Related papers: New Physical Mechanism for Lightning
After more than 180 years of research, ball lightning is still an unsolved problem in atmospheric physics. Since no progress can be expected without a controlled production of such objects in a laboratory, this report analyses a carefully…
The ball lightning phenomenon is explained in the frame of a self-organization scenario suggested by experiments performed on the spontaneously generated complex spherical space charge configuration in plasma. Originated in a hot plasma,…
The maximum measured electric fields in thunderclouds are an order of magnitude less than the fields required for electric breakdown of the air. One explanation for lightning initiation in these low fields is that electric breakdown first…
The electromagnetic fields associated with tortuous lightning channels are usually characterised by a pronounced fine structure. This work investigates and quantifies the effects of channel tortuosity on the return stroke electromagnetic…
A mechanism of light transmission through metallic films is proposed, assisted by tunnelling between resonating buried dielectric inclusions. This is illustrated by arrays of Si spheres embedded in Ag. Strong transmission peaks are observed…
The author (physicist)has observed the very strange,beautiful and frightening Lightning Ball (LB). He has never forgotten this phenomenon. During his working life he could not devote himself to the problem of LB-formation.Only two years ago…
Relativistic, charged particles present in extensive air showers lead to a coherent emission of radio pulses which are measured to identify the shower initiating high-energy cosmic rays. Especially during thunderstorms, there are additional…
Lightning balls are very rare natural phenomena that appear as free floating glowing globs, usually during electric activity in the atmosphere of the Earth. Each year, hundreds of eyewitness accounts of such strange events are reported to…
This study develops a novel framework within the Weather Research and Forecast Model for modeling aerosol-cloud-lightning interactions. The framework explicitly represents aerosol-cloud interactions by prescribing aerosols with two…
We present a comprehensive theory on the formation of ball lightning, a luminous sphere sometimes observed after normal lightning. In a ball lightning event, a relativistic electron bunch can be produced by the stepped leader of lightning…
The existence of a new phenomena - giant electron-gamma bursts is established. The bursts are generated in thunderclouds as a result of the combined action of runaway breakdown and extensive atmosphere showers (RB-EAS). The experiments were…
Considerable effort has been expended over the last 2 centuries into explaining the behavior of fluid flow after the onset of turbulence. While perturbations in the velocity field have been shown to explain turbulent transitions, a physical…
We observe a large fraction of circular polarization in radio emission from extensive air showers recorded during thunderstorms, much higher than in the emission from air showers measured during fair-weather circumstances. We show that the…
Solar magnetized "tornadoes", a phenomenon discovered in the solar atmosphere, appear as tornado-like structures in the corona but root in the photosphere. Like other solar phenomena, solar tornadoes are a feature of magnetized plasma and…
We explore the quantum dynamics of heteronuclear atomic collisions in waveguides and demonstrate the existence of a novel mechanism for the resonant formation of polar molecules. The molecular formation probabilities can be tuned by…
Our theoretical examination of second and third harmonic generation from metal-based nanostructures predicts that nonlocal and quantum tunneling phenomena can significantly exceed expectations based solely on local, classical…
Strong second-harmonic generation has recently been experimentally observed from metamaterials consisting of periodic arrays of metal split ring resonators with an effective negative magnetic permeability [Science, 313, 502 (2006)]. To…
A report is made on a comprehensive observation of a burst-like $\gamma$-ray emission from thunderclouds on the Sea of Japan, during strong thunderstorms on 2007 January 6. The detected emission, lasting for $\sim$40 seconds, preceded…
Sandstorms are frequently accompanied by the generation of intense electric fields and lightning. In a very narrow region close to the ground level, sand particles undergo a charge exchange mechanism whereby larger (resp. smaller) sized…
Double layer two-dimensional electron systems can exhibit a fascinating collective phase believed to exhibit both quantum ferromagnetism and excitonic superfluidity. This unusual phase has recently been found to exhibit tunneling phenomena…