Optik - International Journal for Light and Electron Optics 219 (2020) 165095

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Optik
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ijleo

Comparison of the stabilities of a soap bubble and the ball lightning

T
in the form of a bubble of light
V.P. Torchigin
Institute of Informatics Problems, Federal Research Center “Computer Science and Control” of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilova Str., 44
Build. 2, Moscow, 119333, Russia

A R T IC LE I N F O ABS TRA CT

PACS: A bubble of circulating light is an optical model of natural ball lightning. We show that the
42.65.Jx bubble of light consisting of a thin spherical shell of highly compressed air, in which intense
42.65.Tg white light circulates in all possible directions, can be stable at various proportions between the
energies of light and compressed air. Correctness of the model is based on the numerous evidence
Keywords: that its behavior in the terrestrial atmosphere coincides completely with the intriguing and
Circulating light
mysterious behavior of ball lightnings. We believe that natural ball lightnings can be considered
Electrostriction pressure
as an experimental confirmation of an existence of bubbles of light. Because of this an analysis of
Ball lightning
Centrifugal pressure stability of the model is a task with known in advance answer. At the same time, the scientific
Optical space soliton community has great doubts about the existence of bubbles of light in nature, because no one has
Analysis of stability studied such objects either theoretically or experimentally. The article is intended mainly for
specialists in optics. Since the issues of stability of circulating light are not included in the range
of basic issues of modern optics, a discussion of these issues is presented in detail. For this
purpose, an analysis of stability of an ordinary soap bubble, the stability of which is not in doubt,
is preliminary presented. Then the same concepts, methods, and notation are used to prove the
stability of the bubble of light.

1. Introduction

Our article is addressed mainly to specialists in optics because we believe that ball lightning is an optical phenomenon. Since
stability issues of circulating light are not included in the range of basic issues of modern optics, a discussion of these issues is
presented in detail. This is also explained by the fact that the stability of the optical model of ball lightning causes reasonable doubts
among most experts. Evidence of this is the fact that the optical model of ball lightning has been known since 2003 but so far has not
received a general recognition despite the fact that more than three dozen articles have been published on this issue in leading
international journals in physics and optics.
In accordance with our model, ball lightning is a bubble of light, which is similar to a soap bubble in the sense that it also consists
of a thin spherical shell. However, the shell of the bubble of light consists of conventional white light that circulates in the shell in all
possible directions and compresses the thin layer of the air due to optical electrostriction pressure. The shell can be considered as a
thin film planar optical lightguide whose curvatures in two mutually perpendicular directions are nonzero. Such a lightguide prevents
the radiation of circulating light into surrounding space. Thus, a bubble of light is a symbiosis of circulating light and compressed air.
Circulating light compresses the air and the compressed air provides circulation of light.
Since 2003, we have shown that a bubble of light is not a game of imagination, but objective reality [1–32]. The reason for this

E-mail address: v_torchigin@mail.ru.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijleo.2020.165095
Received 2 April 2020; Accepted 7 June 2020
Available online 11 June 2020
0030-4026/ © 2020 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
V.P. Torchigin Optik - International Journal for Light and Electron Optics 219 (2020) 165095

