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Observation of the Optical and Spectral Characteristics of Ball Lightning

Jianyong Cen, Ping Yuan*, and Simin Xue

  • Key Laboratory of Atomic and Molecular Physics and Functional Materials of Gansu Province, College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China

  • *Corresponding author. yuanp@nwnu.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 035001 – Published 17 January, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001

Abstract

Ball lightning (BL) has been observed with two slitless spectrographs at a distance of 0.9 km. The BL is generated by a cloud-to-ground lightning strike. It moves horizontally during the luminous duration. The evolution of size, color, and light intensity is reported in detail. The spectral analysis indicates that the radiation from soil elements is present for the entire lifetime of the BL.

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First Spectrum of Ball Lightning

Published 17 January, 2014

Researchers measured a spectrum of light emitted by the rare and elusive ball lightning.

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 035001– Published 17 January, 2014
  • Received 26 April 2013

© 2014 American Physical Society

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