UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
PHILADELPHIA 19174

August 5, 1977

CREATION OF BALL LIGHTNING
Moray B. King

This is a proposed experiment to create ball lightning based on the helical torus model(1,2), a plasmoid form which Bostick(3) observed in a vacuum. The following scheme resembles the conditions under which a thunderstorm produces ball lightning.

A Tesla coil(4) creates a discharge through a vortex of water vapor. The coils are wound such that their magnetic field causes the discharge to spiral in the same direction as the vortex.

The cathode construction is most important. It must eject a large number of electrons simultaneously so that the plasma's quantum electrodynamical exchange forces(5) induce a coherence in the zero-point energy(6). The toroidal plasmoid sustains this coherence in what may be regarded as a macroscopic condition(3). The synchronous electron emission may be achieved by biasing a semiconductor material that forms exciation(7) or electron traps(8) (e.g. ZnS, CdS, FeS). When electrically pulsed, the electrons should be ejected from the cathode surface in a manner similar to internal field emission across a p-n junction(9). This synchronous discharge coheres the zero-point energy.

If ball lightning is produced, the plasmoid will persist for seconds after the electrical discharge, and it may even leave the apparatus(10). It is hoped that many individuals will experimentally demonstrate ball lightning so that a new energy source becomes recognized.

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