statement is the fact that the behavior of the bubble of light based on the generally recognized laws of optics and physics completely
coincides with the anomalous, mysterious and paradoxical behavior of natural ball lightning known from numerous eyewitness
accounts. According to some physicists, this behavior of ball lightning “violates the laws of physics” [33].
At present, there is no generally accepted theory of optically induced forces (OIF), although more than a century has passed since
time when their existence was experimentally proved. Without the ability to rely on reliable knowledge of the magnitude of the OIF,
it is difficult to expect that any considerations about the effect of these forces on bubbles of light will be convincing. Since 2012, we
have published more than three dozen articles in which the theory of OIFs based on the laws of mechanics was presented [34–65]. No
assumptions were made about the physical nature of these forces. Therefore, the conclusions of this theory are also valid for other
types of waves, in particular, for forces arising under the action of elastic waves.
Moreover, we have shown that the theory of electrostriction pressure, developed by Helmholtz more than a century and a half
ago, incorrectly describes the value of electrostriction pressure in gases. The corrected theory was published in 2019 [63].
Thus, although the optical model of ball lightning has not yet been generally recognized, it has already given new knowledge
regarding optically induced forces and optical electrostriction pressure.
The existence of bubbles of light raises great doubts among physicists, since before that no one had studied such bubbles either
theoretically or experimentally. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine the stability of such a bubble, since the energy of the compressed gas
and the energy of the circulating light decrease with increasing radius of the bubble of light. Therefore, it is not clear how there can
be a minimum of total energy, the presence of which is a necessary condition for the stability of any isolated system.
Generally speaking, the bubble of light, like ball lightning, has no steady-state since they radiate light and, therefore, the energy
stored in them gradually decreases. A similar situation takes place in the whole known spinning top. The energy stored in it gradually
decreases due to air resistance and friction against the support. Ultimately, this leads to the fact that the top loses its stability and
stops rotation. The state in which the top continues to rotate, but its speed gradually decreases, is not stationary. However, there is no
qualitative change in the rotation of the top and it can be said that the rotation of the top up to a certain threshold is stable with a
decrease in the speed of rotation. When the speed of rotation becomes below the threshold, its steady state becomes unstable.
A similar situation occurs when light rotates in a bubble of light. The energy of the rotating light is gradually decreasing.
However, this is not due to a decrease in the speed of rotation of light, but because of a decrease in the amount of circulating light due
to radiation loss. In this case, the energy of the bubble of light gradually decreases, but it retains its spherical shape.
Investigating a problem of the circulating light stability, we come to the conclusion that there is a general misunderstanding
processes of interaction between compressed air and intense light circulating within it. The main argument of opponents is that the
circulating light exerts the pressure on walls that provide light circulation. Since the walls are subject to the pressure that tends to
expand them and the means that can prevent the walls from expansion are not seen, such circulation is instable. Arguments that are
even more convincing are those who simply speak that the light tends to expand and propagate along straight lines in all sides; the
compressed air tends to expand too. There are no reasons to prevent this. This circumstance compels physicists to be skeptical about
the existence of the circulating lights. Therefore, at first we will try to show an inconsistency of widespread notions, and then to
present a substantiation of stability of the circulating light. Only a belief that circulating light exists in the nature helped us to solve
the riddle.
We consider the stability problem of circulating light, that is, the problem related more likely to optics, where stability issues are
not basic. Therefore, the presentation of these issues is given in sufficient detail so that the reader does not have the need to turn to
other sources.

2. Simplest example of analysis of stability

To better understand the stability of circulating light, we first look at processes in a similar object, the stability of which is beyond
doubt. Suppose we have a conventional soap bubble. As is known, a steady state of a closed conservative system is stable if its total
energy is minimal at a change of any parameter from the steady-state value. We first consider how such requirements are satisfied for
a soap bubble. Then, in the same way, we analyze the fulfillment of these requirements for bubbles of light.
There are two types of energy in the soap bubble. These are the energy of the compressed air and the energy of the stretched shell.
The total energy of the bubble is given by
ES + EG (1)

where ES is the energy of the stretched soap shell of the bubble and EG is the energy of the compressed air confined by the shell.
We can conclude from Eq. (1) the following first necessary condition for an existence of a steady state. At a slow change of the
radius R of the bubble, functions ES (R) and ES (R) should not be simultaneously either increasing or decreasing at the point of a steady
state. The fulfillment of this requirement for bubbles of light raises great doubts among specialists. The fulfillment of this requirement
for the soap bubble should not be in doubt, as everybody knows that such bubbles exist. First, consider how the stability of the bubble
is proven. Then, in a similar way, we will analyze the stability of bubbles of light.
The energy of the shell of the soap bubble is given by
WS = 2σS S (2)

where S is the surface area of the bubble. σS is the index of surface tension.
Let us introduce dimensionless variable β that characterizes a change of the radius of the shell R as compared with the initial
radius R0. In this case variable β is determined as follows.

