HR: 17:50h
AN: SA54A-06    [Abstracts]
TI: Ball Lightning With Spiking and Cold Emission in the Maser-Caviton Interaction
AU: * Handel, P H
EM: handel@umsl.edu
AF: University of Missouri St. Louis, Dept. of Physicsand Astronomy and Center for Molecular Electronics, St. Louis, MO 63121, United States
AU: Carlson, G A
EM: gcarlson@xannah.org
AF: University of Missouri St. Louis, Dept. of Physicsand Astronomy and Center for Molecular Electronics, St. Louis, MO 63121, United States
AU: Leitner, J
EM: leitneria@skynet.be
AF: J.F. Leitner Residence, Groenenhoek 115, Aartselaar, B2630, Belgium
AB: The nonlinear system of maser and cold plasma caviton can sustain spiking oscillations around the stationary state. This is shown here in the linearized limit of small oscillations. The role of ionization and cold emission effects is considered, and the case of large spiking amplitudes is discussed qualitatively on this basis. This calculation allows us to predict the frequency of the often observed humming of ball lightning. Furthermore, four basic experiments are suggested, that should be performed in order to verify and further develop the present Maser-Soliton theory of ball lightning: comparative atmospheric absorption spectroscopy in thunderstorm conditions, electric field pulse experiment, wind tunnel experiment and laboratory ball lightning generation experiment. The latter experiment suggested is based on a 10-20KW Klystron amplifier with negative feedback, trying to simulate the behavior of the atmospheric maser. The klystron is connected through a directional coupler to a tuned resonator that serves as discharge chamber. From there, a wave guide completes the loop. An optical feedback strengthens the natural tendency of the klystron to spike almost instantaneously when the load decreases. The discharge sought is a glow at atmospheric pressure, at much lower temperature than the lowest temperature arch discharge ever obtained so far at normal pressure. At these low temperatures there are no electrons that could sustain the discharge. However, right when the discharge is dying, a powerful klystron spike is automatically caused by the sudden decrease of the load. This extracts electrons through cold (Fowler) emission, and rekindles the discharge. However, like in the case of the atmospheric maser, the presence of the large spike automatically stops the klystron power. The optical feedback is responsible in part for the fast reaction. Then the spiking cycle repeats itself. Our Maser-Soliton BL theory allows for the first time not only to understand the natural phenomenon, but also to emulate it in the laboratory. This represents a new type of discharge.
UR: http:www.umsl.edu/~handel
DE: 3324 Lightning
DE: 3334 Middle atmosphere dynamics (0341, 0342)
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly