This work presents an analysis of the research conducted in many countries in recent years on the so-called Gatchina discharge.The findings indicate that the Gatchina discharge exhibits the majority of the characteris...This work presents an analysis of the research conducted in many countries in recent years on the so-called Gatchina discharge.The findings indicate that the Gatchina discharge exhibits the majority of the characteristics of natural ball lightning,making it the most effective method for reproducing and studying this phenomenon.To a large extent,our new results are based on experiments performed for the first time to visualize dust particles arising in an erosive emission,as well as the formation of vortex flows.These experiments make it possible to explain the ability of the Gatchina discharge to maintain its shape for a long time in the afterglow.展开更多
The Gatchina discharge phenomenon holds significant promise as a laboratory model for simulating ball lightning.However,crucial aspects concerning the plasma components of the resulting afterglow remain unresolved.Not...The Gatchina discharge phenomenon holds significant promise as a laboratory model for simulating ball lightning.However,crucial aspects concerning the plasma components of the resulting afterglow remain unresolved.Notably,the measurement of the electron density,a critical parameter,has not been fully achieved thus far.In this study,microwave diagnostics and video recording were employed during a pulsed Gatchina discharge,along with synchronous measurement of discharge current and voltage.Distinct antennas were positioned at different heights to enable separate diagnosis of the discharge and the ensuing long-lived afterglow.The findings revealed that during the active phase of the Gatchina discharge,the plasma density was substantial enough to cause reflection of an electromagnetic wave with a frequency of 20 GHz from this highly conductive object.In the afterglow,the signal experienced only a moderate weakening of 10–20 percent,facilitating the determination of the time dependence of average electron density during the afterglow's passage between the two antennas.These measurements verified the unusually slow plasma decay in the afterglow of the Gatchina discharge,suggesting the potential significance of chemi-ionisation processes involving long-lived(metastable)particles.展开更多
基金supported by Province Key R&D Program of Heilongjiang(No.JD22A005)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.12175050 and 12205067)。
文摘This work presents an analysis of the research conducted in many countries in recent years on the so-called Gatchina discharge.The findings indicate that the Gatchina discharge exhibits the majority of the characteristics of natural ball lightning,making it the most effective method for reproducing and studying this phenomenon.To a large extent,our new results are based on experiments performed for the first time to visualize dust particles arising in an erosive emission,as well as the formation of vortex flows.These experiments make it possible to explain the ability of the Gatchina discharge to maintain its shape for a long time in the afterglow.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Numbers:12175050,12205067Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Grant/Award Number:HIT.OCEF.2022036。
文摘The Gatchina discharge phenomenon holds significant promise as a laboratory model for simulating ball lightning.However,crucial aspects concerning the plasma components of the resulting afterglow remain unresolved.Notably,the measurement of the electron density,a critical parameter,has not been fully achieved thus far.In this study,microwave diagnostics and video recording were employed during a pulsed Gatchina discharge,along with synchronous measurement of discharge current and voltage.Distinct antennas were positioned at different heights to enable separate diagnosis of the discharge and the ensuing long-lived afterglow.The findings revealed that during the active phase of the Gatchina discharge,the plasma density was substantial enough to cause reflection of an electromagnetic wave with a frequency of 20 GHz from this highly conductive object.In the afterglow,the signal experienced only a moderate weakening of 10–20 percent,facilitating the determination of the time dependence of average electron density during the afterglow's passage between the two antennas.These measurements verified the unusually slow plasma decay in the afterglow of the Gatchina discharge,suggesting the potential significance of chemi-ionisation processes involving long-lived(metastable)particles.
