Electron-ion model of ball and bead lightning

TL;DR

This paper presents an electron-ion model to analyze the physical parameters, structure, and stability of ball and bead lightning, providing insights into their size, energy, charge, and observed features.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive electron-ion model that explains the structure, size, energy, and stability of ball and bead lightning, including observed internal shells.

Findings

Estimated maximum size and energy content of ball lightning.

Explanation for the presence of different colored shells inside ball lightning.

Long-term stability mechanism of bead lightning through magnetic and electric forces.

Abstract

Based on the electron-ion model, parameters of ball and bead lightning are calculated. The model allows us to estimate maximum size of ball lightning, its energy content, electric charge and magnetic field, to determine equilibrium conditions between positively charged ions located inside and outer shell containing rapidly moving electrons. An explanation is given to the fact that shells are observed inside ball lightning that differ from each other in color of glow. The model describes structure of not only ball lightning, but also bead lightning. The long-term stability of bead lightning is associated with the balance of neighboring beads under action of magnetic force of their attraction and electric force of repulsion, which exceed in magnitude the force of wind pressure.