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β = R/R0 (3)
The surface area of the shell is given by
VS = 4πR2 (4)
Taking into account Eq. (4) we have from Eq. (2) that the energy of the stretched shell is given by
ES (β ) = σs 8πR 02 β 2 (5)
As is seen, ES(β) is an increasing function of β.
As for the energy of the air EG(β) that the following additional consideration are required. As is known, the energy of one mole of
gas is given by
EG = RT (6)
−1 −1
where R = 8.314 J K mole is the universal gas constant, T is the Kelvin temperature. As is seen, the energy is independent of the
volume. This means that there is no minimum in Eq. (1). The error in our conclusion is the following. The temperature T decreases
with an increase of the volume and the air energy decreases also. We need to consider adiabatic process where a change of the
temperature is taken into account.
The mechanical work produced by the gas at a change of its volume from V1 to V2 is given by
P1 V1 V
A12 = [1 − ( 1 )γ − 1]
γ−1 V2 (7)
The volume of the air confined by the shell is given by
VS = 4πR3/3 (8)
Taking into account Eqs. (7) and (8), the energy of compresses air can be presented as follows
P1 VS PV V PV V PV
EG (β ) = − 1 S [1 − ( S )γ − 1] = 1 S ( S )γ − 1 = 1 S β −3(γ − 1)
γ−1 γ−1 V2 γ − 1 V2 γ−1 (9)
As is seen, ES(β) is a decreasing function of β.
Dependences ES (β ) and EG (β ) are presented in Fig. 1. The following parameters are used P1 = 3 Pa, R0 = 6.2 cm, V1=VS = 1 dm3,
σS = 4 10−2 J/m2
As is seen, the total energy has minimum at β = 1.3
As is known, a minimum of any function takes place at the point where its derivative is equal to zero. Derivatives dES , dEG and
dβ dβ
d (ES + EG )
are shown in Fig. 2. Note that the energies of compressed air and the soap film at a stable state can be different.
dβ
From the presented consideration, we can conclude that the existing method for analysis of the stability of the system has been
developed very well. In our particular case of the bubble of light we need to analyze dependences of energy of the light EL and the
energy of the air EG on the radius of the bubble. We must make sure that their sum has minimum.
It is even easier to analyze derivatives of energy. One of them must be negative, and the other positive as is shown in Fig.2. The
derivative of the energy of compressed air by volume is allways negative and has a simple physical meaning. This is air pressure with
a sign minus. Therefore, the other derivative over the volume must be positive. In our case, this is the pressure of the shell. There is no
soap shell in the bubble of light. The shell is absent, but there is intense light circulating in the shell of compressed air. The derivative
of the energy of light over the volume should be positive. It's hard to believe, but the existence of bubbles of light inspires optimism.

3. Analysis of the stability of the bubble of light

The energy of the bubble of light consists of two types of energies also. These are the energy of the compressed air in the shell in a
form of a thin spherical layer and the energy of the intense light circulating in the shell in all possible directions. Dependence of the

Fig. 1. Dependence on parameter β of the energy of the soap film (dashed curve 1), compressed air in the volume confined by the film (dotted curve
2) and their total energy (solid curve 3). A minimum of the total energy is seen at β = 1.3.

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V.P. Torchigin Optik - International Journal for Light and Electron Optics 219 (2020) 165095

Fig. 2. Dependence on parameter β of the derivatives of the energy of soap film (dashed curve 1), compressed air in the volume confined by the film
(dotted curve 2) and their total energy (curve3). A root of d (ES + EG) takes place at β = 1.3.
dβ

