Sergey B. Alemanov
http://alemanow.narod.ru
The author of this article demonstrates that ball lightning is self-closed longitudinal electromagnetic waves. Ball lightning is considered as self-closed alternating displacement current, which produces air luminescence (electroluminescence).
«These facts bring out clearly that ball lightning
can generate electric currents. ... Ball lightning explosion makes the
impression of electric discharge upon many people, especially upon competent
observers. ... Physiological action of ball lightning as usual lies
in electric trauma.» [1].
Thus, all facts prove that ball lightning as well as streak
lightning is electric current, i.e. ball lightning is self-closed
alternating displacement current (according to electrodynamics, current is
always self-closed).
«For some seconds it was quiet then from the
receiver there was heard some growing rustle gradually turning into boom.
The receiver had to be turned off, but hissing and acute crackle was already
heard from the direction of the river. Looked out the tent Dmitriev saw a
ball lightning which was slowly moving above the river in the direction of
the tent.» [1].
Appearance of radio-interference is the real confirmation
that ball lightning is electric current because chemical reactions cannot
produce such interference.
The properties of both streak lightning and ball lightning
are well-known, therefore basing on electrodynamics it is possible to
imagine electromagnetic processes proceeding inside them.
In Nature self-closed alternating displacement currents
(self-closed longitudinal electromagnetic waves) can be observed as
luminescent spherical formations at thunderstorm. Great alternating
(high-frequency) displacement current gradually heats up ambient air,
generating luminescence of the ambient air. This can lead to such electric
breakdown as an explosion (flap). These self-closed displacement currents
can put electrical appliances out of operating; in addition, contacting with
these appliances a human can be rushed with electric current. At
thunderstorm prebreakdown displacement current flows before streak
lightning. It is polarization current which is invisible before the moment
of breakdown. This displacement current value is comparable with the value
of current inside lightning. If the lightning changes its direction, for
example, branches out, then "gaped" displacement currents close themselves,
as currents are always self-closed, and can produce air luminescence
(prebreakdown processes).
«Current strength value in the basic discharge of
lightning reaches tens and hundreds thousand of Amperes.» [2].
«... energy content enclosed in the ball lightning of an average
size, probably, comes to 20-50 kJ.» [1].
For example, if the radius of self-closed cyclic
displacement current is 10 cm, and the current strength is 50 kA,
then the magnetic energy of current is about 30 kJ.
«... some canals were crossed in the point of
branching. After the discharge was stopped a luminescent sphere remained in
this place, ...» [1].
«... a sphere, which glows as excited nitrogen atoms do.» [1].
«Seemingly, rain drops which fell onto the lightning, evaporated,
because a steam was going up from it. It was heard hissing which resembled
sounds of electric welding. Then the sound became higher; the lightning was
exploded with loud flap and disappeared. At that it fell to cascade of small
sparks.» [1].
After the ball lightning stopped, air was gradually heated
due to polarization current, and the electric breakdown occurred.
Self-closed alternating displacement current changed into conduction
current. This phenomenon can be observed at contact with conducting objects.
Ball lightning representing displacement current can come through the solid
dielectrics of small thickness, for example, through thin glass. If
lightning is not exploded, i.e. the electric breakdown does not occur, then
displacement current gradually becomes decaying. At the same time the
excitation and ionization of air atoms decrease, effect of waveguide for
self-closed longitudinal electromagnetic wave disappears, and displacement
current is dispersed in the space.
«The sphere changed its colour from scarlet to
garnet, then a dark stain appeared in its centre and, at least, it
disappeared.» [1].
«If non-linear dielectric or plasma are irradiated with powerful
electromagnet waves then self-sustaining dielectric waveguides can be
generated inside these mediums, ...» [4].
Displacement currents have magnetic energy, i.e.
self-closed alternating displacement current has alternating magnetic field,
and therefore attraction can appear. It follows from observations that this
character of attraction can be produced only by electromagnetic
interaction.
«Maxwell attributed to displacement current just
the ability to produce magnetic field in ambient space.» [3].
«Then the ball lightning was gravitated to a central heating
radiator and disappeared with acute hissing having fused 3-4-milimeter
section of the radiator.» [1].
«Suddenly the sphere was abruptly gravitated to an oak which was in
several meters from observers. A metal hook fixed on a long wooden handle
was leaned against the oak. Having raised the sphere struck the hook. A
blinding flash appeared, and something like the canal of average lightning
was generated between the hook and ground. The extensive cascade of sparks
fell, and the sphere disappeared. ... the hook was much fused, some streaks
of as-fused metal appeared on it, the edge was fused at all and turned into
a shapeless cone.» [1].
