From: pmk@prometheus.UUCP (Paul M. Koloc)
Newsgroups: sci.physics.fusion
Subject: Re: FASER theory --
Date: 7 Sep 92 04:25:25 GMT
Reply-To: pmk@prometheus.UUCP (Paul M. Koloc)
Organization: Prometheus II, Ltd.

In article <79213@ut-emx.uucp> johncobb@ut-emx.cc.utexas.edu (John W. Cobb) writes:
|In article <65103@cup.portal.com>, pls@cup.portal.com (Paul L Schauble) writes:
>| ...
>| Indeed, it is clear that sightings
>|would at first appear to a trained scientific observer as illusions, fab-
>|rications or outright mystical aberrations. However, the explanation of
>|ball lightning as a naturally occurring form of fusion explains the phen-
>|omenon in a manner consistent with the apparently incredible observations.

Solar BL
It is likely that ball lightning formation in the sub-surface of the 
sun leads to incredible FUSION burns of relatively short duration (by 
comparison to the time length of the solar cycle).  They then expand 
and cool adiabatically as the "solar ball lightnings" rise into the 
photosphere where they become unstable and break up.  Their remnant 
magnetized torus is quite apparent by virtue of its cold temperature 
and strong magnetic flux emanations.  The total fusion power may 
account for an added 5 to 15 percent of the minimum solar output.  

Earth or terrestrial Ball Lightning is probably also a source of fusion,
power, but most likely on the magnitude of the power to illuminate a 
gnat's door key for 10 seconds .  That's likely the total bl fusion
terrestrial output per year.  We will be endeavoring to change that
by several decades of power.  

>The problem with ball lightning seems to be that it cannot be reproduced
>at will. 

It now can be reproduced "at will", subject to the fact that BL 
formation is potentially very dangerous endeavor and requires 
sophisticated safeguards and as well as formation equipment.  At
the present time the process is closely held.  

>    ..  Now I'm not going to sit here and proclaim that it is all a
>figment of people's imagination, but until you can show me how to 
>repeatedly and reliably create these critters, I be darned if I am
>going to devote my professional life to studying such a chimera. 

Fortunately, there are others that are willing to make such 
sacrifices. 
>The same criticism applies to cf. Unless I find some reproducible
>results, or I have some insight that gives me confidence, I will use my
>talents more productively elsewhere. If you want to do otherwise, fine,
>but don't expect to receive a lot of attention until something
>reproducible can be found.

No kidding!  What leverage on the stock will you get once the 
"word is out".  Let's face it: 'Some people do original work and 
others copy or clone.'  

>|         . . .      .. .  ..         . Visible light would occur in an
>|intermittent medium temperature plasma; evidence for this is the orange/
>|yellow color of ball lightning. 

Even if true that is not much of a temperature for a plasma.
 
The yellow color of terrestrial ball lightning is due to the 
formation and trapping of ozone and nitrogen oxides in the 
external Mantle.  Both can become ionized through the adhesion 
of an electron.  These negative molecular ions then become tangled 
in the external dipole field which is embedded in and parallel 
to much of the Mantle's (BL's plasma shell) outer surface.  
Nitrous oxides, especially, highly attenuate the transmissions 
of blues and greens leaving a yellow or orangish yellow glow. 
Consequently the color is NOT due to the Mantle's black body 
thermal radiation signature.      

>This idea is basically flawed. Fusion is an energy release process, stimulated
>emission is not. 

Huh!! ??  I don't think HOW you say it is clear.  I sense what you 
intend to say but in it's simplest read it's confusing. The fusion 
process transforms mass to energy but it may not be released 
(efficiently) from the fusion medium.  The laser process transforms 
thermal or electronic (excitation) energy to light which releases 
(tranports away) the energy and cools effectively.  Without the 
application of power a lasing laser medium will always cool.   

Consequently for fusion the temperature of the medium could rise to 
the point that sufficient transport efficiency vastly improves. If 
we are dealing with the core of a large new star, the temperature 
required for sufficient transport could really be up there.  

>-john w. cobb
>jwc@fusion.ph.utexas.edu

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Newsgroups: sci.physics.fusion,sci.meteorology