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Springer Atmospheric Sciences Vladimir L. Bychkov Natural and Artificial Ball Lightning in the Earth’s Atmosphere Springer Atmospheric Sciences The Springer Atmospheric Sciences series seeks to publish a broad portfolio of scientific books, aiming at researchers, students, and everyone interested in this interdisciplinary field. The series includes peer-reviewed monographs, edited volumes, textbooks, and conference proceedings. It covers the entire area of atmospheric sciences including, but not limited to, Meteorology, Climatology, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Aeronomy, Planetary Science, and related subjects. Vladimir L. Bychkov Natural and Artificial Ball Lightning in the Earth’s Atmosphere Vladimir L. Bychkov Faculty of Physics Lomonosov Moscow State University Moscow, Russia ISSN 2194-5217 ISSN 2194-5225 (electronic) Springer Atmospheric Sciences ISBN 978-3-031-07860-6 ISBN 978-3-031-07861-3 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-07861-3 Translation from the Russian language edition: “Natural and Artificial Ball Lightning in the Earth’s Atmosphere” by Vladimir L. Bychkov, © MAKS Press 2021. Published by MAKS Press. All Rights Reserved. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland Preface The book is called “Natural and artificial ball lightning in the Earth’s atmosphere” because it is devoted to long-lived luminous formations of both natural and artificial origin. The first is generally accepted name—ball lightning (BL); the second is long-lived luminous objects (LLO), usually obtained in laboratories in experiments with various kinds of discharges or combustible substances, and also more rarely in devices used in everyday life. The term LLO—more corresponds to the object than the frequently used term “plasmoid”, or artificial BL. It contains at least two properties that distinguish this object from a number of natural and artificial objects: a long lifetime and glow. It separates these objects from “plasmoids”, the properties of which are not clearly defined, and the name contains the word plasma, which makes this object supposedly known. Natural BL has a large number of observable properties, and it is obviously unclear which of them is the main. Using the term LLO for them highlights glowing objects. The term “long-lived object” also requires decoding. It is an object with an existence time greater or comparable to the minimum time of object perception by observers. The words about atmospheric pressure emphasize the conditions for the appearance of these objects and separate them from the multitude of objects realized in experiments in gas discharge and beam plasma at reduced pressure and in various gases other than air. The joint consideration of objects under the term LLO emphasizes the need for a comprehensive study of complex objects of artificial and natural origin. It was the study of the properties of LLO in the twentieth-twenty-first centuries that allowed a better understanding of the possibility of experimentally modeling BL analogues. The problem of BL exists for quite a long time. For decades, it has aroused great interest among people. There was always a small group of brave scientists who, based on the latest scientific achievements was trying to explain this rather rare and “rather simple” compared, for example, with the linear lightning phenomenon, so far, all attempts by this group to unravel this phenomenon are considered unsuccessful, since everyone expects from them a recipe or implementation of this object with all its anomaly parameters. v vi Preface It has even become commonplace to use in the media the phrase “ BL not solved by science.” That is a strange problem that humanity for some reason cannot or does not want to solve, while the nature of space and time, black holes, and dark energy is already generally clear. At the same time, the most unpleasant thing is that, unlike these super-fundamental and generally safe for ordinary people phenomena, BL often commits real destruction of surrounding objects, is the cause of injuries and deaths of people and animals. Maybe it would be better to postpone the study of this object for later, until better times. Is it possible to stop taking this phenomenon seriously at all, in connection with declaring it a physical or physiological illusion, and to put cases of death and injuries under the cloth? However, this is actually how it happens. Instead of looking at this situation as nature’s indication of the need to search for a new paradigm, or return to the paradigm of the nineteenth century, and involve additional researchers and finance in the study of BL, support for research on this phenomenon has practically ceased. Nevertheless, enthusiasts are conducting research in the following areas. Collection and statistical analysis of observations showed that BL or LLO is not only phenomena associated with thunderstorm conditions but also with geophysical anomalous phenomena in the atmosphere and ocean. They are a much broader phenomenon than is commonly believed. Experimental modeling of LLO and similar objects. Analysis of the results of earlier experimental studies that are not described within the framework of existing approaches and paradigms. Creation of theoretical models that allow to explain many properties of LLO or BL and present them as objects of physical vacuum realized in anomalous conditions. This book is devoted to the coverage of these topics. The material is presented concisely, with the idea that a particular researcher will find in this book the right direction of research or references to literature and will avoid trivial mistakes in research. The book consists of five chapters. The first chapter is devoted to the historical facts of BL research. Its purpose is to present to the public scientists who have made a significant contribution to research on LLO and BL. I would like to show real heroes of this complex science. The second chapter presents data on the natural LLO and BL. It contains observations describing the usual and unusual properties of BL in different physical, geographical, and geophysical conditions. These events are usually not presented in a single collection. However, such a collection of data shows that BL is not such a rare phenomenon, as it is commonly believed. The third chapter presents statistical data on the BL properties and the results of modern statistical analysis of a number of BL properties. The fourth chapter is devoted to the description of numerous studies on the labora- tory production of LLO. The presentation shows that currently there are a number of experimental methods leading to the creation of LLO with properties close to those of natural BL, i.e., the problem of experimental production of artificial BL analogues of several types is practically solved. Preface vii In the fifth chapter, we briefly describe the BL theories, allowing us to look at this phenomenon from different positions, but the main properties of anomalous BL are their high energy and long lifetime. I want to thank my wonderful friends and comrades, enthusiasts and colleagues, research partners, and co-authors of the book. I grieve for the departed researchers who were close friends over life. I thank Prof. B. M. Smirnov for introducing me to this problem challenging the scientific community, and instilling in me a persistent interest in it. Being an outstanding scientist, he constantly oversees and amicably supports BL research. I thank Prof. A. F. Alexandrov, who for more than 30 years stimulated the BL research at the Department of Physical Electronics of the Physical Faculty of Lomonosov Moscow State University. Looking historically, Moscow University should have been actively engaged in these studies, since M. V. Lomonosov was the world’s first researcher of BL and the university’s duty to him is to unravel the nature of this phenomenon. I sincerely thank Academician of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, DS A. I. Nikitin, and Corresponding Member of this Academy Dr. T. F. Nikitina. Communication with them and joint research brought me a lot of knowledge, sincere, and friendly warmth. Without discussion with A. I. Nikitin, many sections of this book would not have appeared, for which I thank him very much. I thank the Academician of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, prof. A. I. Klimov, with whom we have traveled many roads together in the analysis of complex phenomena, obtaining analogues of BL, LLO, low-temperature plasma, and plasma aerodynamics. I remember with special warmth the untimely passing of the remarkable experimental scientist S. E. Emelin, without whose work a new direction of experimental BL research would not have taken place. I thank Dr. G. C. Dijkhuis (the Netherlands). Being a good theoretician and experimentalist, he is always interested in BL research. He helps scientists in every way to establish international scientific contacts and finance their participation in international forums. I thank Dr. A. G. Keul (Austria) for his hard work in the collection and analysis of ball lightning observations, friendly attitude to Eastern colleagues, and the provided help during the most difficult period of the 90s of the twentieth century. I thank Prof. I. I. Esakov and Prof. A. L. Kuranov for their constant assistance in finding funds for BL research and all friendly support during research. I also thank Dr. J. Tishkov (USA) and Dr. Gill Won Suh (Korea) for their support of BL and LLO research and the holding of international symposia in Russia. I am sincerely grateful to my family members, my wife Nataliya, and my sons Andrey and Dmitry, who for more than 30 years have constantly, selflessly, and uncomplainingly helped me both in research and in writing the book; otherwise, it would not have been born. Moscow, Russia Vladimir L. Bychkov January 2022 Contents 1 Long-Lived Luminous Formations (LLO), Ball Lightning (BL), and Their Researches ..................................... 