«These fusions take place only in the case of direct contact with
ball lightning, and are the evidence that at this contact the great amount
of energy can be generated. They do not prove that lightning matter has high
temperature value. The proof of this is the fact that in many cases when
metallic parts of an object were much fused, non-metallic parts were
remained untouched.» [1].
Thus only if displacement currents are changed into
conduction currents that can occur in a conducting object then the object is
fused, since displacement current, in contrast to conduction current, is not
accompanied with heat generation but only produces magnetic field.
Displacement electric current as well as conduction current
can be direct or alternating. For example, if bound charges of a dielectric
displace to one side and then to another side then it is alternating
displacement current. If displacing like-sign bound charges are in circular
motion then it is direct cycle displacement electric current. Electric
currents are always self-closed, i.e. if conduction current is broken then
it is closed with displacement current, and vice versa, if displacement
current is broken it is closed with conduction current. Conduction current
is always accompanied with certain displacement current; therefore net
current is equal to the sum of conduction current and displacement current.
Displacement current, in its part, can exist without conduction current, for
example, as vortex electric field.
«Net current, which is equal to the sum of
displacement current and conduction current, is always
self-closed.» [5].
Thus net current is self-closed even if there is only displacement current
(without conduction current), for example, as vortex electric field.
Displacement current was observed in free state (without conduction current)
in many experiments. All known experimental results prove that in free state
displacement current is always self-closed, i.e. run in closed cycle. For
example, if self-closed displacement electric current runs in transverse
electric wave then its effective radius is r = λ/2π
if λ is the value
of electromagnetic wave length, i.e. the orbit is equal to wavelength.
It is useful to remember that displacement current
(invisible before the moment of breakdown) as well as conduction current
participates in the generation of any lightning. This displacement current
may become apparent as ball lightning. All properties of ball lightning are
explained by the properties of prebreakdown self-closed alternating
displacement current. Streak lightning is conduction current, ball lightning
is displacement current. In streak lightning current runs straightly, in
ball lightning it circles. Ball lightning is the visible proof of the fact
that displacement currents exist in nature along with conduction currents.
According to the laws of electrodynamics, these displacement currents in
free state are always self-closed. In other words, natural electric
phenomena (celestial electricity) could be explained by electrodynamics and
there are no causes to consider them, for example, belonging to UFO because
from the point of view of electrodynamics it is an average electric
phenomenon as well as streak lightning. The uncommonness of the phenomenon
lies in the great strength of displacement current that generates air
luminescence (electroluminescence). Thus, it is possible to defend against
ball lightning action by means of metal screens. Contacting with a
conductor, displacement current changes into conduction current, and ball
lightning disappears. Ball lightning has energy and is a rather stable field
form of matter. As all energy (mass) of ball lightning is field one then it
practically does not have weight value.
«It emits light as a heated body, but at the same time it
practically does not radiate heat. Its movement almost is not connected
with gravity, which usually determines the movement of bodies which
surround us.» [1].
Longitudinal electromagnetic waves (as alternating
displacement currents) are applied only for energy transfer in waveguides as
yet. The mechanism of producing and keeping of longitudinal electromagnetic
waves is known. Therefore, the familiarization with self-closed longitudinal
electromagnetic waves can lead to, for example, to production of "vacuum
storage (accumulator) of energy" designed for energy accumulating in the
form of the excited state of vacuum (field). In this case even the great
amount of accumulated energy will have very minute weight, according to the
expression of W = Mc2. Vacuum is an "ideal
conductor" for displacement current. If the whole lengths of waves are
confined to orbits (in-phase wave movement is Bohr's orbits) then emanation
does not occur. For example, if it is possible to accumulate and emanate
"bunches" of electric energy as impulses then it will be possible to fuse or
weld conducting objects from great distance. Displacement electric current
does not radiate heat before changing into conduction current.
«Displacement current, in contrast to conduction
current, is not accompanied with heat generation.» [2].
The properties of longitudinal electromagnetic waves are viewed at the
author's web site.
References
The article "Electrodynamic Explanation of Ball Lightning" was published in the "New Energy Technologies" magazine, No. 9, 2002.
The complete
text of the article is on
http://alemanow.narod.ru (Russian / English)