Note on the formation of the fireball plasma

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1978 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.325047· OSTI ID:5030888

Silberg, P A

A model for the formation of the fireball arc or spark discharge, sometimes called a fireball plasma, is developed based on the nonlinearity of the voltage-current characteristics of a high-current arc discharge. A nonlinear transmission line equation for the discharge current is obtained which is solved in terms of the Jacobi elliptic functions. Under certain prescribed conditions the current field collapses into a small region. This collapse of the current field is taken to be the fireball. It is additionally pointed out that nonlinearities other than the voltage-current characteristics of the high-current arc could produce similar results. Finally, it is suggested that Ball Lightning may have the same origin.

• Research Organization: P.O. Box 1593, Billings, Montana 59103
• OSTI ID: 5030888
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 49:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BALL LIGHTNING
FIREBALL MODEL
PLASMA PRODUCTION
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC SPARKS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
CONFINEMENT
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
LIGHTNING
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PARTICLE MODELS
700106* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Plasma Production- (-1987)