Plasma

Influence of magnetic and electric fields on the dynamics of plasmoid formation in the Gatchina discharge

Shixin Zhao^a, Chengxun Yuan^a, A. A. Kudryavtsev^ab, Jingfeng Yao^a, G. D. Shabanov<sup>ac

a</sup> Department of Physics, Harbin Institute of Technology, 150001 Harbin, China
^b St. Petersburg State University, Faculty of Physics, St. Petersburg, Russia
^c The Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, The National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Gatchina, Leningradskaya Oblast, Russia

Abstract: The behavior in magnetic and electric fields of the Gatchina discharge, which is used mainly to create an analog of ball lightning in the laboratory in a normal atmosphere, is analyzed. Shown that in these studies it is possible to determine the sign of an uncompensated electric charge as in the active phase of the discharge, and in the forming long-lived luminous formations. Also shown that electric and magnetic fields can change the direction of movement of the forming luminous formation and even completely block its formation. The type and mechanism of existence firework ball lightning are considered, photos of which are presented in widely known monographs on the ball lightning.

Keywords: Gatchina discharge, long-lived luminous formations, leader, barrier discharge, leader-streamer system, plasma sheet, plasmoid, magnetic and electric fields, ball lightning.

Received: 23.09.2021
Revised: 21.11.2021
Accepted: 28.11.2021

DOI: 10.21883/JTF.2022.03.52132.263-21

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