A small particle model as a possible explanation of recently reported cavit lights

Abstract

Very unusual light phenomena have been observed inside superconducting niobium cavities under an electrical excitation equivalent to an average acceleration of {approximately}4 MV/m. Of particular interest is the observation of what appear to be objects executing elliptical orbits. A small particle model that yields a cylindrical harmonic oscillator potential well inside such a cavity is developed and appears to offer considerable promise as an analytical framework in which to understand these observations; the harmonic oscillator potential well has elliptical orbits as general solutions. However, explicit calculations indicate that with the cavity excitation parameters associated with this data, it is highly unlikely that a small object orbiting in such a potential well can be made of any known material. Deficiencies of the model are discussed, and avenues for further study, both theoretical and experimental, are indicated.