1 1.1 A Bit of History ........................................... 2 1.1.1 Collection and Analysis of Observational Data on BL in Russia ................................... 16 1.2 Conclusion to the Chapter .................................. 29 References ..................................................... 29 2 Observation Data on BL Events ................................. 31 2.1 BL Energy ............................................... 32 2.2 The Appearance of BL ..................................... 48 2.3 External Features of the BL ................................. 56 2.3.1 Size, Color, and Shape of the BL ..................... 56 2.3.2 Complex Structures ................................ 79 2.3.3 BL in the Form of a Thread or a Harness .............. 89 2.4 Electrical Manifestations of BL .............................. 98 2.5 Interaction of BL with Various Objects ....................... 109 2.5.1 Interaction of the BL with the Tree ................... 121 2.6 Interaction of BL with Glass ................................ 127 2.7 Injuries and Death of Observers and Animals When Exposed to BL ............................................ 147 2.8 Moving Objects When Exposed to BL ........................ 170 2.9 BL Meeting with Airplanes ................................. 175 2.9.1 BL and the Sea .................................... 203 2.10 BL and Geotectonic Events ................................. 213 2.10.1 Luminous Formations Generated by Geotectonic Activity .......................................... 213 2.10.2 BL in Japan ....................................... 225 2.10.3 Artifacts and Various Traces of BL ................... 227 2.10.4 Geophysical Phenomena and BL ..................... 231 2.10.5 Luminous Objects of Hessdalen ...................... 244 ix x Contents 2.10.6 Local Heating of Objects ............................ 245 2.10.7 Gelly-Like Meteors and Similar Phenomena ........... 252 2.10.8 Photos and Videos with BL .......................... 267 2.10.9 On Phosphenes Formed as a Result of Energy Radiation from Linear Lightning Flashes .............. 276 References ..................................................... 278 3 Analysis of Observations ........................................ 285 3.1 Data Collection ........................................... 285 3.2 Analysis of Observations by the Simplest Methods ............. 296 3.2.1 Parameters ........................................ 296 3.2.2 Lifetime .......................................... 297 3.2.3 Equivalent Electrical Power of Radiation .............. 297 3.2.4 Color ............................................ 298 3.2.5 Geography of Observations .......................... 298 3.3 Application of Modern Methods of Statistical Analysis of BL .... 304 3.3.1 Statistical Studies of BL Color ....................... 305 3.3.2 Analysis of Variance. Data Processing Procedure ....... 306 3.3.3 The Results of the Analysis of Variance for the BL Color Factor ...................................... 307 3.3.4 Correlation Analysis of BL Color Distributions ........ 308 3.3.5 Factors Affecting the Observed Parameters of the BL ......................................... 313 References ..................................................... 325 4 Experimental Modeling of BL and LLO .......................... 329 4.1 Introduction .............................................. 329 4.2 Early Experiments of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries on the Purposeful Creation of BL ................... 331 4.3 High-Frequency Discharges in the Air ........................ 333 4.4 Experiments on BL Obtaining Under Electric Discharge Conditions ............................................... 336 4.5 Plasmodynamic Formation of BL and LLO ................... 344 4.6 Erosive Discharge ......................................... 357 4.6.1 Pulsed Electric Discharge in a Channel with Evaporating Walls ............................. 357 4.6.2 Characteristics of Capillary Plasmatron Plasma Jets ..... 359 4.6.3 Experiments with Erosive Discharge with a Capillary Made of Wax ....................... 361 4.6.4 Experiments with Erosive Discharge with a Capillary from PMMA ........................ 364 4.6.5 Experiments with Polymer Materials ................. 366 4.6.6 Production of Glowing Spheres ...................... 370 4.6.7 Obtaining of Fireballs with a Polymer Structure ........ 371 4.6.8 Experiments on the Interaction of an Erosive Discharge Jet with a Metal Sample ................... 375