compressed air is given by Eq. (9). Dependence of the energy of the circulating light on radius is unknown. We need to show that the
energy of the circulating light increases with increasing radius of the shell like the energy of the soap shell increases.
Let us first show that the energy of light in an isolated conservative system in a form of bubble of light is in inverse proportion to
the product of its radius and the reflective index of the compressed air. To do this, it is enough to consider the simplest case where a
light wave of a whispering gallery type is circulating along the equator of a glass ball. At resonance, the equator contains an integer
number N of wavelengths. With a slow increase in the reflective index, the whole number N of wavelengths along the equator should
be preserved. This property was justified early [2,29–31] and follows from the fact that an abrupt change of the integer parameter N
is impossible at a gradual continuous change of the product of the radius and reflective index.
This means that the wavelength remains the same although the product changes. This situation is possible if the frequency of light
decreases accordingly.
From the point of view of mathematics, this phenomenon is explained as follows. At resonance, the phase shift φ at a complete
bypassing the equator is determined by the following expression
ω
φ = k 2πR = n2πR = 2πN
c (10)

Here k is the propagation constant, ω is the angular frequency, R is radius of the equator N is any integer. Only three parameters ω, n,
and R in the left hand part of Eq. (10) are variable but their product ωnR is constant that can be written as follows
ωnR = ω0 n 0 R 0 (11)

where ω0, n0 and R0 are magnitudes of these parameters at a particular case. As is seen from Eq. (11), an increase of n or R is
accompanied by decreasing ω.
A number of photons circulating along the equator is unchanged in our consideration. Since the energy of a photon is proportional
to its frequency we can replace the frequency ω in Eq. (11) by the energy of circulating light EL In this case Eq. (11) is transformed as
follows
EL nR = EL0 n 0 R 0 (12)

Thus, we can see that the energy of light is the following function of R and n
EL0 n 0 R 0
EL =
nR (13)

Function EL is an increasing function of R, if product nR is a decreasing function of R. The reflective index n is a decreasing
function of R. Indeed, with increasing R, the volume of the shell increases, the air density decreases accordingly and therefore the
reflecting index decreases also.
On assumption that a dependence of the thickness h of the shell on the radius is unknown in advance, the thickness of the shell can
be presented as follows
h = h0 β α (14)

where α is the positive index in the region 2 < h0 < 5, index β is given by Eq. (3), h0 is initial thickness at β = 1. Then the volume of
the shell is given by

VS = VS 0 β 2 + α (15)

where

VS0 = 4πR 02 h 0 (16)

In this case the derivative of the energy of light at the point with parameters E0, R0 and n0 over parameter β where β = 1 is given
by

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V.P. Torchigin Optik - International Journal for Light and Electron Optics 219 (2020) 165095

dEL E n R dn dR E dn dρ dV dn dρ dV 1
= − L0 0 2 0 ( R + n ) = − L0 ( R + nR 0) = −EL0 ( + 1)
dβ (nR) dβ dβ nR dρ dV dβ dρ dV dβ n (17)
Here ρ is the density of the compressed air given by
m
ρ=
VS (18)
where m is the total mass of the compressed air. Taking into account that m is constant, we have from Eq. (18)
dρ ρ
=−
dVS VS (19)
Taking into account Eq. (15), we have
dVS
= (2 + α ) VS 0 β1 + α
dβ (20)
Taking into account Eq. (19) and Eq. (20) we obtain from Eq. (17)
dEL dn ρ 1 dn ρ
= −EL0 (1 − (2 + α ) VS 0 β1 + α ) = EL0 (−1 + (2 + α ) )
dβ dρ n V dρ n

