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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Method for Recording Broadband High Resolution Emission Spectra of Laboratory Lightning Arcs

Method for Recording Broadband High Resolution Emission Spectra of Laboratory Lightning Arcs

Published on: August 27, 2019

Structure of laboratory ball lightning.

Tsuyohito Ito¹, Tomoya Tamura, Mark A Cappelli

¹Frontier Research Base for Global Young Researchers, Frontier Research Center, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan. tsuyohito@wakate.frc.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp

Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics

|April 7, 2010

Summary

Laboratory ball lightning exhibits extremely low densities, allowing for buoyant flight. This phenomenon, driven by silicon oxidation, suggests natural ball lightning could be carried by gentle breezes.

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Area of Science:

Plasma Physics
Atmospheric Electricity
Materials Science

Background:

Ball lightning is a rare atmospheric phenomenon with poorly understood properties.
Previous models suggest specific conditions for ball lightning formation and behavior.
Understanding ball lightning's flight dynamics is crucial for explaining its occurrence.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the buoyant flight capabilities of laboratory-generated ball lightning.
To determine the apparent densities and survival times of these artificial ball lightning instances.
To correlate experimental observations with existing theoretical models.

Main Methods:

Generation of ball lightning using arc discharges with silicon.
Observation and analysis of the trajectories and flight behavior of the generated ball lightning.
Measurement of apparent densities and survival durations.

Main Results:

Observed extremely low apparent densities, close to that of standard air.
Ball lightning instances survived for up to several seconds, demonstrating significant buoyancy.
The size and density allow for transport by gentle breezes (a few meters per second).

Conclusions:

Laboratory ball lightning can exhibit buoyant flight, supporting theories of natural ball lightning mobility.
The buoyant behavior is attributed to a nanoparticle oxide network forming from a molten silicon core.
Experimental findings align with and extend the Abrahamson and Dinniss model.