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Mathematical Foundation of Kapitsa's Hypothesis About the Origin and Structure of Ball Lightning

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Abstract

This paper is devoted to the mathematical rationale of the Kapitsa's hypothesis about interference nature of the phenomenon known as “ball lightning.” It is shown that (i) there are exact solutions of the free Maxwell equations in vacuum describing closed spherical magnetic surfaces (with a tangential time dependent magnetic field, and without an electric field) and (ii) ring-like formations with tangential time-dependent electric field (and with a zero magnetic field everywhere on the ring). It is concluded that the form of these spheres and rings does not suffer changes with time.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Física, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Apartado Postal C-580, Zacatecas, 98068, Zacatecas, México

    Augusto Espinoza & Andrew Chubykalo

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  1. Augusto Espinoza
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  2. Andrew Chubykalo
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Espinoza, A., Chubykalo, A. Mathematical Foundation of Kapitsa's Hypothesis About the Origin and Structure of Ball Lightning. Foundations of Physics 33, 863–873 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025661310091

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025661310091

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