In accordance with Clausis-Mossotti relation we have

dn ρ (n2 − 1)(n2 + 2)
=
dρ n 6n (21)
As a result, we have from Eqs. (17) and (21) the following simple dependence of the derivative of the energy of light on di-
mensionless parameter β
dEL (n2 − 1)(n2 + 2)
= EL0 [ (2 + α ) − 1] = EL0 f (n, α )
dβ 6n (22)
Function f(n,a) is presented in Fig. 3 where the dotted, dashed and solid curves correspond α = 1, α = 2, and α = 3 respectively.
The first thing that follows from Fig. 3 is that the derivative of the light energy is positive at n > 1.19, which takes place at very
high air compression.
Indeed, the air reflective index n is given by
n = 1 + Δn (23)
−4
where only Δn increases in direct proportion with compression of the air. At normal conditions Δn=ΔnN = 2.9 10 . This means
that the air should be compressed by three orders of magnitude to obtain a positive derivative of the energy of light.
On the other hand, in accordance with Eq. (9) the dependence of the energy of the compressed air on the parameter β is a
decreasing function of β. Thus, we have a necessary condition for existing of minimum of a sum of these two functions. Unfortunately
Eq. (9) is not valid for the air compressed in such a great degree.
We derived the following dependence of the nitrogen pressure on its volume from tables where experimental data are presented
[67]. The graph derived from these tables is shown in Fig. 4.
Here a dependence of the pressure of the gas pressure in kBars (108Pa) on the volume of one mole gas (22.4 L at normal
conditions) is shown. As is seen, the volume decreases by 1000 times from 22.4 L till 22.4 cm3. In this case the air pressure increases
from the normal pressure at P0 = 105 Pa till 17.4 108 Pa that is by 17,400 times. This is 17.4 times more than follows from the
Clapeyron equation, according to which the pressure is inversely proportional to the volume and should increase only 1000 times.
For the sake of simplicity, let us consider the steady state at the air compression σ = 1000. Let parameter β = 1 at this point.
Dependence of the air pressure PA on parameter β derived from Fig. 4 is shown in Fig. 5. The air pressure in this case in accordance
with Fig. 5 is equal P00 = 17.4 108 Pa. With increasing the volume by 1000 times parameter β increases by 10 times at α = 1.

Fig. 3. Dependence of the function f(n,α) on the reflective index α. Dotted, dashed and solids curves correspond α = 1, α = 2, α = 3, respectively.

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V.P. Torchigin Optik - International Journal for Light and Electron Optics 219 (2020) 165095

Fig. 4. Dependence of the gas pressure PA (kBar) on volume V (cm3) of 1 mol of nitrogen (22.4 L at normal conditions).

Fig. 5. Dependence of the gas pressure compressed by 1000 times at β = 1 on increasing volume of the gas with increasing parameters β.

Now we need determine a dependence of function f(n,a) in Eq. (22) on parameter β. Considering Eq. (21) as a differential equation
in a form
dn n (n2 − 1)(n2 + 2)
=
dρ ρ 6n (24)

we can determine initially a dependence n(ρ). Numerical solution of this equation is shown in Fig. 6.
Then dependence n(β) of the reflective index of the compressed air on parameter β can be derived from function n(ρ) in Fig. 6 as
follows n(β)=n(1000 β−3) The dependence n(β) is shown in Fig. 7.
We are interesting of the region β where f(n,a) can be positive and therefore the region β > 1.3 is not interesting. Having known
function n(β), we can present a dependence of function f(n, a) on β. This dependence is shown in Fig. 8.
The pressure presented in Fig. 5 is the first derivative of the energy of the compressed gas. Bearing in the mind Eq. (22) the first
derivative of the energy of circulating light is given by
dEL dEL dβ 1 WL0 f (n, α )
= = EL0 f (n, α ) =
dV dβ dV VS 0 (2 + α ) β1 + α (2 + α ) β1 + α (25)

As was shown for the soap bubble, a steady state takes place when a sum of the first derivative of the energy of gas and energy of
the stretched shell is equal to zero. In the considered case, the energy of the stretched shell is substituted by the energy of the
circulating light. Taking into account that the volumes of the compressed air and the circulating light are identical and are equal to

Fig. 6. Dependence of function n(ρ) on the gas density ρ.

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V.P. Torchigin Optik - International Journal for Light and Electron Optics 219 (2020) 165095

Fig. 7. Dependence of the reflective index of the compresses gas n on the parameter β.

Fig. 8. Dependence of the function f(n,α) the parameter β where dotted, dashed and solid curves corresponds to α = 1, α = 2, α = 3, respectively.

the volume of the shell, a condition of stability can be presented as follow

dEL (β ) dEG (β )
F (β ) = + =0
dV dV (26)
where dEL is given by Eq. (25) and dEA is equal to –PA, dependence of which on β is unknown in an analytical form but is shown in
dV dV
Fig. 5 derived from experimental data [67]. To obtain steady state at σ = 1000 where β = 1, we need to choose WL0 in Eq. (24) in
such a way that the condition of Eq. (26) will be satisfied at β = 1.
Dependencies of F(β) for various parameters α are shown in Fig. 9. As is seen, derivatives of the total energy β = 1 are increasing
functions. This testifies that the steady states at β = 1 are stable. We can see in Fig. 9 that characters of a change of total energy for
various values of parameter α are the same.
Some unevenness in the behavior of the curves at β = 1.05 is visible in Fig. 9. The same unevenness are visible in Figs. 4 and 5.
This is due to the fact that the dependence in Fig. 4 was taken from two different sources to expand the pressure range. Therefore,
when moving from one source to another, a slight discrepancy appeared.

4. Discussion

We have presented evidence of stability of the bubble of light using the same approach as was used for analysis of stability of the
soap bubble. The same concepts, notation, and analysis methods were used in these two cases. The only difference was that the
increasing function was the energy of the stretched elastic shell in the first case and the energy of the circulating light in the second

Fig. 9. Dependence of the derivatives of a total energy on parameter β where dotted, dashed and solid curves corresponds to α = 1, α = 2, α = 3
respectively.

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V.P. Torchigin Optik - International Journal for Light and Electron Optics 219 (2020) 165095

case.
Indeed, the air pressure on the shell of the soap bubble is compensated by the pressure of the shell on the air at a steady state.
Newton's third law holds in this case. With increasing radius of the soap bubble, the volume increases and the air pressure decreases.
On the other hand, the shell of the soap bubble stretches and its pressure on the air in accordance with Fig. 2 increases. As a result,
conditions arise to reduce the radius. These 5 lines give an explanation of the existence of a steady state of the soap bubble and its
stability.
No one has studied the pressure produced by circulating light. There is not even a term for this pressure. Therefore, there are
doubts about the existence of bubbles of light. The first attempts to analyze this pressure and to connect arising processes with known
phenomena were made in the article [63]. The present article is about another issue. Therefore, we only briefly point out the
relationship between the pressure created by the circulating light and other known types of pressures.
As is seen in Eq. (15), there are two terms with different signs. The first negative one is responsible for so called centrifugal
pressure [30]. As was shown, this pressure arises due to a change of the momentum of circulating light. There should be the force
responsible for a change of the momentum. The force is applied to the light from side of the lateral surface of the shell. In accordance
with the third Newton law, there is an opposite force applied from side of the circulating light to the lateral surface of the shell.
Similar type of pressure is produced by wet tissues on the walls of the drum in the washing machine, when the drum rotates quickly,
squeezing the tissues from the water. This pressure is negative and surpasses the second term in Eq. (15) for any insufficient com-
pressions where n < 1.19. This pressure should be added to the negative pressure produced by the compressed air.
The second term in Eq. (15) is positive because the reflective index decreases with increasing of the volume and therefore radius.
We called the pressure connected with this term optical electrostriction pressure [63]. An appearance of this type of the pressure is
connected with the fact that the situation, in which part of the light energy is converted into the energy of elastic compression is
favorable energetically. The reflective index of the optical medium increases at this transition. In accordance with Eq. (13), this leads
to a decrease in the energy of light. An increase in the reflective index of the optical medium occurs due to an increase in the air
density, which occurs upon the air compression.
As is seen from Eq. (15), the pressure produced by the circulating light is positive if the second term is greater than unity. This
means that a relative change Δn/n of the reflective index at a change of R by ΔR should be greater than a relative change of the radius
ΔR/R. For example, if radius changes by 1%, the reflective index should change above 1%.
The fulfillment of this requirement does not depend on the radius R, but depends on how quickly the air reflective index n changes
with a change in radius. For air, only a small addition Δn to the reflective index is changed with changing the radius. Under normal
air pressure, this addition is only 0.029 % of the total reflective index. With increasing the air density, this part increases accordingly.
As is seen from Fig. 7, an extremely great increase of the compression is required to provide an increase of the reflective index till
n = 1.3. The density of the air in the shell should be increased as compared with that at normal conditions by the factor about 1000.
There is another evidence that the air compression in the shell of the bubble of light is extremely great. As is known, the life time
of natural ball lightnings is several seconds at least. We have shown in numerous publications that ball lightning is a bubble of light.
Thus, life time of the circulating light within the bubble of light should be abnormal great and surpass the life time of conventional
white light in the terrestrial atmosphere by four orders of magnitude.
We have explained this phenomenon as follows. In accordance with the law of scattering light [66], abnormal great life time is
possible at an extremely small compressibility of the compressed air. In this case molecules of the air are packed densely in such a
way that fluctuations of the air density that are responsible for the molecular scattering of the light are extremely small. Thus, initial
information about the fact that the air compression in the bubble shell is extremely great was derived long ago in 2003. At present,
there is no information on the parameters of highly compressed air that is compressed by the circulating light, the intensity of which
exceeds the intensity of ordinary light by billions times.
Pyotr Kapitsa, a Russian scientist with Nobel Prize, who tried unsuccessfully to explain the nature of ball lightning, said that ball
lightning is a window into a completely new world unknown to us. In this regard, he was right. The circulating light makes billions
rotations per second and its intensity arises by billions times. As a result, the forces applied to the surrounding media arises by billions
times. We have shown in numerous publications that these forces are responsible for puzzles, riddles and anomalies of behavior of
natural ball lightning in the terrestrial atmosphere. We need to recognize that the circulating light has many properties that are not
described even by science fiction for the reason that readers will not believe in such speculation.
Indeed, it is impossible to imagine that ordinary white light can form a trap for itself without outside help and remain in this trap
for a time that is tens of thousands of times longer than the existence of the same light in the earth’s atmosphere [1]. This self-
confined bubble of light can catch up a flying airliner, accompany it and penetrate into its saloon [21]. Bubble of light can draw in
other gases whose reflective indexes are greater than the reflective index of air [8]. Bubble of light can absorb the light that surrounds
it [12]. Therefore, it is not surprising that the extremely great density of the compressed air where the extremely great intense light
circulates is required for the stability of the bubble of light.

