{"paper":{"title":"Theory of ball lightning","license":"http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/","headline":"","cross_cats":["physics.ao-ph","physics.geo-ph"],"primary_cat":"physics.plasm-ph","authors_text":"H.-C. Wu","submitted_at":"2014-11-18T09:55:08Z","abstract_excerpt":"We present a comprehensive theory on the formation of ball lightning, a luminous sphere sometimes observed after normal lightning. In a ball lightning event, a relativistic electron bunch can be produced by the stepped leader of lightning and coherently emit high-power microwave when striking the ground. The intense microwave ionizes the local air and evacuates the resulting plasma by its radiation pressure, thereby forming a spherical plasma cavity that traps the microwave. The theory can explain observed properties of ball lightning and should be useful to lightning protection and aviation s"},"claims":{"count":0,"items":[],"snapshot_sha256":"258153158e38e3291e3d48162225fcdb2d5a3ed65a07baac614ab91432fd4f57"},"source":{"id":"1411.4784","kind":"arxiv","version":2},"verdict":{"id":null,"model_set":{},"created_at":null,"strongest_claim":"","one_line_summary":"","pipeline_version":null,"weakest_assumption":"","pith_extraction_headline":""},"references":{"count":0,"sample":[],"resolved_work":0,"snapshot_sha256":"258153158e38e3291e3d48162225fcdb2d5a3ed65a07baac614ab91432fd4f57","internal_anchors":0},"formal_canon":{"evidence_count":0,"snapshot_sha256":"258153158e38e3291e3d48162225fcdb2d5a3ed65a07baac614ab91432fd4f57"},"author_claims":{"count":0,"strong_count":0,"snapshot_sha256":"258153158e38e3291e3d48162225fcdb2d5a3ed65a07baac614ab91432fd4f57"},"builder_version":"pith-number-builder-2026-05-17-v1"}