10.1016/j.jastp.2010.04.009 ↗
16. BL as electromagnetic radiation10.1038/263753a0 ↗
17. Ball lightning as a magnetostatic spherical force-free field plasmoid10.1063/1.1605949 ↗
18. On magnetohydrodynamical equilibrium configurations
19. Cohesion in Ball Lightning and Cook Plasmas10.1063/1.1780466 ↗
20. Ball lightning as a radiation bubble10.1007/BF00875059 ↗
21. Ball lightning as an example of a magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium10.1103/PhysRevE.52.3034 ↗
23. The principles developing ball lightning theory10.1023/B:JORR.0000018985.64212.f1 ↗
24. The riddle of ball lightning: A Review10.1100/tsw.2006.48 ↗
25. Ball lightning with the nonrelativistic electrons of the core10.1017/S0022377815000410 ↗
26. Funaro, D. (2008). Electromagnetism and the Structure of Matter, World Scientific.10.1142/6853 ↗
27. Funaro, D. (2019). From Photons to Atoms: The Electromagnetic Nature of Matter, World Scientific.10.1142/11383 ↗
28. Trapping electromagnetic solitons in cylinders10.3846/13926292.2014.892904 ↗
29. Funaro, D. (2020). Electromagnetic waves in annular regions. Appl. Sci., 10.10.3390/app10051780 ↗
30. Davidson, P.A. (2001). An Introduction to Magnetohydrodynamics, Cambridge Univ. Press.10.1017/CBO9780511626333 ↗
31. The structure and stability of vortex rings10.1017/S0022112072001041 ↗
33. Dynamics of thin vortex rings10.1017/S0022112008002292 ↗
34. Rotating electromagnetic waves in toroid shaped regions10.1142/S0129183110014926 ↗
35. Chen, F.F. (1974). Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, Springer.
36. Krall, N.A., and Trivelpiece, A.W. (1973). Principles of Plasma Physics, McGraw Hill.10.1119/1.1987587 ↗
37. High frequency electrical oscillations in cavities10.3846/mma.2018.021 ↗
38. Funaro, D. (2018). A model for ball lightning derived from an extension of the electrodynamics equations. arXiv.
39. High-energy ball lightning observations10.1109/TPS.2014.2359235 ↗
40. Ball lightining as source of high-energy particles when it enters a dense medium10.4236/jhepgc.2021.74091 ↗