Atmospheric Electricity & Ball Lightning

Handel developed revolutionary theories explaining thunderstorm electrification and ball lightning through the polarization catastrophe mechanism and maser-caviton model. His polarization catastrophe theory (1980s-2007) demonstrated that clouds are inherently unstable and spontaneously develop multiple horizontal space charge layers when ice crystals nucleated on dust particles acquire giant dipole moments, explaining thunderstorm electrification without requiring pre-existing charge separation.

His maser-caviton ball lightning theory (1988-2018) proposed that ball lightning is a self-sustaining plasma sphere fed by atmospheric maser radiation, explaining previously mysterious observations including controlled motion, passage through barriers, energy content, humming sounds, spiking behavior, and explosive damage. This work fundamentally changed atmospheric physics by providing the first rigorous physical mechanisms for these century-old phenomena.

Key Publications

#52

Polarization Catastrophe Theory of Cloud Electricity - A New Mechanism for Thunderstorm Electrification

P.H. Handel

J. Geophysical Research 90, 5857-5863 (1985)

#110

Maser-Caviton Ball Lightning Mechanism

P.H. Handel

Proc. VIII Int. Conf. on Atmospheric Electricity, Uppsala (1988)

#219

Proof of Cloud Instability With Respect to the Formation of Several Horizontal Space Charge Layers

P.H. Handel

ICAE 2003 Versailles

Summary

#220

Ball Lightning Discharge Fed by an Atmospheric Maser

P.H. Handel, M. Grace, J.-F. Leitner

ICAE 2003 Versailles

Summary

#234

Motion of a BL Discharge Fed by an Atmospheric Maser

P.H. Handel, G.A. Carlson, M. Grace, J.F. Leitner

8th Int. Symposium on Ball Lightning, Taiwan (2004)

Summary

#235

Electrostatic Ponderomotive Forces Cause Explosive Ball Lightning Damages

P.H. Handel, G.A. Carlson, M. Grace, J.F. Leitner

8th Int. Symposium on Ball Lightning, Taiwan (2004)

Summary

#240

General Instability of Clouds with Respect to Formation of Horizontal Space Charge Layers (Invited)

P.H. Handel

2005 Joint Assembly, New Orleans

Summary

#241

Derivation of the Motion of Ball Lightning in the Maser-Soliton Theory (Invited)

P.H. Handel, G. Carlson

2005 AGU Joint Assembly, New Orleans

Summary

#246

Maser Caviton Ball Lightning Interaction Spiking with Cold Emission

P.H. Handel, G.A. Carlson, J.-F. Leitner

9th Int. Symp. on Ball Lightning, Eindhoven (2006)

Summary

#257

Ball Lightning With Spiking and Cold Emission in the Maser-Caviton Interaction

P.H. Handel, G.A. Carlson, J.-F. Leitner

2007 AGU General Assembly, Acapulco

Summary

#258

Giant Dipole Moments of Submicron Ice Crystallites Cause Polarization Catastrophe and Sprites (Invited)

P.H. Handel

2007 AGU General Assembly

Summary

#259

Polarization Catastrophe Contributing to Rotation and Tornadic Motion in Cumulo-Nimbus Clouds

P.H. Handel

2007 AGU General Assembly

Summary

#269

Understanding the Motion of Ball Lightning

P.H. Handel, G.A. Carlson, J.F. Leitner

Int. J. of Unconventional Electromagnetics and Plasmas, Vol 1 (1) (2008)

Summary

#310-312

The Humming and Motion of Ball Lightning (Parts 1-3)

P.H. Handel, K.E. Splett

VI Int. Conf. "Atmosphere, Ionosphere, Safety" (2018)

Summary Pt 1 Summary Pt 2 Summary Pt 3