Verification of validity of the electrodynamic model of ball lightning

Abstract

The stability of ball lightning is analyzed. According to the electrodynamic model, the ball lightning consists of an energy core in the form of an ensemble of dynamic electric capacitors located inside a spherical shell of water. The dynamic capacitor consists of electrons and protons rotating in closed orbits. The shell tends to stretch under the force Fcf, which is, proportional to the kinetic energy of protons Ek, and the force Fel, proportional to the square of the uncompensated electric charge of the core Q2. The shell is compressed by the force Fsh proportional to its thickness a and the charge Q, as well as the atmospheric pressure force Pa. It is shown that, provided that the radius R of ball lightning can change only due to the work of internal forces, its size remains unchanged. The stability of the size of ball lightning is maintained under the balance of the rate of loss of its energy reserve Ek and the charge Q. If this balance is disturbed, an explosion of ball lightning or its collapse may occur. The relationship between the main parameters of ball lightning is considered: its energy Ek, charge Q, shell thickness a and shell radius R. The conditions for accumulation of maximum energy at a minimum shell thickness are found. The results of calculating the parameters of ball lightning with energy of 10-2300 MJ are compared with the parameters of observed high-energy ball lightning. It is shown that these data are in good agreement with each other.