5. Conclusion

We presented a standard method for analyzing the stability of a bubble in the form of a soap bubble inflated with air and showed
that the radius of the shell of the soap bubble is stable. The stability of the soap bubble is not in doubt. Then we use the same
approach, the same concepts and the same notations to analyze the stability of a bubble of light. We show that a single difference is in
a type of energy that is an increasing function of radius of the shell. Unlike a soap bubble where the increasing function of the radius
is the energy of the stretched elastic soap shell, the increasing function of radius in the bubble of light is the energy of the light that

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V.P. Torchigin Optik - International Journal for Light and Electron Optics 219 (2020) 165095

circulates in the shell. It turns out that the energy density of light and the air pressure in the shell should be extremely great. It is in
accordance with the conclusion derived early from extremely great life time of light in natural ball lightnings as compared with that
in the conventional air atmosphere.
We are far from an idea to give out the presented considerations as an irrefutable evidence of stability of bubbles of light. It is an
illustration only that condition necessary for stability of spherical bubbles can be satisfied. Mechanisms of occurrence of instability
can be most unexpected. Physicists are studying the stability of the plasma in installations of TOKAMAK type during half a century
and constantly open new mechanisms of occurrence of instability. Our purpose was to show that typical and quite natural objections
concerning the instability of bubble of lights are not substantiated. We hope that this purpose has been reached in a certain degree.
The main proof of the stability of bubbles of light is the fact of their existence in the nature. This fact follows not from theoretical
reasons, but from the amazing similarity of experimentally observable properties of Ball Lightning with the properties of the spherical
bubbles of light derived theoretically on the basis of generally accepted physical laws.

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to
influence the work reported in this paper.
Acknowledgment
The study was carried out with partial financial support from the Russian Academy of Sciences under project No. 0063-2019-
0010.

References

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V.P. Torchigin Optik - International Journal for Light and Electron Optics 219 (2020) 165095

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