6.6 KiB
| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball lightning | 7/8 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T11:04:47.852283+00:00 | kb-cron |
=== Buoyant plasma hypothesis === The declassified Project Condign report concludes that buoyant charged plasma formations similar to ball lightning are formed by novel physical, electrical, and magnetic phenomena, and that these charged plasmas are capable of being transported at enormous speeds under the influence and balance of electrical charges in the atmosphere. These plasmas appear to originate due to more than one set of weather and electrically charged conditions, the scientific rationale for which is incomplete or not fully understood. One suggestion is that meteoroids breaking up in the atmosphere and forming charged plasmas as opposed to burning completely or impacting as meteorites could explain some instances of the phenomena, in addition to other unknown atmospheric events. However, according to Stenhoff, this explanation is considered insufficient to explain the ball lightning phenomenon, and would likely not withstand peer review.
=== Hallucinations induced by magnetic field === Cooray and Cooray (2008) stated that the features of hallucinations experienced by patients having epileptic seizures in the occipital lobe are similar to the observed features of ball lightning. The study also showed that the rapidly changing magnetic field of a close lightning flash is strong enough to excite the neurons in the brain. This strengthens the possibility of lightning-induced seizure in the occipital lobe of a person close to a lightning strike, establishing the connection between epileptic hallucination mimicking ball lightning and thunderstorms. More recent research with transcranial magnetic stimulation has been shown to give the same hallucination results in the laboratory (termed magnetophosphenes), and these conditions have been shown to occur in nature near lightning strikes. This hypothesis fails to explain observed physical damage caused by ball lightning or simultaneous observation by multiple witnesses. (At the very least, observations would differ substantially.) Theoretical calculations from University of Innsbruck researchers suggest that the magnetic fields involved in certain types of lightning strikes could potentially induce visual hallucinations resembling ball lightning. Such fields, which are found within close distances to a point in which multiple lightning strikes have occurred over a few seconds, can directly cause the neurons in the visual cortex to fire, resulting in magnetophosphenes (magnetically induced visual hallucinations).
=== Rydberg matter concept === Manykin et al. have suggested atmospheric Rydberg matter as an explanation of ball lightning phenomena. Rydberg matter is a condensed form of highly excited atoms in many aspects similar to electron-hole droplets in semiconductors. However, in contrast to electron-hole droplets, Rydberg matter has an extended life-time—as long as hours. This condensed excited state of matter is supported by experiments, mainly of a group led by Holmlid. It is similar to a liquid or solid state of matter with extremely low (gas-like) density. Lumps of atmospheric Rydberg matter can result from condensation of highly excited atoms that form by atmospheric electrical phenomena, mainly from linear lightning. Stimulated decay of Rydberg matter clouds can, however, take the form of an avalanche, and so appear as an explosion.
=== Vacuum hypothesis === In December 1899, Nikola Tesla theorized that the balls consisted of a highly rarefied hot gas.
=== Electron-ion model === Fedosin presented a model in which charged ions are located inside the ball lightning, and electrons rotate in the shell, creating a magnetic field. The long-term stability of ball lightning is ensured by the balance of electric and magnetic forces. The electric force acting on the electrons from the positive volume charge of the ions is the centripetal force that holds the electrons in place as they rotate. In turn, the ions are held by the magnetic field, which causes them to rotate around the magnetic field lines. The model predicts a maximum diameter of 34 cm for ball lightning, with the lightning having a charge of about 10 microcoulombs and being positively charged, and the energy of the lightning reaching 11 kilojoules. The electron-ion model describes not only ball lightning, but also bead lightning, which usually occurs when linear lightning disintegrates. Based on the known dimensions of the beads of bead lightning, it is possible to calculate the electric charge of a single bead and its magnetic field. The electric forces of repulsion of neighboring beads are balanced by the magnetic forces of their attraction. Since the electromagnetic forces between the beads significantly exceed the force of the wind pressure, the beads remain in their places until the moment of extinction of the bead lightning.
=== Electrochemical model === In the electrochemical model (based on work by Stakhanov and later modified by Turner), a lightning ball is an air plasma surrounded by several chemically active layers. It is fueled by nitrogen oxidation producing the ions H3O+ and NO2−. On hydration, these ions can combine, refrigerating the plasma surface. The aerosols of nitrous acid so produced are then further oxidized to nitric acid. They grow in size and restrict the inflow of air, thus holding the plasma together. These processes require very delicately balanced chemical and electrical conditions in the surrounding air which explains the rarity of the phenomenon. With optimal reaction conditions, the weight of the droplets formed can more than offset the buoyancy force of the hot plasma. At the same time, the net positive charges, both on the outside of the ball and on the Earth's surface (during a thunderstorm), can sometimes balance the ball in the air a meter or less above the ground. Ball movement can be driven by electrical fields but also, since the air in-flow is restricted by the number and mean diameter of the surface particles, it will respond to local humidity differences. Furthermore, the air in-flow provides a very effective surface tension to the ball. This explains such apparently anomalous behaviors as squeezing through relatively small holes and bouncing. In its final form, the model can explain all the known characteristics of ball lightning. Thermodynamic considerations refute the fallacy that rapid charge neutralisation precludes ball lightning from being a plasma.
=== Other hypotheses === Several other hypotheses have been proposed to explain ball lightning: