Title :
Detachment of a Microwave-Excited Plasmoid From Molten Glass
Author_Institution :
Sch. of Electr. Eng., Tel Aviv Univ., Ramat Aviv, Israel
Abstract :
The evolution of a plasmoid (fireball) ejected by localized microwaves from a solid substrate is presented. The plasmoid is first fed by the substrate material (glass in this case) through a plasma column, which is detached from the substrate, and then evolves as a stable fireball buoyant in the air atmosphere. The experimental characterization of these fireballs is presented, and their resemblance to the ball lightning in nature is indicated.
Keywords :
air; glass; high-frequency discharges; lightning; plasma instability; air atmosphere; ball lightning analysis; fireball evolution; localized microwave analysis; microwave-excited plasmoid detachment; molten glass; plasma column; plasmoid evolution; stable fireball buoyant; Microwave imaging; Microwave theory and techniques; Nanoparticles; Plasmas; Silicon; Solids; Substrates; Atmospheric-pressure plasmas; microwave ovens; plasma material processing; plasma sources;
Journal_Title :
Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TPS.2011.2148732
