Ball Lightning as a profound manifestation of the Dark Matter physics

TL;DR

This paper proposes that ball lightning phenomena are manifestations of dark matter physics, specifically involving axion quark nuggets, providing a novel explanation for their energy source and characteristics.

Contribution

It introduces a new hypothesis that dark matter in the form of axion quark nuggets explains ball lightning features and related phenomena, linking astrophysics and atmospheric science.

Findings

BL size, lifetime, and frequency align with AQN-based dark matter model

The model accounts for the energy source of BL events

Some UAP may be related to BL as manifestations of dark matter physics

Abstract

Ball lighting (BL) has been observed for centuries. There are large number of books, review articles, and original scientific papers devoted to different aspects of BL phenomenon. Yet, the basic features of this phenomenon have never been explained by known physics. The main problem is the source which could power the dynamics of the BL. We advocate an idea that the dark matter (DM) in form of the axion quark nuggets (AQN) made of standard model quarks and gluons (similar to the old idea of the Witten's strangelets) could internally generate the required power. The AQN model was invented long ago without any relation to the BL physics. It was invented with a single motivation to explain the observed similarity $\Omega_{\rm DM}\sim \Omega_{\rm visible}$ between visible and DM components. This relation represents a very generic feature of this framework, not sensitive to any parameters of the construction. However, with the same set of parameters being fixed long ago this model is capable to address the key elements of the BL phenomenology, including the source of the energy powering the BL events. In particular, we argue that the visible size of BL, its typical life time, the frequency of appearance, etc are all consistent with suggested proposal when BL represents a profound manifestation of the DM physics represented by the AQN objects. We also argue that some of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) might be closely related to BL events, and therefore also represent profound manifestations of the DM physics within AQN framework. We also formulate a number of specific possible tests which can refute or unambiguously substantiate this unorthodox proposal on nature of BL and UAP.