Mario Soler

A model of ball lightning as a magnetic knot with linked streamers

We develop a topological model of ball lightning which explains its stability by the coupling of an air ball to a magnetic knot, a magnetic field with linked magnetic lines. Assuming that currents flow inside the ball, along short-circuited linked streamers following the lines of ∇ × B, the lifetime, energy, and radiated power of the average ball are correctly accounted for. The model explains why some witnesses do not feel heat, while others are burnt, and why filaments are seen to trail the ball in some cases.

Elementary Spinorial Excitations in a Model Universe

The generalized covariant Dirac equation for a certain five‐dimensional universe is studied. If a torsion invariant is included in the free Lagrangian, it is shown that particlelike stable solutions exist having definite positive rest energy, spin, and corresponding antiparticles. The treatment is throughout classical.

Integral kinetic method for one dimension : the spherical case

The integral method to numerically calculate the time evolution of kinetic systems is discussed and improved for one-dimensional problems. The new approach is applied to the solution of the spherically symmetric one-component plasma kinetic evolution. The results are compared with those obtained by means of the finite-difference solution to the equivalent Fokker-Planck kinetic equation.

Integral methods in kinetic problems

Abstract Integrating the Chapman-Kolmogorov equation is proposed as an alternative to the usual Fokker-Planck procedure, when the final answer in kinetic problems must be obtained numerically. The plasma case is formulated in terms of Langevins equation to obtain the general integral solution. The method is implemented for a simple example, and compared with the Fokker-Planck results.

Computed sawtooth oscillations for tokamak plasmas

Abstract A code is provided for the prediction of sawtooth oscillation regimes in experimentally described tokamak plasmas. The code iteratively solves Kadomtsevs model in combination with diffusive evolution of the perturbed temperatures. Results are to be compared with experimental data in order to predict plasma transport coefficients. The code subroutine describing disruptions can alternatively be incorporated in existing transport codes in order to include possible sawtoothing regimes.