Theoretical model of Ball Lightning based on electron gas oscillations in plasma

by Maxim Dvornikov (Universidad Valparaiso, Chile; IZMIRAN, Troitsk, Russia)

Thursday 19 Aug 2010, 11:15 → 12:15 Europe/Berlin

313

A theoretical model for a stable spherically symmetric plasma structure based on radial oscillations of electrons in plasma is proposed. We study electrons oscillations in both classical and quantum approaches. Within the quantum approach we get an approximate solution on the nonlinear Schrodinger equation and the dispersion relation for the spherically symmetric oscillation. The numerical simulation of the exact Schrodinger equation containing the nonlinear terms is presented, showing an agreement with the approximate analytical solution. Then we calculate attractive effective potential between two electrons participating in radial oscillations and show that electrons can form a bound state. We discuss the possibility that the proposed model can be implemented in nature as a rare atmospheric electricity phenomenon call a ''ball lightning'' (BL). The observed characteristics of BL are summarized. We also briefly list the previous BL models. Finally we analyze a possibility how long lived spherically symmetric plasma structures can be generated in a laboratory.