Transient Electron Compression — Glowing Ball Lightning Theory

Ball lightning is a rare atmospheric phenomenon whose formation mechanism has remained unresolved. This work proposes a plasma-combustion luminescence model to account for the observed features: locally compressed free electrons generate a luminous plasma that heats and ignites nearby dust particles. Owing to the higher efficiency of radiative and conductive cooling at the combustion boundary, the local burning rate decreases sharply. Any protruding region cools and extinguishes more rapidly than the rest of the volume, thereby causing the luminous region to spontaneously evolve into a spherical shape. Quantitative calculations demonstrate the theoretical feasibility of the proposed mechanism and successfully resolve several observational paradoxes that previous models have failed to explain. Beyond resolving long-standing observational contradictions, this study may rekindle interest in fundamental plasma physics and deepen both the scientific community’s and the public’s understanding of this rare and captivating atmospheric phenomenon.